DOD stopped issuing the now legacy laminated Teslin ID cards in Dec 2020, including our coveted blue retiree card, and replaced them with the next generation Uniformed Services Identification Card (USID), a more secure card. The DOD has announced they recommend all legacy Teslin ID cards be replaced by 2026, including INDEF cards. Any legacy Teslin ID cardholder can obtain a new USID Card upon request regardless of expiration date.
INDEF for the Retiree is automatic during the month prior to your 65th birthday -- the expiration date of the retirees current ID (or medical date on the back of a blue ID). The current ID expires on the last day of the month prior to your birth month. If in Korea (or the Pacific region) do this AFTER THE 1st of the month due to the time zone difference between Korea (the Pacific) and the U.S. Anything done here on the 1st is still yesterday - last month - CONUS. INDEF for the retiree is automatic regardless of Medicare enrollment. Medicare enrollment only impacts TRICARE, not ID expiration.
INDEF date eligibility for a Retiree Spouse process as of June 2026 now falls in-line more with the retirees process than earlier.
First, it is not necessarily to get a new Retired ID card at 65 if your current Expiration Date is later than 65. However, you are authorized to get a new card at 65 if you are eligible for INDEF Expiration Date status.
Second, retiree dependent spouses under the age of 65, who's ID cards were issued after 5 Jun 2026, will now also have an Expiration Date of the last day of the month prior to their 65th birth month - the same process as the retiree. The spouse can go to an ID card office anytime during that month and get a new card, that MAY have INDEF Expiration Date - if you qualify!
How do you qualify? Unlike the retiree who only needs to turn 65 for INDEF, the spouse must ALSO be enrolled in Medicare Parts A & B and DEERS must be properly updated with that enrollment. So, the two qualifying factors for the dependent spouse INDEF status are:
1) Turning 65
2) DEERS properly reflecting Medicare enrollment.
Retirees can obtain an INDEF ID at 65 online at https://idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco, and it can happen earlier than the above mentioned "anytime during the month prior to your birth month". When online at IDCO there should see a checkbox for INDEF as you are applying for renewal, which will have your INDEF card delivered to your mailbox even if it's earlier that the 'month prior' scenario.
In order for a dependent to get a new/updated ID card a Form 1172-2 must be signed by the Sponsor, or a Power of Attorney must be available to the dependent allowing the dependent to act in place of the sponsor and sign the 1172-2. The easiest way to renew a dependents ID card is for the Sponsor and Dependent to visit a DEERS/RAPIDS ID card office so the Sponsor can sign the form 1172-2. If a Power of Attorney is given to the dependent from the sponsor, the the dependent can come to an ID Card office on their own.
The Sponsor can also go online to https://idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco and digitally sign an 1172-2 form, send to their dependent, who can then visit an ID card office on their own without the sponsor. The 1172-2 MUST be digitally signed! The dependent can then come to an ID Card office on their own.
Many dependents are eligible to have their ID cards replaced via an online process in IDCO. The sponsor will receive an email 90 days prior to their dependents ID expiration date with instructions allowing them to visit the DOD ID Card Online website at https://idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco. There should be a button next to the family members name to request a mail-in ID. If there is no button, then they are not eligible for mail-in renewal and most likely did not receive the email. A visit to a DEERS ID Card office is then required, or try the Mail-in process below. Visit www.cac.mil for more information.
An ID card received via the Mail-In/Online process MUST be Activated upon receipt of the card on the ID Card Online website and navigating to the Activate card section. The Sponsor must activate the card!
A DEERS ID Card Office CANNOT activate a Mail-In ID card!
The DMDC Support Office CANNOT activate a Mail-In ID card!
Until the card is activated, the DEERS ID Card Office CANNOT perform any actions on that ID card holder!
