Q. I'm a former active-duty member who is expecting my former fiance's baby in about a month. We don't live near each other, and I'm wondering about how to establish the baby's paternity so he/she can be enrolled in DEERS for Tricare coverage. The father is still on active duty and is threatening to withhold enrolling the baby in DEERS if I don't waive payment of child support.

A. Since you are no longer on active duty and presumably do not qualify for military retirement benefits yourself, the baby's only viable military sponsor for Tricare eligibility purposes is your active-duty ex-fiance. It's no longer possible for you, yourself, to enroll the child in DEERS.

The Defense Department's Transitional Assistance Management Program provides up to 180 days of post-active duty coverage to separating service members and their eligible dependents, but the eligibility rules are very tight and very specific. If you left active duty voluntarily, you almost certainly do not qualify for TAMP. More information on that program is here: www.tricare.mil/TAMP

You should consult a lawyer about the child support issue.

Q. My ex-wife insists that I need to get my daughter a DEERS card. But I'm not affiliated with the military anymore; I was honorably discharged in early 2012 and now work for the federal government as a civilian. Is it even possible for me to still enroll my daughter in DEERS if I am completely out of the military?

A. Your ex-wife presumably is pursuing this in hopes of gaining Tricare coverage for your daughter. But if you're out of uniform and didn't serve long enough to qualify for military retirement benefits, then you are no longer registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System. As such, your daughter can't be registered in DEERS under your military sponsorship, and she's ineligible for a military ID card or Tricare coverage.

Q. After retiring from the Navy in 2012 at age 57, I found that if you continue working for an employer that offers health insurance, and choose not to use that insurance, the premiums for any other insurance you purchase must be paid with "after tax" dollars. I was told I could not use my Health Savings Account or other pre-tax income to cover Tricare premiums. Is that still the case?

A. Yes. You can't use an HSA if you're covered by certain types of other health insurance — one of which is Tricare. Tricare doesn't meet minimum annual deductible requirements for a high-deductible health plan, so anyone covered under Tricare is ineligible to contribute to an HSA. Individuals who have an HSA before becoming eligible for Tricare can use funds already in the account at that time, but they can't make further contributions.

Email tricarehelp@militarytimes.com. Include the word "Tricare" in the subject line.

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