[wowluckymama]

Hi

Is anyone here military? I am filling out my paperwork with my agency and trying to fill out the insurance paperwork. I called Tricare and they said I would have to be sure that the child was eligible through DEERS and then they cover everything. I called DEERS and they said that they don't cover the child until finilization. I live in Utah so I think finilization takes one year. My agency is in Colorado and they said it takes 6 months to finilize there. I was just wondering if anyone else has experienced with this. Did you have to cover the child for the first 6-12 months on your own? I am worried because I know that baby girl may have some medical concerns when she arrives I want to be sure that we can provide for her care. I am so worried I don't know if we can do this without insurance.

[hopeful2adopt]

I'm not military, but I believe it is a law that your child must be covered once they enter the US (regardless of finalization)and treated no differently than if you had given birth to him/her. I don't think the military's version of health insurance is exempt to this. I've seen regular health insurance carriers tell perspective adoptive families what you were told as well and it is not true. I'm sure someone on the BB can shed more light on this subject, but I believe if you do a little research, you will be able to come up with the law is. Then Tricare or DEEDS should have to comply.

[specialk4b]

From the Tricare site:

A record of adoption or a letter of placement of the child into the home by a recognized placement/adoption agency or the court before the final adoption

So I think if you can have a letter of placement you can enroll in DEERS before the adoption is finalized.

And you don't HAVE to have a SS# to enroll. They'll put in a placeholder number until you get yours.

[mdaisyq]

There is a great yahoo group for military families who are adopting. I have a number of friends who are adopting internationally, and are military. My friends have said that this group is very helpful.

AdoptionSupportGroupForMilitaryFamilies : [Mil-Fam-Adopt]

[devildogwife]

My son was adopted domestically. He was covered from birth by tricare. You have 60 days to enroll them in DEERS, fyi. I went to our local AFB with a letter from my attorney, stating that our son was placed with us from birth for the purpose of adoption. Then, they enrolled him just with that and without a SSN. Your child is absolutely eligible, you'll just have to call around until you talk to someone who actually knows what they're talking about.

[Shrken7]

Devildogwife,
I see that your son is having surgery again tomorrow. By reading your signature he has been through so much already. I'm sending lots of prayers your way. I hope all goes great!

[denise marie]

they told you wrong...they will cover your child once child is home...But only for 6 months until you get birth cert and ss card. you can aslo file extensions on that when the 6 months is up.This is what they did with our son when we adopted him from India.You wont get staright answers from Tricare or deers.do you have a insurance book?Or look it up online thats what i did.Good luck.
Denise

[denise marie]

they told you wrong...they will cover your child once child is home...But only for 6 months until you get birth cert and ss card. you can aslo file extensions on that when the 6 months is up.This is what they did with our son when we adopted him from India.You wont get staright answers from Tricare or deers.do you have a insurance book?Or look it up online thats what i did.Good luck.
Denise