Navy DEP and Tricare question

caffrin · May 2011

My husband is in DEP for the navy and is supposed to ship to boot camp November 8th (10 days before I'm due with our first LO!) My question is does anyone know how it will work for Tricare after he leaves. I have health insurance through my employer but will still have to pay for a portion of the delivery and we would really like to just have Tricare by then. Does this sound at all possible? I know he will be filling out paperwork to get me and the LO set up for healthcare but is there a possibility the military will cover the birth and I could just cancel my healthcare before the birth? Help!

iluvmytxrgr · May 2011

You should be covered from the day he gets there. With in the first couple of days he is there, he will fill out paperwork. He will then send you a form that you take to a base to get your ID. If you give birth before you get your ID, you can take all the paperwork the hospital gives you up to the Tricare office on the base closest to you. They will take care of it. I wouldn't cancel your insurance until after you know all paperwork is cleared, just to be safe.

hunt2005 · May 2011

Technically one of the first things they do at boot camp is fill out the paperwork to get you in the system and get you an I'd card. The trick is getting that back from him after he does it. For us, we worked with our recruiter and the closest I'd facility and actually did all of this before he even left. That'd be my first suggestion would be to contact the detailed and see if he can get you on his "page 2" and get you an I'd before he even leaves. That enrolls you in Tricare, and then you can contact them to find out the local providers, etc.

https://www.tricare.mil/DEERS

Couple tricks with all of this - I'd get a power of attorney first off because you'll want to register your child ASAP too. You'll need a specific POA for PSD (the office on base which handles ids and deers registration). A general is a good idea too, athat pets you handle other issues as they arise (moving etc).

Boot camp is tough because they expect most guys to be 18 and single with no kids. They don't really have it set up for families well. Your first stop should be the local recruiters office - they should have info for spouses as well as be able to help him get this set up.

caffrin · May 2011

Awesome! That is exactly the information I needed. We are sitting down with his recruiter on Monday so I am definitely going to ask about the page 2 and about possibly getting my id before he leaves. I read somewhere online that Tricare is a secondary insurance if I have other insurance so I'm worried if I still have my healthcare through my employer, the military won't pay. I have already realized that him being in bootcamp while I am in labor is going to be really tough and it doesn't seem like its the easiest process to notify him when the baby is born. But I know it is all a part of the process!

Thanks for all the info. If anyone has any other advice/info for me I'd love to hear your input!!

laffies · May 2011

This is a little off topic, but my husband was in basic training with a young guy whose wife gave birth while he was there.

They were all lined up outside in the heat, waiting to get in trouble for something, and the MTI shouted out this guy's name and singled him out, of course making him nervous as hell!

"Congratulations, you're a father! Your daughter arrived at 7:39 this morning. Get out of here and go call your wife."

My husband said it kind of made everyone's day a whole lot better.

That's what he's in for!

hunt2005 · May 2011

caffrin:

Awesome! That is exactly the information I needed. We are sitting down with his recruiter on Monday so I am definitely going to ask about the page 2 and about possibly getting my id before he leaves. I read somewhere online that Tricare is a secondary insurance if I have other insurance so I'm worried if I still have my healthcare through my employer, the military won't pay. I have already realized that him being in bootcamp while I am in labor is going to be really tough and it doesn't seem like its the easiest process to notify him when the baby is born. But I know it is all a part of the process!

Thanks for all the info. If anyone has any other advice/info for me I'd love to hear your input!!

One of the first things you'll get when he arrives is a phone call from him, likely scripted saying "Hello. This is the number you can reach me at if an emergency occurs, this is the group I am in, etc." Unfortunately phone calls from him are sporatic in the beginning, but in this call you should get the emergency number to phone when something like the birth of your child occurs. They WILL get this message to him ASAP.

Here's a file about having other health insurance: https://www.tricare.mil/tricaresmartfiles/Prod_120/Coord_TRC_OHI_Br_Lo_Res.pdf

Basically, your main insurance covers what they will cover, and then Tricare will pick up the rest up to their max coverage. It *should* mean that you don't have to worry about large deductibles and such as Tricare would cover the remaining balance minus their small deductible. I know many spouses who like having the extra and use it primarily for eye/dental care, but it's up to you how long you keep it for. I'd definitely make sure that you're fully registered with Tricare before cancelling, though.

Your child is covered from birth under Tricare. You have 30 days to get him registered in DEERS and choose if you want Tricare Prime (use base hospitals, etc, no deductible), or Standard (more choice of care, but you do have deductibles).

You have a LOT on your plate. Once you have your ID, if there is a Navy base near you, contact Fleet and Family Services (FFSC) - they have people there who can help answer any questions you have. There's also a COMPASS course offered once you get to a base which is INCREDIBLE - it will teach you the ins and outs of being Navy Completely free, infants are welcome and they do have childcare too. If you're not near a Navy base, pick the closest one and just call their FFSC whenever you have questions

hunt2005 · May 2011

Oh, and I know that some might flame me for this, but talk to your doc about your situation. 37 weeks is technically full-term and they may be willing to induce you early so that your hubby can meet the baby before he leaves

caffrin · May 2011

hunt2005:
Oh, and I know that some might flame me for this, but talk to your doc about your situation. 37 weeks is technically full-term and they may be willing to induce you early so that your hubby can meet the baby before he leaves

I thought about that too but if he is going to be leaving within a few days, financially it would be better for us if I already have Tricare, which I can't have until he is in bootcamp! So its a tough decision for us!!

hunt2005 · May 2011

Talk to the recruiter - I don't see why he can't do the Page 2 and Tricare stuff now so you're already set up before he even leaves

caffrin · May 2011

Update!! We talked to the recruiter and he is going to try to get him sent in August instead of November. What a blessing that would be!!

hunt2005 · May 2011

Oh, that would be such a blessing. You'll still have to make sure to keep on top of it for the paperwork and all that, but that will help! I'd make sure to get those POAs (one for PSD and a general) so that you can get yourself signed up with Tricare and all, and so that you can get your child enrolled when born instead of having to wait for him to route the paperwork through bootcamp

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