I turn 65 on September 1st and feel kind of lost. Currently I have Tricare Prime medical coverage and I started drawing Social Security already at age 62.

I know I need to go to the Social Security office and sign up for Medicare Parts A & B 2-4 months before the first of September and Medicare will kick in on the first day of August. I also know I need to convert Tricare Prime (TP) to Tricare For Life (TFL). But I have some question and would greatly appreciate shared experience and advice. Thank you !!!

1) When should I get a new military ID card? Should I get a new ID as soon as I sign up for Medicare A & B, wait until the day I actually turn 65, or some other time?

2) My current PCM is at Lyster Army Health Clinic Fort Rucker (Alabama). After enrolling in Medicare and switching to TFL will I need to find my own PCM somewhere other than on a military post? And if I do need to find my own health provider is there a site that might help find and decide on one? Or will I still be able to use my current PCM at Lister on Fort Rucker?

3) Do I need to update anything in DEERS because of these changes or will that be done automatically when I get a new ID?

4) I know I need to enroll in Medicare and I know where that SSA office is to do it, but what about Tricare? How do I keep things straight with Tricare? I can't find a Tricare office. How will Tricare know to switch me from Tricare Prime to Tricare For Life?

5) What am I not asking, that I need to know or think about? Thanks !!!

Good questions. I'm coming up on 65 in a few years and I've been thinking about the same things. Looking for to any answers you get.

Some more personal info. I'm rated by the VA at 40% disability but haven't even been in contact with the VA since medical screening upon military retirement in 2006. I don't require ongoing care for service related injury. (10% for hearing and 30% for eyesight).

I've only seen my PCM at Lister Ft Rucker, maybe three or four times since retiring 12 years ago. I don't even go out there unless they call me. I've been blessed that my general health has been very good.

Maybe if someone can't answer the questions I have, someone can tell me who I need to go see or call, who can help answer the questions. Thanks !!!

Try this:

TRICARE Office - Patient Representative
TRICARE Office - Patient Representative is located at Dust Off Street, Bldg. 301, Fort Rucker, AL 36362. TRICARE Office - Patient Representative can be reached by their main phone number at (334) 255-7337. The listed DSN line is 312-558-7337. Visit the TRICARE Office - Patient Representative website by clicking here. You may also request contact by clicking here.


https://www.dodhousingnetwork....istance-coordinators

quote:

Originally posted by olfuzzy:
Try this:

TRICARE Office - Patient Representative
TRICARE Office - Patient Representative is located at Dust Off Street, Bldg. 301, Fort Rucker, AL 36362. TRICARE Office - Patient Representative can be reached by their main phone number at (334) 255-7337. The listed DSN line is 312-558-7337. Visit the TRICARE Office - Patient Representative website by clicking here. You may also request contact by clicking here.


https://www.dodhousingnetwork....istance-coordinators

Thank you !!! Thank you very much

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Hobbs:
1) When should I get a new military ID card? Should I get a new ID as soon as I sign up for Medicare A & B, wait until the day I actually turn 65, or some other time?

My DoD ID card expires one month prior to turning 65 (I am 63); I suspect yours is the same. Call your local ID card facility and ask them if it is time.

2) My current PCM is at Lyster Army Health Clinic Fort Rucker (Alabama). After enrolling in Medicare and switching to TFL will I need to find my own PCM somewhere other than on a military post? And if I do need to find my own health provider is there a site that might help find and decide on one? Or will I still be able to use my current PCM at Lister on Fort Rucker?

Speak to the Tricare patient representative.

3) Do I need to update anything in DEERS because of these changes or will that be done automatically when I get a new ID?

Should be done when you renew your ID card; also ask them when you renew.

4) I know I need to enroll in Medicare and I know where that SSA office is to do it, but what about Tricare? How do I keep things straight with Tricare? I can't find a Tricare office. How will Tricare know to switch me from Tricare Prime to Tricare For Life?

Speak to the patient representative.

It might be nice to post the results of your inquiries here to help some of us approaching the same milestone. Thank you.

I am only relating how it went for me. DO NOT TAKE THIS AS GUIDANCE FOR WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

I am retired Navy and 67 years old.

I got an ID card renewed WELL before I turned 60, much less 65. The expiration date on it says "INDEF".

I do not have a military base near enough to make on-base medical care an option.

I retired and went on Social Security at 62.

When I turned 65 I did...nothing. Medicare automatically kicked in, TRICARE automatically converted to TRICARE for Life.

I use Medicare as my primary and TRICARE as my supplemental and prescription coverage. I am not out of pocket for any other coverage and I've never been billed for anything besides the usual minor co-pay for either myself or my wife.

We have had some relatively significant medical expenses.

It was absolutely seamless and painless.

But as noted in my disclaimer, YMMV.

I can concur 100% what PHPAUL stated. Just get your new ID Card on base. BTDT.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
I got an ID card renewed WELL before I turned 60, much less 65. The expiration date on it says "INDEF".

