Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 11/28/2007

Question
I am the girlfriend of an army soldier, he is an E-4 and I just found out we are having a baby.  We are not married, but we plan to get married before our baby is born. I currently have no insurance of my own and we are not sure if his military insurance will cover me and our baby before we get married. Will his insurance cover the visits to the doctor to check the health of me and the baby before we get married?

Answer
Dear Denise --

You are not eligible for military family member medical care until you are married.  

If you do not get married, your child will be eligible, if your boyfriend admits paternity.  He must bring the birth certificate to his personnel assistance center and register your child using a Department of Defense Form 1172 (DD Form 1172).  Your boyfriend must then register the child with DEERS in order for the child to get care at military treatment facilities, or with Tricare medical insurance.

If you do get married, you and your boyfriend must take the marriage certificate to the PAC and fill out the DD Form 1172.  You should get a military family member ID card.  He should register you with DEERS at that time.  You are then eligible for pre-natal care and your child will also be eligible for care.

Good luck to all of you.  Please write back if you have more questions.