8 Step Check List for a Newlywed Mil-Spouse
Marrying someone in the military provides benefits, but it also comes with numerous responsibilities. Here is my 8-step checklist on how I navigated the newlywed military spouse experience.
These are my 8 steps for accomplishing essential tasks as a new military spouse:
Ensure your spouse registers you in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting Systems (DEERS) within 30 days, including for new blended families. Providing documentation for both your marriage and your child is important for future benefits.
To get your military ID, visit the installation ID facility with at least two forms of ID. My husband and I scheduled an appointment, though some bases allow walk-ins. Bring documentation of your marriage, like a marriage license, and two IDs, such as a Social Security card and driver's license. We prioritized getting my base ID quickly, so it initially had my maiden name. I'll explain more about this concern later.
After acquiring DEERS and your military ID, make an appointment with your DPS to update your driver's license. Depending on your location, you can probably schedule online or at least find more information on updating your driver's license. Then go to your local social security office to update your social security. I did the paperwork online and made an appointment. By doing so, the process at the office was quick. Typically, it takes about 5-10 days for your updated social security card.
Once you have your updated driver's license and social security card, head back to your installation ID facility to update your military ID. When I went to our base's installation ID facility, I did a walk-in. Typically, later in the day, the traffic was lighter for me.
If you opted for Tricare, here's what I did. While managing my duties, my spouse enrolled me in Tricare after we compared it with my employer's insurance. Tricare appeared to offer more comprehensive benefits. Tricare coverage varies based on your station location, either West (AL, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, IA (excluding the Rock Island Arsenal area), KS, MN, MO (excluding the St. Louis area), MT, NE, NV, NM, ND, OR, SD, TX (only the Amarillo, Lubbock, and El Paso areas), UT, WA, and WY) with TriWest Healthcare Alliance (TriWest) or East (AL, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY) with Humana Military. However, starting January 1st, 2025, if you're stationed in Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Illinois, or Michigan, you will automatically switch from Tricare East to Tricare West (Hallelujah!). I was previously with Tricare East through Humana. If you encounter issues as I did, I reached out to our base hospital's beneficiary services. They suggested contacting Humana Military Tricare East for assistance. In my case, there was a system glitch when my husband enrolled me; he received a letter with my account details, but I couldn't book a new primary care physician appointment without reaching out to Humana Military. Once I contacted Humana Military, they helped resolve the issue, even on a Sunday. Humana Military (East) Customer Service phone number is (800)444-5445; available Monday through Friday from 8 AM - 6 PM ET and CT (unless you're as fortunate as I was). For overseas, use the exit code of the country you're calling from, then dial 1(502)318-9986. For Tricare West, call (888)874-9378. Available Monday through Friday from 8 AM - 6 PM (within your time zone). For more information, click the link. https://newsroom.tricare.mil/News/TRICARE-News/Article/3890556/know-how-tricare-regions-are-changing-in-2025
Distinguishing between Tricare Prime and Select can be quite challenging, in my opinion. Since my husband is on active duty, we have Tricare Prime. Allow me to be a "girl's girl" for a moment and save you some time and energy. While at work, I was explaining to a colleague the various Tricare plans and trying to grasp the differences between them. In short, Tricare Prime requires you to visit your Primary Care Physician (PCP) on base, who will then send referrals to specialists (excluding dental, as dental isn't covered under Tricare; only vision is). With Tricare Select, you have the freedom to choose your PCP and do not need a referral to see specialists. I work in healthcare and frequently send referrals to PCPs. Given that my husband is active duty, I prefer Tricare Prime. This way, if I ever need a PCP, they will be on base. Additionally, considering my medical history, if I require a specialist and we are stationed elsewhere, some providers might already have specialists to recommend. The options is for you and your spouse and it's good to have conversations that will benefit you and your family.
As mentioned earlier, dental care is not included with Tricare; it is provided through United Concordia. Your spouse can enroll you, and trust me, you'll want it. For instance, even though I'm in my late 20s, I recently had my wisdom teeth removed. Without dental insurance, the procedure would have cost $3,000 (yes, really!). However, with United Concordia, we were partially covered and only had to pay around $500. While $500 is still significant, it's much more manageable than a $3,000 bill and the accompanying stress.
Finally, something I wasn't aware of was the importance of remembering your spouse's SSN. This situation occurred when I was collecting my prescription off base. The pharmacist couldn't find my information using my beneficiary number or DoD ID. However, after providing my husband's SSN, they were able to locate me. I was accustomed to having an insurance card, so this was a significant adjustment for me.
Comentários