EXPIRATION DATE ON THE BACK OF YOUR MILITARY ID CARD?
2008/10/21

Yes, there it is on the back of your card, in the medical block, under “EXP DATE.” Before TRICARE For Life (TFL) was enacted in 2001, the expiration date indicated when you dropped off the TRICARE Prime or Standard rolls upon turning age 65. So why do folks age 65 and older with TFL still see the expiration date on the back of their card?

The processes used for issuing military ID cards do not allow for an “indefinite” or blank input in the expiration block. The costs for changing the systems are prohibitive. So a date will continue to be printed for the foreseeable future as DoD hashes out the options. DoD TRICARE Management Activity is aware of the issue and has passed the word to all contracted health providers and military treatment facilities. These agencies have been told to not pay as much attention to the ID card as to their online information in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). DEERS has your most current eligibility information.

Of course, as with most large organizations like the health service community, someone will not get the news and occasionally deny a retiree heath service based on the expired ID card date. If this should happen to you, ask the service provider to perform an interactive DEERS query rather than rely on the ID card information. And have your Medicare Part A and B card ready.

Source: MOAA News Exchange

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