Q. I think I recently broke my nose. My doctor says I need surgery to move it back in place since I have trouble breathing through one of my nostrils. Does Tricare cover this type of surgery?

A. Tricare covers any medically necessary procedures that contribute to the health of eligible beneficiaries. If your doctor is recommending surgery because you are having trouble breathing after blunt-force trauma to the face, that will generally qualify as medically necessary.

You offer no information on your Tricare eligibility status. But assuming you are a Tricare-eligible family member, you should be able to have nose surgery to correct your problem.

Be aware, however, that Tricare does not cover any form of surgery that is done purely for cosmetic reasons.

Q. I am an active-duty soldier. I separate soon and will serve in the reserves for three years. I just found out that I'm pregnant. Will Tricare cover my medical bills, and a possible C-section?

A. You may enroll in Tricare Reserve Select after you separate from active duty. That program, which requires enrollment and payment of premiums, will cover your prenatal needs, the birth of your baby and the baby's health care, as long as you enroll him or her under your sponsorship in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System. There is an ID Card/DEERS office on every military installation; you can also get general information from the main DEERS support office in California at 800-538-9552.

Q. I have married the same man three times. The first two times, he was still on active duty. He retired in 2003. Our first marriage was from June 1988 to October 1991, the second from July 1992 to April 1994, and the third started in October 2001 and is ongoing. If we divorced now, would I be eligible to keep Tricare as my health insurance because of our cumulative years of marriage or does only the current marriage count?

A. No, you would not be able to keep Tricare.

According to the time references you provide, the first two times you were married to your husband totaled five years, all while he was on active duty. Your third marriage spanned a little over his last two years of active duty prior to military retirement. That's a little over seven years total that you were married while he was on active duty.

Three specific conditions must be met in order for spouses to continue to be eligible for post-divorce Tricare coverage:

1. The service member must serve at least 20 years in the military and be eligible for military retirement benefits.

2. The period of marriage must total at least 20 years. (These 20 years do not have to be consecutive.)

3. The marriage and the member's military service must overlap by at least 20 years.

Your meet the first criteria above, but not the last two. Over your three marriages, your total marriage time while your husband was on active duty was only a bit more than seven years, and your marriage time and his service overlapped by only a bit more than seven years. As such, if you divorce, your Tricare eligibility would end on the date the divorce decree becomes final.

Email tricarehelp@militarytimes.com. Include the word "Tricare" in the subject line and do not attach files. Get Tricare advice any time at http://blogs.militarytimes.com/tricarehelp/.

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