Notifying the DHA when someone dies
Family member is responsible for notifying the DHA
OverviewWhen someone dies
DMDC/DEERS Support Office
Phone1-800-538-9552
Fax1-800-336-4416
Mailing Address
DMDC/DEERS Support Office, 400 Gigling Road, Seaside, CA 93955-6771
WebsiteVisit website→
Continued Health Care Benefit Program (Humana Military)
Phone1-800-444-5445
WebsiteLearn about benefits→
DMDC/DEERS Support Office (fax death certificate)
Phone1-800-538-9552
Fax1-800-336-4416
Mailing Address
DMDC/DEERS Support Office, 400 Gigling Road, Seaside, CA 93955-6771
Timeline
DMDC may take several weeks to receive the death notification from the SSA and uniformed services; surviving family must change TRICARE plans within 90 days of death (QLE window); CHCBP enrollment deadline is 60 days from loss of TRICARE eligibility
WebsiteLearn more →
Verified Jul 2026
When someone dies, the Defense Health Agency (DHA) must be notified. The family member is responsible for notifying the DHA.
Notification deadline: 90 days from the date of death to change TRICARE health plans (qualifying life event window); CHCBP enrollment must occur within 60 days of losing TRICARE eligibility.
Steps to take
Steps for notifying the DHA and applying for survivor benefits:
1
Report the death to Express Scripts (the TRICARE pharmacy contractor) at 877-363-1303 — this is the only required notification. DMDC receives the death information from the Social Security Administration and the uniformed services and automatically updates medical and dental coverage.
2
Optionally notify DMDC/DEERS directly to speed processing:
- •Visit a local Uniformed Services ID card office with a copy of the death certificate, or
- •Fax a copy of the death certificate to 800-336-4416 (primary) or 502-335-9980 (alternate), or
- •Mail a copy of the death certificate to: DMDC/DEERS Support Office, 400 Gigling Road, Seaside, CA 93955-6771
- •Call DMDC at 800-538-9552 with any questions
3
Within 90 days of the death (the qualifying life event window), choose or change your TRICARE health plan. For active-duty deaths, you remain in the same plan as a transitional survivor by default; you may change plans during the QLE window.
4
Update your enrollment with the correct TRICARE regional contractor based on your address:
- •TRICARE East Region: Humana Military, 800-444-5445
- •TRICARE West Region: TriWest Healthcare Alliance, 888-874-9378
- •TRICARE Overseas: International SOS Government Services (country-specific numbers)
5
If a surviving spouse or aged-out child loses TRICARE eligibility, enroll in the Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP) within 60 days by submitting DD Form 2837 to Humana Military (800-444-5445). Coverage runs up to 36 months for dependents.
6
Contact a casualty assistance officer or the sponsor's unit/service personnel office if you are unsure whether the sponsor was on active duty at the time of death — this determines which survivor coverage rules apply.
7
For surviving children who turn 21 (or 23 if a full-time student), evaluate TRICARE Young Adult eligibility before TRICARE coverage ends.
Required Documents
- Copy of the death certificate (for DMDC/DEERS notification and CHCBP enrollment)
- Uniformed Services ID card (sponsor's and surviving family member's)
- DD Form 2837 (CHCBP Enrollment Application) if enrolling in CHCBP
- Proof of full-time student status (for TRICARE Young Adult eligibility through age 23)
- Marriage certificate (for surviving spouse eligibility verification, if requested)
Timeline
DMDC may take several weeks to receive the death notification from the SSA and uniformed services; surviving family must change TRICARE plans within 90 days of death (QLE window); CHCBP enrollment deadline is 60 days from loss of TRICARE eligibility
Survivor benefits
Transitional Survivor Coverage (Active Duty Sponsor)
If the sponsor died on active duty, surviving spouses and children remain covered as "active duty family members" for three years following the death. During this transitional survivor period, health plan options and out-of-pocket costs do not change from what the family had while the sponsor was alive — they can choose TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Select, US Family Health Plan, or TRICARE For Life (if Medicare-eligible). Transitional survivors are also eligible for active-duty-only programs such as the Extended Care Health Option.
Eligibility: Surviving spouses and children of a service member who died on active duty
Amount: Same costs as active-duty family members during the 3-year transitional period
How to apply: Coverage continues automatically once DMDC receives the death notification; family can change plans within the 90-day qualifying life event window
Learn more →Survivor Coverage (After 3-Year Transitional Period)
After three years, surviving spouses of active-duty deaths transition to the cost structure of a retired family member. Children remain covered as "active duty family members" until they age out or otherwise lose eligibility. DEERS reflects the change automatically and surviving spouses receive a letter from DEERS before the status change. Available plans after transition: TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Select, TRICARE Select Overseas, US Family Health Plan, or TRICARE For Life (if Medicare-eligible).
Eligibility: Surviving spouses of active-duty deaths, after the 3-year transitional period ends
Amount: Retired family member cost structure (enrollment fees, copays, and cost shares apply)
Learn more →Survivor Coverage (Retired Sponsor)
If the sponsor died as a retiree, surviving spouses remain eligible for TRICARE at retiree cost levels with no change in plan or premiums upon the sponsor's death. Coverage continues unless the spouse remarries (and remarriage to another active-duty or retired service member preserves coverage). Children remain eligible until they age out. Plan options: TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Select, TRICARE Select Overseas, US Family Health Plan, or TRICARE For Life (if Medicare-eligible).
