Contents
Overview
Outside of TRICARE Open Season (each November–December), the only way to enroll in or change a TRICARE plan is by experiencing a Qualifying Life Event (QLE). A QLE opens a 90-day enrollment window that begins the day of the event.
The 90-day window
Common QLEs include: marriage or divorce, birth or adoption of a child, retirement from active duty, separation from active duty, activation or deactivation of a Guard/Reserve member, a PCS move (especially between regions), loss of other health insurance, becoming Medicare-eligible, and a child aging out at 21 (or 23 if a full-time student).
Common life events
Active duty service members are automatically enrolled in TRICARE Prime at any duty station; QLEs primarily affect family members. To use a QLE, log in to milConnect to first update DEERS (the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System), then enroll or change plans through the Beneficiary Web Enrollment tool, by calling your regional contractor (Humana Military East / TriWest West), or by mailing a TRICARE enrollment form.
How to use a QLE
If you miss the 90-day window, you generally must wait until the next Open Season to enroll, except for transitional coverage like the Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP) or TRICARE Young Adult.
Why DEERS comes first
Always update DEERS first. An out-of-date DEERS record is the single most common reason QLE enrollments are delayed or rejected.
Key Facts
- Category
- Enrollment
- Type
- concept