Secondary Dependents
Who can be a secondary dependent?
Secondary (non-primary) dependents can include:
Type | Detail |
---|---|
Parents |
|
Unmarried children ages 21 and 22 |
Your child is enrolled in a full-time course of study at an approved institution of higher learning. You (the sponsor) are still providing more than half of their financial support. |
Unmarried children over age 21, incapable of supporting themselves |
Due to mental or physical incapacity. This must occur while the child was either:
|
Ward of the court, unmarried |
Legal physical custody was placed:
|
Applying for your eligible children to be your secondary dependents is the first step to ensure they receive TRICARE benefits and allowances. Learn more about secondary dependents.
How do I enroll a secondary dependent in a TRICARE health plan?
To enroll your secondary dependent, your uniformed service must approve your application. If approved, you must then register them in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System(DEERS) A database of information on uniformed services members (sponsors), U.S.-sponsored foreign military, DoD and uniformed services civilians, other personnel as directed by the DoD, and their family members. You need to register in DEERS to get TRICARE.. Once in DEERS, your uniformed service will update their TRICARE eligibility.
To enroll a secondary dependent in a TRICARE health plan:
- Go to milConnect.
- Enroll using the Beneficiary Web Enrollment tool. Beneficiary Web Enrollment will offer a choice of available plans.
Contact Information
Do you need help? You can get help with your enrollment and health plan questions. Reach out to your:
- Regional contractor
- Local Beneficiary Counseling and Assistance Coordinator
- Uniformed service’s Secondary Dependency office
Redetermination
Regular recurring redeterminations may be required to maintain your secondary dependent’s eligibility.
Follow the instructions provided by your uniformed service. This will ensure there’s no break in their TRICARE health plan coverage.
Last Updated 4/17/2025