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RSO Korea FAQ

General

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.

  • Medical Many of the older retirees have problems getting medical care for some of their more serious conditions as they age and need to make routine trips to the US. On post medical is slowly moving to a no retiree DHA model. Off post medical care is adequate, but not equal to US standards. Best off post hospitals are in Seoul.
  • Aging Support Korea lacks many of the elderly services available in the US. No home care support or traditional nursing homes. Families are expected to do these things.
  • Air Quality The air quality (yellow dust) is not that good.
  • US Mail Limited to 1 pound of incoming and outgoing mail from your APO box can be problematic at times.
  • Korean Banking Koreans now want additional documentation and having been in Korea for a minimum of 5 months before you open a bank account even with an ARC.
  • Driving Traffic and parking are bad. Once you reach 75 years old getting and maintaining a driver’s license can be problematic.

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.

DEERS ID Card

Obtaining an INDEF expiration date on a retirees dependent spouse ID card differs from the retired sponsor in two key ways:

  • INDEF only takes affect for a dependent on their actual 65th birthday date, or later, not before the birth date like the retiree's does.
  • The dependent MUST be enrolled in Medicare Part B, or INDEF does not take affect, which is unlike the retiree who's INDEF is not dependent on Medicare enrollment.

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:

  • Sponsor visits a DEERS ID card office in their area and starts/signs the paperwork
  • Sponsor goes online and digitally signs an 1172-2
  • Dependent has a Power of Attorney to sign the sponsors name
  • There is a Mail-in process. Sponsors can request dependent card renewals online through ID Card Office Online. Cards will be printed by the Government Publishing Office and mailed to the card recipient via U.S. mail.

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

DFAS

  • Federal and state tax changes
  • Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
  • Change of Correspondence addresses
  • Change Password
  • Start/change/stop non-insurance EFT Allotments
  • Password on Demand
  • View/Print/Save Retiree Account Statement
  • View/Print/Save Tax Statement (1099R)
  • Limited Access Password
  • E-mail Addresses
  • View/Print/Save Combat Related Special Compensation Statement
  • Alternate Login ID
  • Turn on/off tax statement alert notifications

TRICARE

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.

  • Under 65 and Don’t have Medicare: you must enroll in TRICARE Select Overseas. To learn more, visit the TRICARE Select Overseas page.
  • Have Medicare: you must keep Part B even though Medicare doesn’t cover care overseas. TFL will be your primary payer. Learn more at TFL Overseas page

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.

    Did You Know Questions and Answers
    • A Mail-In ID card 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.
    • Retirees can use on-base Legal Office Services for Wills, Notary, etc? Ask your base for their details.
    • Retirees can get copies of their DD 214 discharge form and other service records from several sources.  Read more...
    • You MUST have a U.S. telephone number to obtain a DS Logon Account?  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...
    • You must keep your retired pay information on DFAS myPay updated 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 the date for the retirees spouse is different. 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 BRead more...
    • If you had a Community Bank account before you retired, you can keep it for as long as you remain in Korea.  Read more...
    • An apostille is a certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document. Read more...
    • DOD ID card is not proof of you TRICARE medical coverage statusRead more...
    • Medicare Part B enrollment is automatic "IF" you are already collecting Social Security Benefits before age 65. Read more...
    • "IF" you are enrolled in TRICARE Plus overseas, you can keep it as you transition to TRICARE For Life.  Read more...
    • The Civilian Retiree ID Card was discontinued 17 Feb 2023. Read more...
    • TRICARE is a qualified exemption for the Korea National Health Care System (NHIS)? Read more...

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