Mine also says "INDEF".
The thing is, even though my active duty ID hadn't quite expired, of course I had to get a new blue ID when I retired. They even told me at that time 12 years ago that I would have/need to get a new ID when I turned 65 even though the one they gave me says INDEF.

My ID expired the day prior to my 65th birthday.

If I remember, Tri Care Prime did not automatically change to Tri Care for Life, but I could be wrong.

There are a lot of good sources of info on the WWW.

quote:

Originally posted by Hobbs:

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
I got an ID card renewed WELL before I turned 60, much less 65. The expiration date on it says "INDEF".

Mine also says "INDEF".
The thing is, even though my active duty ID hadn't quite expired, of course I had to get a new blue ID when I retired. They even told me at that time 12 years ago that I would have/need to get a new ID when I turned 65 even though the one they gave me says INDEF.

I'm going from memory here which is always a shakey idea.

I "retired" (technically, transferred to the Inactive Fleet Reserve) in 1990 and got an ID card as part of the separation process. If I recall correctly, when my actual 30 years was up in 1999 and I transitioned from Fleet Reserve to the Retired List, I had to go to the nearest DoD facility and get my retired ID card, which is the one that says "INDEF". I would have been 48 at the time. Nothing was said about needed a new ID card when I turned 65.

I DID get some paperwork from both Social Security/Medicare and DEERS but it basically said that if I wanted to go on Medicare and Tricare for Life I didn't need to do anything, it would happen automatically. The only time I needed to take action is if I wanted to opt for other or expanded coverage.

At 65 all military on Prime get shifted to Tricare for life, which is medicare.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
I'm going from memory here which is always a shakey idea.

I "retired" (technically, transferred to the Inactive Fleet Reserve) in 1990 and got an ID card as part of the separation process. If I recall correctly, when my actual 30 years was up in 1999 and I transitioned from Fleet Reserve to the Retired List, I had to go to the nearest DoD facility and get my retired ID card, which is the one that says "INDEF". I would have been 48 at the time. Nothing was said about needed a new ID card when I turned 65.

I DID get some paperwork from both Social Security/Medicare and DEERS but it basically said that if I wanted to go on Medicare and Tricare for Life I didn't need to do anything, it would happen automatically. The only time I needed to take action is if I wanted to opt for other or expanded coverage.

Awesome, maybe I'll be getting some letters too. Sounds painless. Think I'll try and talk to the folks at the Tricare office on post that olfuzzy pointed me to ... for peace of mind if nothing else.

What PHPaul recounted is basically the same for me. I'm 70 and my ID was INDEF. Had to replace it a few years back with an "improved" one when the local base changed to an "upscale" ID reader at entry points. I use the base for their pharmacy and commissary.

You can check and tweak your DEERS info online. http://www.tricare.mil/DEERS

Signed up for Medicare part B and pay the monthly premium out of my monthly social security benefits.

Enrollment in TFL is automatic; If you are receiving Social Security benefits, you will transition smoothly to TFL upon your 65th birthday. Never have spoken to a TRICARE rep although the local base has them. I thank having TFL every day as it has covered the outrageous costs of chemo drugs now for the last 3+ years. Haven't had to cover any co-pays either with TFL picking up what Medicare doesn't. And no, I don't use the VA at all.

Basically everything has been seamless since day one. Here I'm talking not only health coverage but retirement income (social security, military and civil service). And this month I moved to comply with the IRS mandated minimum 401k (Thrift Savings Plan too) withdrawal. Again smooth with no problems...

quote:

Originally posted by ops cwo:
At 65 all military on Prime get shifted to Tricare for life, which is medicare.

At 65 either TriCare program becomes TriCare For Life, which is free. However, you HAVE to sign up for Medicare Part B, which is about $135/mo. Medicare then becomes the primary payer, TFL is secondary.

Retirement cards say "INDEF" on the front but have an expiration date on the BACK.

They expire at 65 --it's a Medicare thing. And, Tricare does not become Medicare at 65, it serves as a supplement to it.

quote:

Originally posted by BlackAgnes:
Retirement cards say "INDEF" on the front but have an expiration date on the BACK.

HA !!! Absolutely correct of course. INDEF on the front of mine and exp date on back is 2018JUL31 ... a month and a day before I turn 65. Thanks !!!

My first retirement card said under. It started spliting so I got a new one a couple years back. The new one expires front and back in Jul 2026, if I do my math correctly I'll be 65 then. Well damn, learn something new every day here! My wife's expired recently, she is a cougar, she turns 60 this year.

quote:

Originally posted by BlackAgnes:
Retirement cards say "INDEF" on the front but have an expiration date on the BACK.

Well, that's embarassing...

I did not realize that, and mine's been expired for 2 years. I guess I should do something about that.

Thanks for the info I got this coming later in the year