Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)
After the Sponsor enrolls the family in DEERS and chooses an appropriate TriCare plan the next step is MANDATORY enrollment in the EFMP Program for your branch of service. Although this program may have a different name, each uniformed branch of service - Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard has an EFMP program.
The purpose of the EFMP program is to ensure that military members who have family members with special needs or disabilities are located in a geographical location where services for those special needs or disabilities are available.
The EFMP program has several purposes.
- Identify family members with specific medical, educational and community needs.
- Document the services required
- Considers the above noted needs during the personnel PCS assignment process. Especially when approving family members for accompanied travel to overseas duty stations.
- Involves personnel and medical commands and the educational system where necessary.
The Sponsor will need the following documents when applying:
- A completed DD Form 2792, Nov 2006 Exceptional Family Member Medical Summary
- An incapacitation order signed by a district court judge for children over the age of majority for that state (age 18 for most).
- A Court appointment as Legal Guardian for the above noted Incapacitated child.
- Current ID card
- Copy of Sponsor's Active Duty orders
To avoid ANY confusion we are directly quoting the TriCare ECHO pamphlet issued in 2006 regarding EFMP requirements.
TRICARE Extended Care Health Option (ECHO) For Certain Active Duty Family Members
(Pamphlet issued 2006, pg.5)
"... each uniformed service branch -- Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard-- has an Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP). The EFMP is a mandatory enrollment program for active duty personnel who have a family member(s) with special needs. Enrolling in this program will help to ensure that military families are located in geographical areas where their family members' needs can be met.
EFMP enrollment is mandatory and required immediately upon notification of a family member with special needs.
For more information about EFMP, visit www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/efm and click on "EFMP" or speak to a Special Needs Coordinator at your local military treatment facility."
EFMP managers/coordinators may be found:
- Local Military Treatment Facility treating dependants
- Military Personnel and Finance (MPF) offices
- Family Readiness Centers
*Air Force Members: The Air Force has begun stationing a Special Needs Facilitator/Coordinator on many of it's larger bases. 35 major bases are slated for a permanent coordinator by mid to late 2011. Education counselors and civilian contact personnel may also be available, depending on the base. Check with your main MPF or Family Readiness Office to find your base coordinator or for more information.
You may also visit one of the service-specific Web sites listed on the Military Resource Links list for more information regarding this program.
*Note for Reserve and National Guard Members on Title X orders: The EFMP program is designed to assist Active Duty service members with disabled dependants PCS to duty stations which provide, or have access to, medical, educational and family support services that meet the needs of disabled family members. Reserve and National Guard members DO NOT PCS. However. They are still required to enroll with the EFMP for their branch of service when on Title X orders.
While new changes have been made (with more in the pipeline) and an effort in educating military staff is underway there still exists some confusion on the part of Active Duty EFMP office personnel when faced with a Reservist or National Guardsman on Title X active duty orders. Even though these "part-time" military personnel on Title X orders do not PCS they must still be enrolled in EFMP. Should you attempt to enroll in EFMP, a required step before enrolling in the regulation required TriCare ECHO program, it may be helpful to contact your case manager (see the Case Management subsection) at TriCare and explain your dilemma. The EFMP application is used to enroll the individual in BOTH programs.
In 2007 it was necessary for Regional TriCare ECHO staff to enforce an EFMP enrollment at the local level for Linda's family. The EFMP staff on Base was not aware they were required to enroll Reservists on Title X active duty orders and had denied enrollment when first approached by Linda's Active Duty husband. They are now fully aware and educated regarding EFMP enrollment requirements for part-time military members on active duty orders.
Tip: Hang on to your original forms or ensure you have a good hard copy. You may find you'll need them many times over. Preventing a repeat of the full evaluation process by keeping the original forms will save you grief and time in the long run. NEVER SHRED DEPENDENCY DETERMINATION FORMS!