Eligibility: Surviving spouses and children of a retired service member
Amount: Same retiree cost structure as before the sponsor's death
Learn more →TRICARE Dental Program Survivor Benefit Plan
Surviving family members of active-duty deaths are eligible for the TRICARE Dental Program Survivor Benefit Plan. The government pays 100% of monthly premiums while enrolled. Family members already enrolled in the TDP are automatically rolled into the Survivor Benefit Plan. Surviving spouses not previously enrolled may enroll for three years following the sponsor's death; children may enroll until they lose TRICARE eligibility. After three years, surviving spouses may be eligible for dental coverage through the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP).
Eligibility: Surviving family members of a service member who died on active duty
Amount: Premium-free for 3 years (government pays 100%)
Learn more →Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP)
CHCBP is a premium-based bridge plan administered by Humana Military that provides the same coverage as TRICARE Select (including prescriptions) for family members who have lost TRICARE eligibility. It meets the Affordable Care Act minimum essential coverage requirement. Dependent spouses and children who lose TRICARE coverage are eligible for up to 36 months of CHCBP; unremarried former spouses may qualify for additional coverage. Enrollment must occur within 60 days of losing TRICARE eligibility.
Eligibility: Dependent spouses and children who have lost TRICARE eligibility (up to 36 months); unremarried former spouses (up to 36 months)
Amount: Premium-based; contact Humana Military for current rates
How to apply: Submit DD Form 2837 (CHCBP Enrollment Application) to Humana Military within 60 days of losing TRICARE eligibility
Learn more →TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) for Surviving Children
An unmarried adult child of a deceased sponsor may purchase TRICARE Young Adult coverage when they turn 21 (or 23 if a full-time student) if they do not have their own employer-sponsored health insurance and the sponsor had TRICARE at the time of death. TYA is a premium-based plan.
Eligibility: Unmarried adult children of deceased sponsors, ages 21-26 (or 23 if a full-time student), without employer-sponsored health insurance
Amount: Premium-based; published annually by DHA
Learn more →Frequently asked questions
No — you do not have to report the death to DEERS directly. The Defense Manpower Data Center receives the information from the Social Security Administration and the uniformed services and updates medical and dental coverage automatically. The only contractor you must notify yourself is Express Scripts (the TRICARE pharmacy contractor). If you want to speed processing, you can fax a copy of the death certificate to DMDC at 800-336-4416 or visit a local Uniformed Services ID card office.
No. Surviving spouses keep TRICARE unless they remarry, and children remain covered until they age out. If the sponsor died on active duty, you are a "transitional survivor" for three years with the same plan and costs as an active-duty family member. After three years, spouses shift to retiree-family cost levels. If the sponsor died as a retiree, your coverage and costs do not change.
Death of a sponsor is a qualifying life event (QLE) that gives you 90 days from the date of death to change your TRICARE health plan. Use this window to evaluate whether you want to stay in your current plan or switch to TRICARE Select, TRICARE Prime, the US Family Health Plan, or another option.
Transitional Survivor coverage applies for the first three years after an active-duty sponsor's death — surviving family members are treated as active-duty family members with the same plan options and costs. After three years, spouses transition to standard Survivor coverage at retired-family cost levels (children continue to be treated as active-duty family members until they age out). If the sponsor was already a retiree at the time of death, there is no transitional period — survivors continue at retiree cost levels immediately.
No — CHCBP is always premium-based; there is no free period for surviving spouses. What is premium-free for active-duty survivors is the TRICARE Dental Program Survivor Benefit Plan, where the government pays 100% of dental premiums for three years following the sponsor's death. The medical coverage during the same 3-year transitional period is at standard active-duty family member cost levels (very low or no enrollment fees), but it is not technically "free."
No. TRICARE is the Defense Health Agency's civilian-network healthcare program for uniformed service members, retirees, and their families. VA healthcare is run separately by the Department of Veterans Affairs and is generally for veterans themselves, not their dependents. Surviving spouses and dependents of service members do not get healthcare through the VA; they continue through TRICARE (with limited exceptions such as CHAMPVA, which is administered by the VA for survivors of veterans who died of service-connected conditions).
DEERS — the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System — is the database the Department of Defense uses to track eligibility for TRICARE and other military benefits. Every family member must be registered in DEERS to receive TRICARE. After a sponsor's death, DMDC updates DEERS automatically using data from the SSA and the uniformed services, which is what keeps coverage flowing for surviving family members.
Children remain covered as "active duty family members" until they age out of TRICARE — typically age 21, or 23 if a full-time student. After that, unmarried adult children of a deceased sponsor may purchase TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) coverage up to age 26 if they do not have their own employer-sponsored health insurance and the sponsor had TRICARE at the time of death. TYA is premium-based.
After completing the notification process, eligible survivors can apply for 6 benefits through the DHA. Each benefit has its own eligibility requirements and application process.
Keep copies of all documents submitted to the DHA. Original documents submitted for verification are typically returned after processing.
DMDC/DEERS Support Office
Phone1-800-538-9552
Fax1-800-336-4416
Mailing Address
DMDC/DEERS Support Office, 400 Gigling Road, Seaside, CA 93955-6771
WebsiteVisit website→
Continued Health Care Benefit Program (Humana Military)
Phone1-800-444-5445
WebsiteLearn about benefits→
DMDC/DEERS Support Office (fax death certificate)
Phone1-800-538-9552
Fax1-800-336-4416
Mailing Address
DMDC/DEERS Support Office, 400 Gigling Road, Seaside, CA 93955-6771
Timeline
DMDC may take several weeks to receive the death notification from the SSA and uniformed services; surviving family must change TRICARE plans within 90 days of death (QLE window); CHCBP enrollment deadline is 60 days from loss of TRICARE eligibility
WebsiteLearn more →
Verified Jul 2026