Eligibility Under Tricare

Updated on March 30, 2009
D.E. asks from Converse, TX
17 answers

My exhusband will be marrying someone in the military shortly so he is quitting his job. This means my daughter's health insurance will be stopped. He is under the impression that my daughter will be covered by his new wife's insurance which is tricare. My daughter will be staying with me as I am the custodial parent. Everything I have read states the child must be living in the household to be covered. If anyone has any info on this I would appreciate it. I am currently pulling my hair out over this situation. Thank you ladies.

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Thank you so much for the information. I'll definately look into everything and keep all the phone numbers handy. My divorce decree says my ex husband is responsible for providing her health insurance or reimbursing me if I am able to provide it which I'm not at this time. I barely have a speaking relationship with him and I don't even know the last name or have ever seen his fiance. I will be looking into all the Tricare details so I can be ready when her current insurance lapses. I really appreciate all the information provided. Have a nice day ladies

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.A.

answers from Houston on

Don't know if this will help, but my friend's husband is in the army. Before they got custody of his daughter, she was covered under tricare for many years, even though she lived with her mother in another state. All they had to do was get the child's information. I THINK she had to the go to the local defunct base and get an ID made, but i could be wrong about that.
Hope that helps. Like someone else suggested, if you have a good enough relationship, find out from the new wife.
Good luck!

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

H.P.

answers from Corpus Christi on

It all depends on what your divorce decree states. If he is responsible for your childs insurance then she can be added to tricare. If the decree doesn't state such you may want to go and see a judge about what you can do so that he is still providing her insurance.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.P.

answers from El Paso on

My hubby is military. I think that your ex would have to have 51% custody(at least on paper) for his new wife to place her on TriCare. Even then that does not mean that she will be fully covered. There are different types of Tricare that the military uses. If you are not located near a military medical facility, you might have to put her on Tricare Standard and there is a Co-Pay. The Co-pay right now is $150 per year and then a small co-pay per Dr. visit. Remember Tri-Care is Goverment health insur. It is not the best and they have a list of providers that you have to choose from. And a lot of Dr.s that are not near the military post, don't carry Tricare b/c they are so hard to work with. So depending where you are this might cuase a problem too. I think you better light a fire under your ex and make him get some info for you about all this to be sure. There are companies that offer the military secondary insurance too. So he has plenty of options! Of course you can do some research too, but as far as calling, I'm not sure how helpful people will be since you are not the military spouse. You will need to make sure that all your divorce paperwork is in order and states clearly that he must provide healthcare. Let me know if you need more help. I can't promise anything, but can maybe get more info from our Tricare office. And there are other avenues that you can take if they don't do their part, but those are a last resort kinda thing. Let me know. Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.S.

answers from San Antonio on

We don't have Tricare so you may want to contact them directly but we provide health insurance for my stepson who lives primarily with his mother.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.B.

answers from Corpus Christi on

Call tricare at 1-800-444-5445
or###-###-#### ask them they will be able to tell you. And sent any paper work needed to him.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.B.

answers from Killeen on

I was covered on Tricare under my stepfather's plan until I turned 18 and I lived with my real dad..so it's definitely possible. I don't think they have new rules on that in the 4 years that have passed since then. I wish you that same luck!! because Tricare is wonderful to be on..No deductables at doc appointments...and the most I paid for a perscription while I was on it was $9. Yay for that! Although most were only $3. Good luck!

Edit:
And yes your daughter will need to go have an ID made..I still have mine. haha. Also...All this mumbo jumbo about divorce papers is irrelevent. It has nothing to do with it. Trust me on this..Your husband is right. She will be covered. And if his new wife is active duty it will be the good deal I've explained..Please email me if you want to chat.

shae
____@____.com
No spaces.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.S.

answers from Houston on

I got out of the military 11 years ago now so I am not sure about the current rules, but, as a divorced mom of three kids whose ex provides health insurance for the kids, I would suggest you see whether the kids can get CHIPS. My ex gives me such flack about covering the kids (even though the divorce decree requires it), and CHIPS is so inexpensive and covers so much that I wish I could just do that. Everyone I know who is on it has had good things to say. Might be an option for you if you qualify.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.E.

answers from Austin on

My stepchildren have always been on my husband's insurance even though they've never lived with us. I've also checked into it in the past, and a step-parent can even be required to cover step children on insurance, depending on the situation.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

P.H.

answers from Houston on

Hi there. Where is it that you are reading that a child must reside in the houselhold to be covered? That is ludicis!!

