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You can obtain a copy of your DD 214 Discharge form from the National Archives website.
YES
Retirees are authorized base legal services where/when available to include Wills, Notaries, and more. Contact you base's office for specific details of that bases hours and policies.
YES, of course.
As with anywhere you might decide to live, there are disadvantages. Heck, even heaven has one... the fact one is there and not here :) So, lets look at some of the disadvantages to living in Korea as a Non-SOFA status Retiree.
Yes, several. There are NFCU's at Osan AB, Humphreys, Camp Walker and Camp Carroll. There are also NFCU ATMs at other sites, and other ATMs on the bases, such as Bank of America Community Bank ATMs will accept FCU cash cards. There is no longer a NFCU or ATM on Yongsan.
Yes, but you will need a Korean Visa. Tourists visiting are not allowed.to have Community Bank accounts, ad if you do have/get one, it will close when you leave Korea.
Yes if you are a non retired, but 100% Disabled American veteran with a DOD issued 100% Disabled American Veteran ID card.
No if you are a non retired disabled American veteran less than 100% VA rated with only a VA VHIC ID card.
Obtaining an INDEF expiration date on a retirees dependent spouse ID card differs from the retired sponsor in two key ways:
Read details about INDEF on our DEERS ID Card page at https://www.rsokorea.org/idcards.html
A retiree must obtain a new retiree ID card when turning 65. That new ID will have an INDEF expiration date as long as the card is produced within the month prior to turning 65, or later. The current retiree ID (before turning 65) should have as an expiration date, the last day of the month prior to the retirees birth month i.e. birthday is 24 Jun, the ID expiration will be 31 May. You can get your "65th birthday" ID anytime during that month of May and it will be INDEF. Except in Korea, or anywhere in the Pacific! DO NOT get your new card on the 1st of the month (May 1 in our example), because it is still 'yesterday' (Apr) stateside and it will not be INDEF until May.
There is a history about expiration dates and INDEF that applies to past retiree cards. Some older blue INDEF retiree ID's are actually NOT INDEF, even if it reads INDEF on the front of the ID. The blue-card history is discussed at https://www.rsokorea.org/idcards-about.html#history-blue-retiree-id.
Enrolling in Medicare does not impact a retirees INDEF status, as it does for the retirees dependent spouse.
Read details about INDEF on our DEERS ID Card page at https://www.rsokorea.org/idcards.html
Yes, there are several ways to allow a dependent to obtain a new ID card without the sponsor being present. All ways require a Form 1172-2 to be signed by the Sponsor or by the dependent if in procession of a Power of Attorney. As an overview, the ways include:
Read details about Renewing Dependent ID cards on our DEERS ID Card page at https://www.rsokorea.org/idcards.html
Yes, in some cases. If a divorced spouse falls under the 20/20/20 or 20/20/15 rules they are eligible.
Read details about the 20/20/20 process on our DEERS ID Card page at https://www.rsokorea.org/idcards.html
Yes. A Disabled American Veteran who is rated 100% by the VA may obtain a DOD issued ID card for themselves and eligible family members.
Read details about the 100% DAV process on our DEERS ID Card page at https://www.rsokorea.org/idcards-about.html
Your Blue Retiree ID card was most likely issued to you prior to a change made to the INDEF policy on the front of your ID card.
For many years the Blue Retiree ID said INDEF (Indefinite) on the front and your actual 65th birthday date on the back... in small text. Actually it was the date of the month prior to your 65th birthday, but regardless, it was on the back in small text and rarely noticed by some.
The INDEF on the front gave many retirees a false sense of security about their ID card, because they in fact were NOT INDEF (if not 65), but retirees paid little attention to that and many failed to watch the date on the back, thus lost their TRICARE because they failed to obtain Medicare Part B as they turned 65.
The DOD directed DMDC to replace INDEF and place the date on the front of the ID card, the same date as on the back, to help remind retiree cardholders of the Expiration Date.
There are 3 scenarios to this.
IT'S COMING in 2026, BUT NOT MANDATORY YET
DOD has put an expected date of 2026 out there to have all legacy Teslin ID cards. ATTRITION, however is the key word in this process. It is expected that by 2024 all, or most, expiring legacy IDs will have been replaced through expiration attrition. This leaves the INDEF ID cards to be replaced, which is where the 2026 date comes into play. All legacy Teslin laminated ID cards should be replaced by 2026 with the white plastic USID ID cards.
You can update your address and/or phone number on your DEERS record by going to the DMDC MilConnect page and then to the My Profile page. After you make changes on your Personal tab, remember to submit your changes to make sure your updates are made in DEERS.
Note: If you are covered by TRICARE, you might prefer to make changes that affect your coverage options (such as your residence address) in MilConnect's Beneficiary Web Enrollment (BWE). With BWE, you can immediately select coverage options available in your new location.
References:
Yes, if you are 100% Permeant disabled with a letter from the VA, then you are entitled to a DoD Disable American Veterans (DAV) ID card. This is pretty much the same as a Retiree ID card and allows base access, PX/BX, Commissary and MWR privileges. 100% disabled veteran's will need to take a copy of their rating with them to the RAPID ID site to be issued the ID.
No, if you are 0%-90% service-connected by VA, you are not eligible for an ID card.