You get an INDEF ID at 65 whether you signed up for Medicare and have TRICARE For Life (TFL) or not. You can turn down enrollment in Medicare Part B and still get your INDEF ID Card. You lose your TRICARE by doing this, but you still get the same 65 year retiree card. So the ID itself proves nothing medically. As you can read on the TRICARE page, you are automatically enrolled in TFL when you enroll in Medicare Part B. Your DEERS record will automatically update, whether you get an new ID card or not (still best to verify your Medicare properly updated at an ID card office). This means you are covered by TRICARE, even if you do not get an new ID and retain the expired ID card. But, if you are asked to show your ID somewhere, and it's expired because you have turned 65 and didn't get a new one, well that alone can cause other problems. So, yes it is of course the best COA (course of action) to obtain a new ID at 65.
The point here is, you do not need a current DOD ID card to have and use TRICARE. Does it make it easier? Yes, by virtue of having a valid ID, but it is not necessary.
Another tidbit of information about the new USID cards, there is no longer any medical information on the back of the card. The back of the new ID card only reads "Verify Eligibility", which is actually there for the medical provider to verify TRICARE, and not for you the cardholder to prove it. It's one of the changes we in DOD made to the new IDs.
DEERS does not generate SSN's or ITIN's. Also, do not confuse the SSN. ITIN, TIN or FIN with a DOD ID Number (DODID). Every person enrolled in DEERS has one, and one only, unique DODID number - everybody.
When a foreign-born spouse who does not have either a Social Security Number (SSN) or an IRS Tax ID Number (ITIN) is enrolled into DEERS, the ID card operator will select an automatically DEERS generated Personal Identifier for them, either a Temporary ID Number (TIN) or a Foreign ID Number (FIN). TIN’s start with the number 8. FIN’s start with the number 9. The ID card operator will determine which number is to be used based on the specific situation.
TINs are just that, temporary, assigned to give the sponsor time to get your new spouse an SSN or an ITIN. A TIN does not expire, but the Direct Medical Care does. A TIN is valid for 90 days, with the option to be extended twice for 90 days each. Once that time period is over, Direct Care ends. TRICARE is not affected. A FIN on the other hand, has no such time limitation, but there are limits to who is eligible for a FIN.
Yongsan Garrison HQ
Bldg. 2372, Rm 116 (near Barber Shop)
DSN 315-722-4225/5453
Korea Comm 0503-322-4225/5453
Intl +82-5033-22-4225/5453
Mon - Fri 0800 - Last Customer 1500
Open during lunch
No Appointments Necessary
Location Map
Timothy Maude Hall
Bldg. P6400, Rm. F104 (OneStop)
DSN 315-757-2102
Korea Comm 05033-57-2102
Intl +82-5033-57-2102
Mon - Fri 0830 - 1630
Open during lunch
No Appointments Necessary
Appointments for VIPS available
Maude Hall
Bldg 2440 1st Floor
DSN 315-722-1680/4068
Korea Comm 05033-22-1680/4068
Intl +82-05033-22-1680/4068
Mon - Fri 0800 - 1700
Closed for lunch
No Appointments Necessary
Camp Walker
Bldg 330 Rm 128D
DSN 315-763-4879
Korea Comm 05033-63-4879
Mon - Fri 0800 - 1700
Open during lunch
No Appointments Necessary
Community Activities Center
Bldg S302 Rm B107
DSN 315-722-8107
Korea Comm 05033-22-8107
Mon - Fri 0800 - 1600
Closed for lunch
No Appointments Necessary
51st FSS/FSPS
Building 936, Room 117
DSN 315-784-1845
Korea Comm 0505-784-1845
Intl +82-31-661-1845
Walk-ins & Appointments
https://www.51fss.com/
Bldg 755 Rm 119
DSN 315-782-7220
Korea Comm 0505-782-7220
No Appointments Necessary
Bldg 606, Rm 120
DSN 315 763-5203
Korea Comm from Cell 055-540-5203
By Appointment Only
https://idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco/
JUSMAGPHIL, Veterans Affairs Building
1501 Roxas Blvd
Pasay City, Philippines 1300
Intl +63-2-53-012-0000
By Appointment Only
https://ph.usembassy.gov/dod-id-card/
FYI: TRICARE website maintains an excellent updated DEERS Contact Page at https://www.tricare.mil/deers