Military Treatment Facility - Direct Care

What is Direct Care?

2023, 27 January

Military Treatment Facility's!

Direct Care is provided by Military Treatment Facility's (MTF). Retirees and dependents in Korea typically must use Direct Care on a Space Available (Space-A) basis, however, if you're lucky enough to be registered at a local MTF who uses the TRICARE Plus Program, Space-A will not apply.

TRICARE Select Overseas is what retirees have when under the age of 65, has a monthly fee, and is what retirees use to manage your own health care when seeking care from overseas civilian providers, however it is also the qualifying healthcare plan when using the military medical facilities.

TRICARE Plus is the primary care program that accompanies your TRICARE plan (Select of Life) and is offered at some military hospitals and clinics to give you access for obtaining a Primary Care Manager (PCM) and primary care at your military hospital or clinic. You must be enrolled in TRICARE Select (or For Life) to register, and of course the program must be offered at that location. TRICARE Plus registration is unique to each base, and many sites do not provide it, or those that do have limited slots available, so be prepared for Space-A.   If you are already registered into PLUS, and you already have a PCM, AND you are turning 65... you will not lose your PCM. Contact the TRICARE office at Osan, 0505-784-2273, and talk with them to make sure nothing gets missed. The key to this working out that there is NO BREAK in your TRICARE service during the transition to 65.

Space-A: Alternatively to all the above, retirees not registered with the TRICARE Plus program are indeed reliant on SPACE-A.  Space-A at military medical facilities is same-day, space available for retirees and their families. The Emergency Room is available for emergency care at all times. Space-A means calling the appointment desk in the morning for an appointment that same day. If no appointments are available, try tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow. Yes, you must do this every day as Space-A is only for that day.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Policies that govern services to Retirees vary between the MTF's throughout Korea and range from "No Service" at all, to having a PCM, so know your area and know the policies in your areas clinic. Below is information by area as of Oct 2021. We will try and keep it up-to-date, but again... know your area!