What is DEERS?

What is the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System?

If you or a family member have ever been associated with the US military or uniformed services you may have heard of DEERS—the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System. It’s a big database that helps service members, veterans, and their eligible family members get military benefits, healthcare, and other services.

But what is DEERS and why is it so important?

In this guide for TriCareRehabs, we will break down this military health service system and how you can use it to verify your eligibility for rehab.

What is DEERS and What Does It Do?

DEERS is an automated system that stores and manages information on military personnel, retired service members, dependents, and other eligible beneficiaries. It also includes other personnel associated with the Department of Defense (DoD) and the healthcare system related to military services.

It’s used to verify eligibility for:

• TRICARE health coverage
• Military ID cards
• Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits
• Commissary and exchange privileges
• Survivor benefits

Because only eligible people get military benefits, keeping your DEERS personal eligibility information up to date is key.

Eligibility and Enrollment for DEERS

Eligibility for DEERS enrollment is wide ranging and includes anyone associated with the US military. This includes active duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, military retirees and their dependents. Former spouses, Medal of Honor recipients and their families and eligible foreign military personnel and their dependents must also be registered.

Enrolling in DEERS is not just a formality, it’s a critical step to make sure you and your family can get the benefits you are entitled to. Accurate and up to date information in the DEERS database is required to verify eligibility for healthcare, military ID cards and other services. So make sure to provide all necessary documents and keep your information current to avoid interruptions in benefits.

Who Needs to Be Registered in DEERS?

Anyone who may be eligible for military benefits must be registered in DEERS. This includes:

• Active duty service members (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Space Force)
• National Guard and Reserve members
• Military retirees
• Spouses and children of service members
• Survivors of deceased service members
• DoD active contractors
• Certain former spouses
• Medal of Honor recipients and their dependents
• Eligible foreign military personnel and their dependents

Dependent enrollment in DEERS is not automatic. The service member must ensure their spouse and children are added to the system.

How to Enroll in DEERS

For Service Members

If you’re a uniformed service member you’re enrolled in DEERS when you enter the military. However, it’s your responsibility to keep your personal and family information updated.

For Dependents

For spouses and children registration requires documentation, including:

• Marriage certificate (for spouses)
• Birth certificate (for children)
• Adoption papers (if applicable)
• Social Security Numbers (for all family members)

For a child born overseas or out of wedlock additional paperwork such as a Consular Report of Birth Abroad or a paternity acknowledgment may be required.

To enroll dependents the service member must visit a Real-Time Automated Personnel Identification System (RAPIDS) office in person. You can find your nearest RAPIDS office using the ID Card Office Locator online.

Adding Family Members to DEERS

Adding family members to DEERS is a critical step to make sure they get the benefits they are eligible for. To add a family member you will need to provide the required documentation which may include:

• Birth certificate (for children)
• Social Security card (for all family members)
• Marriage certificate (for spouses)
• Adoption decree (for adopted children)
• Court order establishing paternity (for children born out of wedlock)

Make sure all documentation is up to date to avoid any delays or issues with the enrollment process. Proper documentation is key to making sure your family members are registered in the DEERS database so they can get medical care, military ID cards and other benefits.

How to Update DEERS Information

You need to update DEERS whenever there are changes in your personal or family situation. Common updates include:

• Marriage or divorce
• Birth or adoption of a child
• Change of address or phone number
• Transition from active duty to reserve or retired status
• Death of a service member or dependent

Keeping DEERS up to date prevents TRICARE interruption.

Why is DEERS Important for TRICARE Coverage?

TRICARE, the Military’s healthcare program for military members, retirees and their families, uses DEERS for eligibility verification. If your DEERS information is out of date you may have problems when trying to receive medical care, refill prescriptions or access TRICARE benefits.

Update DEERS as soon as there are life changes to avoid any disruptions, particularly if you are seeking out TRICARE approved rehab centers.

3 Common DEERS Issues and How to Fix Them

1) Incorrect Information

If you see incorrect data in DEERS update it as soon as possible. Errors can affect healthcare access, pay, or ID card renewals. You can update online, by phone or in person.

2) ID Card Issues

If your military ID card does not reflect your DEERS information you will need to visit a RAPIDS office with the required documents to correct it.

3) TRICARE Coverage Problems

If your TRICARE claim is denied due to an eligibility issue check your DEERS records. 99% of the time the issue is outdated or missing information.

DEERS and Using VA Benefits

For veterans, DEERS links to the VA healthcare system so you can access your benefits. If you are transitioning from active duty to veteran status make sure DEERS reflects your discharge information correctly. Errors can delay your VA benefits or medical care.

Using DEERS to Find Tricare Rehabs

DEERS is a critical system to ensure military families receive the benefits they’ve earned. Keeping your DEERS information up to date is key to accessing healthcare, military ID cards and other services. Whether you’re an active duty, veteran or military family member, knowledge is power to prevent stress and disruptions in benefits.

Tricare Rehabs can help you verify your DEERS information, and find rehabs covered by Tricare. We can help you or a substance-dependent spouse find treatment programs across the nation that can provide the necessary support and care for long-term recovery.

FAQs About DEERS and Accessing TRICARE Benefits

Can I update DEERS if I’m not near a RAPIDS office?

Yes, many updates can be done online via MilConnect, by phone or by mail. But some changes, like adding a dependent, require an in-person visit.

What happens if I don’t update my DEERS information?

If you don’t update DEERS you may lose benefits including TRICARE coverage and military facility access.

Can a spouse update DEERS without the service member?

Spouses can update some information but adding or removing dependents requires the service member’s authorization.

How long does it take for DEERS updates to process?

Most updates are processed instantly but some changes (like name changes or status updates) may take a few days.