You need to re-read your divorce papers, because it is standard that the parent who does not have Primary custody (IE your husband) not only must he pay child support, but it is also his responsibility to make sure the child has health care benifits at all times. I would revisit your divorce papers, find where it says this and show it to him. If for any reason his change of siuation such as getting re-married denies your child healthcare, take his butt back to court immediatley! If he is leaving is job, theres no reason he can not get the COBRA insurance that is offered. Whatever you do, please don't let your child go wthout healthcare! Good luck!!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

V.H.

answers from Houston on

That is the rule, but mail something to her at their address. Then they will have something with that address so she can be covered. That's how you break the rules!! We have Tricare and my youngest son is in college, this is not his father I am married to and he lives on campus. But it still works!! I am not usually one who breaks the rules, but for their care we need to! You need the new wife soc. security # so when you take her to the Dr. that is the sponsor #.....
Tricare is great for appt's and the copay for RX....Hospitalization is a pain in the butt!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.M.

answers from Houston on

Try engine search for Tricare, then when you get to the website there are different categories for you to search. I do believe that you are right since the daughter is only step daughter in relation to the military member. If it was the other way around the child would be covered. So he needs to pay more child support to help with medical care.
This is from a retired AF wife with three adult boys.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.G.

answers from San Antonio on

Hey Desiree,

I read your post and wanted to put in my 2-cents. My hubby is in the National Guard. In 2004 he deployed to Iraq for 18 months. During his deployment, he was considered ACTIVE DUTY. Because of that, we were all eligible for TRICARE. Not long after I graduated high school, I gave birth to my first child, a beautiful boy. Problems with my first husband made it necessary for my son to go live with his biological father & stepmother. When my current hubby deployed, he put my daughter (from first marriage) and I on his TRICARE insurance. He also did a wonderful thing and put my son on there also. Even though he wasn't responsible for that, he stepped up and enrolled my son. All he needed was my son's information.
Unless things have changed since then, your ex-husband's new wife should be able to enroll your daughter on HER TRICARE. She'll need all the information from you in order to do it. If you have a good or at least talking relationship with the new wife, I'd give her a call and find out if she's even willing to put your daughter on her TRICARE. If she is, wonderful. If she's NOT, then you might have a problem.
Also, check your divorce decree. If ex-hubby is responsible for health insurance,then he will be responsible for covering your daughter, regardless of his new wife's choice.
Hope this helps!!!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.H.

answers from Houston on

How is it worded in your divorce agreement? Is your ex responsible for his daughter's health care coverage?

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.S.

answers from Killeen on

Hello.

I do not know the guidelines for Tricare. I do know if your divorce decree states that he carries her health insurance, he must do so. This may mean that he pays for private health insurance for her since he is quitting his job. I know my ex-husband has to go through some hoops for my daughter to be covered through S&W because I am the custodial parent. She is covered. He also works for S&W. If you need private health insurance, I would recommend Brett Quigley. He handles my private insurance. You can reach Brett at ____@____.com or call him at 1-###-###-####. I hope all goes well with your insurance.

Take care,
Danabeth S.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.F.

answers from Odessa on

My ex husband carries my son on the tricare insurance as he is in the Marine Corps. My son lives with me. You will need to provide all information to her so she can get her set in a program called DEERS. I believe that she will need her birth certificate and social and all that stuff. Just be sure that they know that you are the custodial parent because if you try and call Tricare regarding your child and you are not listed as the custodial parent they will NOT release any information to you at all. This is from personal experience. Good Luck it truly is the best healthcare out there!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.M.

answers from Corpus Christi on

No, because you usually have a court order in the divorce decree that the father has to provide insurance. I cover my steps through my insurance and there is a section that asks what relation this dependent is and there is a box for "step-child". Just make sure you get a copy of the benefits so you can comply with the requirements-doctors, out-of-network coverage, ect. Especially in case of emergencies. And relax because it will most likely work out just fine!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.C.

answers from San Antonio on

I had my stepson on my health insurance because I was the one carrying it. My husband had a court order stating he had to take care of the health insurance. If you ex has to pay child support then the health care should also be included so look into it. My health care insurance did not given me any problems since he was considered my stepson. I hope this helps and puts your mind at ease

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions