TRICARE and college-bound dependents Published Sept. 4, 2012 By Nancy Martin 20th Medical Support Squadron SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- If you have a college-bound child or dependent, you may be wondering if they are eligible to keep their TRICARE health benefits once they leave home. In general, children are allowed to keep their benefits through age 21. Coverage can be extended to age 23 if they remain unmarried, enrolled full-time at an approved institution, and receive over 50 percent of their financial support from the sponsor. In every case, you must ensure that the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System reflects the most current information. Also, coverage may be available for students outside of the conditions listed above through the TRICARE Young Adult or Continued Health Care Benefit Programs. TRICARE choices for college students depend on the availability of TRICARE network providers in the area where they plan to attend school. All three TRICARE options are available at various locations throughout the United States. The U.S. is divided into regions that are managed by different TRICARE contractors. TRICARE overseas locations consist of three regions: TRICARE Eurasia-Africa, TRICARE Pacific, and TRICARE Latin America and Canada. Use the website www.tricare.mil or numbers below to find the name and telephone number of the contractors for each state or overseas region: West 1-888-TRIWEST (874-9378) South 1-800-444-5445 North 1-877-TRICARE (874-2273) Pacific 1-888-777-8343, option 4 Eurasia-Africa 1-888-777-8343, option 1 Canada/Latin America 1-888-777-8343, option 3 Puerto Rico 800-700-7104 When eligible family members live in a different region from their sponsor, they may split enrollment between regions and pay only one enrollment fee. One example is when a sponsor has a child in college, if TRICARE Prime is available near the student's university, he or she may continue TRICARE Prime enrollment. Retirees may also take advantage of a split enrollment with no additional enrollment fees. Eligible family members of active duty sponsors may transfer the enrollment as often as necessary, but retirees and their eligible family members are allowed two transfers per year between TRICARE regions, as long as the second transfer is back to the region of original enrollment. As a beneficiary in the Sumter area, you and your family are part of the TRICARE South Region which includes the states of Ala., Ark., Fla., Ga., La., Miss., Okla., S.C., Tenn., Texas (excluding the El Paso area) and Fort Campbell, Ky. If your child attends college in the South Region, while enrolled in TRICARE Prime, he or she will be able to enroll with a Primary Care Manager (PCM) who participates in the TRICARE network. The PCM will manage all aspects of his or her care to include referrals to Urgent Care Centers or any other specialist. Students should remember that Emergency Room visits do not require prior authorization, but the patient could be billed if they visit for a non-emergent issue. They should also be prepared to pay for services up front in certain situations, but realize reimbursement claims can be made through the TRICARE region where your child is residing. In addition to TRICARE Prime, students have the choice to enroll in TRICARE Standard which provides different opportunities, costs and choices. You will need to determine which type of coverage will work best for your child, especially if they will be studying in a different TRICARE region or overseas. Not all coverage choices are available in all areas, so it is important to research eligibility and determine which coverage plan best suits your needs. Dental coverage is also available for college students by enrolling in a TRICARE dental program. Family members of active-duty personnel can enroll at www.TRICAREdentalprogram.com or call 800-866-8499. Family members of retired personnel can enroll at www.trdp.org or call 888-838-8737. It is important to note that when beneficiaries move they have 30 days to enroll at their new location. To help determine specific needs for your situation, please visit the 20th Medical Group TRICARE Service Center, building 1051, anytime between the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, for an educational briefing on TRICARE enrollment options. You may also obtain information about specifics of the TRICARE South Region by contacting the Regional Office at 800-444-5445, please remember that your child's TRICARE eligibility is determined through DEERS. Updates can be accomplished through your local military personnel office. For more information on DEERS please visit their website at https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/address/index.jsp or contact the Defense Manpower Data Center Support Office at 1-800-938-8552.