Going to college is an exciting milestone for many young adults. From signing up for classes to buying dorm supplies, summer can be a busy time for new college students and their families. During this time, you’ll also need to make sure your child’s TRICARE coverage will be ready when the semester starts, especially if he or she is moving away from home.

Do you know what to do when you or a family member feels sick, but it’s outside of business hours? Should you go to an urgent care clinic or the emergency room, or wait until your doctor’s office is open? Luckily, TRICARE has a service called the Global Nurse Advice Line that can help when you need healthcare guidance.

Do you have TRICARE Prime? If so, you likely get most of your routine healthcare from your primary care manager. But sometimes, you may need specialty care that your PCM can’t provide. This is when your PCM will give you a referral. Having a referral can reduce your out-of-pocket expenses. Referrals can also help reduce the time you need to wait to get specialty care.

When was the last time you looked to see if your information in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System is up to date? If it’s been a while, it’s extremely important to take time and log in to DEERS to review or update your information. DEERS is key to managing military health benefits, supporting the needs of service members, retirees, and their family members. You should make sure to update your information in DEERS so your family can get the benefits they deserve.