ID Card

monkey> Yes, that expiration date will mark the month before my 65th. By coincidence, the month and day was also when I retired so assumed it had something to do with that.

My wife's ID expires 5 years after the issue date. Has there been any changes to that policy?

Thanks- Sky

to the best of my knowledge, all dependents must renew ID cards every five years. There might be a cut-off age for spouses where it becomes permanently valid -- seems like age 70 or something, but in general dependents are five years

meethinks we have made a salad by mixing the proverbial apples and oranges with grapefruit.

The expiration date of the ID card is on the obverse (front) side of the card and for all retirees is should be INDEF or PERM or LIKE FOREVER.

The number on the reverse (back) refers to the old CHAMPUS vs. Medicare date which is now moot.

As I recall your wife is a military retiree and her card should be INDEF or PERM.

Dependent ID cards do indeed need to be renewed periodically until, at a certain age (I believe it is in the 70s) they also get a PERM or INDEF.

Glenn

Guess what? Went to Fort Jackson last Tuesday and got a new ID card for my wife as the old one was about to expire. Very nice people there. Got in and out of there in less than 20 min.. The new ID card is for four years and my wife is 65. (And if she sees this post I'll be whale poop for at least a month).

FastEagle

I am still a bit confused, I am Tricare Prime, and at 64 and 11 months I am no longer eligable for Prime?? Do I have to use Medicare? I believe I see much older that 65 year old's at the base hospital etc. Do I still keep paying into Prime as I have been? I guess I should go to a Tricare office when I get back to a base or post to inquire, but any helpfull info before I get there would be appreciated. I still have another years or so before I hit the big 65
Thanks

Frank

Under the new Tri-Care for Life rules. At 65 you are no longer eligible for Tri-Care Prime and are placed in Tri-Care Standard (the no cost option) and you are required to take Medicare.

You can essentially go anywhere you want for medical care and between the two insurances, everything is covered. For instance you can then start to use the services of a chiropractor--Tri-Care will NOT pay for it but Medicare will.

As for the base hospital, that is entirely up to the hospital commander. In most instances if you have a long standing relationship with the hospital, they will let you stay on and simply bill Medicare instead of Tri-Care Prime.

Medicare will cost a little more than Prime now charges you but between the two, you will have no out-of-pocket costs. The exception would be if you exceed the very generous "caps" that are on both programs.

Hope that helps.

Glenn