Click Here for ID Card locations in Korea
Phone Numbers:
It's difficult! You need to make an appointment online with JUSMAGPHIL, who manages and operates the DEERS/RAPIDS ID Card program. I have heard horror stories about making an online appointment with them, so better to just email them at ManilaDODID@state.gov
You can get your new RETIREE INDEF ID card anytime during the month prior to your birthday, prior to your current card expiring EXCEPT on the 1st of the month in Korea due to the time zone difference with the U.S. Just visit an DEERS/RAPIDS ID card office.
YES
TRICARE continues to provide coverage for family members when a sponsor dies, especially the surviving spouse if that spouse has not remarried. If the spouse has remarried, they lose all retired benefits including TRICARE.
You don’t need to enroll in TRICARE For Life (TFL). When you turn 65, you must have Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B to keep your TRICARE benefits or you must have proof you aren’t eligible for premium-free Medicare Part A.
If you’re eligible for premium-free Medicare Part A, sign up for Medicare Part B no later than 2 months before you turn 65 to avoid a break in coverage. Your TFL coverage starts the day you have both Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. To learn more, visit the Beneficiaries Eligible for TRICARE and Medicare page.
Note: If you have an active duty sponsor, you don’t have to sign up for Medicare Part B until your sponsor retires. Sign up no later than 2 months before your sponsor retires to avoid a break in TRICARE coverage.
YES
Your only options are TRICARE Select Overseas or TRICARE For Life (TFL) Overseas. You must update your address in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).
Moving is a Qualifying Life Event (QLE). Visit the QLE page to learn more.
Note: This applies to any family members moving with you.
NO
Your child must report the marriage to DMDC/DEERS Support Office as soon as possible. If your child doesn't report it in a timely manner and continues to get care, TRICARE will recoup on all claims paid during periods of ineligibility.
If the marriage ends (for example, by divorce or death), while your child is under age 21 or 23 as a full-time student, your child may get back his or her TRICARE-eligibility.
For eligibility questions, call the DMDC/DEERS Support Office.
Note: This also applies to young adults covered by TRICARE Young Adult.
Enrollment fee: None, but you must pay the Medicare Part B monthly premium.
Cost shares: Most of the time, you won’t have cost shares because both Medicare and TRICARE cover most services. You’ll pay out-of-pocket when Medicare doesn't cover a service, when TRICARE doesn't cover a service, or when Medicare and TRICARE don't cover a service.
To learn more and to download the TRICARE For Life Cost Matrix, visit the TRICARE For Life costs page.
As we know, with Medicare A & B, you have TRICARE for Life (TFL), which works overseas more or less like Tricare Select, where you select whatever provider you wish and pay up front and claim for reimbursement. Costs are covered 75% by TRICARE, and your copayment is 25%, with an annual cap of $3,000.
Evacuation coverage with TRICARE, however, is pretty minimal, driven by medical necessity, and typically will only transport you to the closest facility that can treat you. So, if you are looking for peace of mind in any possible evacuation situation you should look into a commercial travel insurance policy.
NO
You’re eligible for TRICARE For Life if you:
- Show as TRICARE-eligible in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS); and
- Have Medicare Part A and Part B.
Eligibility begins on the first day you have both Medicare Part A and Part B.
To learn more, visit the TRICARE For Life page.
YES
Call OPM's Retirement Information Office at 1-888-767-6738 to obtain a suspension form.
YES. You can get covered vaccines from any TRICARE-authorized provider. TRICARE covers vaccines at no cost. TRICARE covers age-appropriate doses of vaccines, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). TRICARE also regularly adds coverage for new vaccines based on CDC recommendations.
Yes
Yes, but there are some rules
Mail-In ID cards received via the DMDC Mail-On process MUST be Activated by the recipient upon receipt of the card by using a DS Logon account to the ID Card Online website. Read more...
Flu Vaccines are different for those after the age of 65. This is because older adults have a weaker immune system. To offer better protection, health authorities recommend higher-dose or adjuvanted flu vaccines for people aged 65 and older. Higher-dose vaccines contain a higher amount of the flu virus proteins (antigens). Adjuvanted vaccines contain a substance that helps enhance the body’s immune response to the vaccine and boost the immune system’s reaction to the vaccine, providing better protection.
On-base Legal Office Services and be used by Retirees for Wills, Notary, etc? Ask your base for their details.
DD214 copies can be requested by retirees as well as other service records. Read more...
U.S. Toll Free numbers can be called FREE from a Korean cell phone using 1688-4663.
Un-Remarried Retiree Widows/Widowers retains all benefits including TRICARE? Read more...
Retired Pay Information must keep current in DFAS myPay or it could cause problems with your Survivor Benefit Plan.
INDEF ID Card Expiration Date for dependent spouses is now 65 if enrolled in Medicare Part B Read more...
INDEF for a retiree turning 65 occurs the month prior to their actual 65th birthday date, but not for retirees spouse. Read more...
DBIDS Registering of newly issued DEERS ID cards is no longer required - it's automated. Read more...
TRICARE is lost at age 65 if you do not enroll in Medicare Part B? Read more...
Community Bank accounts can be retained when retiring in Korea, and kept for as long as you remain in Korea. Read more...
Apostilles are certificates that authenticates the origin of a public document. Read more...
DOD ID cards are not proof of TRICARE medical enrollment or coverage. Read more...
Medicare Part B enrollment is automatic "IF" you are already collecting Social Security Benefits before age 65. Read more...
TRICARE Plus overseas can be retained during your transition to TRICARE For Life while in Korea. Read more...
Civilian Retiree ID Card program was discontinued 17 Feb 2023. Read more...
Korea National Health Care System (NHIS) mandate for foreigners in Korea is waivered by having TRICARE? Read more...
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