Health Matters

Korea Health Care:  Retiree health care in military treatment facilities in Korea varies widely by location.  Where the combined active duty and retiree populations are large, such as in Seoul (Yongsan Army Garrison) and Pyeongtaek (Osan AB and Camp Humphreys), access to medical care is good.  In other areas, the availability of care is less, and may require referral to the Osan or Yongsan military hospitals, or to civilian health care at a Korean hospital.  Air evacuation to military treatment in Okinawa, Japan, Honolulu, Hawaii, or San Diego, California, are other options available to military medical staffs.  Details on this option are available by clicking on Aeromedical Evacuation in the navigation bar above.  Medical care is generally more readily available to retirees than dental care.  The best option available to good health care is to assume primary responsibility for your own good health.  A great deal of information on how to do this is available by clicking on Health Information Links in the navigation bar above.

Military Medical Care in Korea:  The primary purpose of medical care in Korea is to maintain the health of the active duty force.  The dependents of active duty personnel are also part of the primary care population treated at these facilities.  Until recently, retirees were provided with medical care on a space available basis.  With the advent of TRICARE Plus in in Korea in 2002, retirees were allowed to sign up for TRICARE Plus and be assigned to a health care provider.  This gave retirees with TRICARE Plus a higher priority over retirees using space available.  TRICARE Plus has no effect on the other TRICARE options available to retirees in Korea: TRICARE Standard and TRICARE for Life.  There are two limitations to TRICARE Plus: 1) access applies only to the primary care facility where the retiree is enrolled; and 2) there is a limit to the number of retirees who can sign up for TRICARE Plus at a treatment facility.

The other TRICARE options available to retirees are TRICARE Standard and TRICARE for Life.  TRICARE Standard applies to retirees and there dependents who are under age 65.  TRICARE for Life applies to retirees and their dependents who are age 65 and over.  When reaching age 65, a person's TRICARE Standard coverage stops, and he or she must be signed up for Medicare Part B to receive the benefits of TRICARE for Life.  These TRICARE options are used when treatment is received at a civilian hospital.  For details on TRICARE, click on TRICARE Information in the navigation bar above.

Military Dental Care in Korea: Dental care for retirees at military treatment facilities is limited, and may not be available at many locations (except for bonafide emergencies).  In those locations where it is provided, dental services available to retirees include annual examination, cleaning, and basic services such as fillings and extractions.  There is no TRICARE dental insurance option available to retirees in Korea, so dental treatment on the economy is paid entirely by the retiree.  Some worldwide dental insurance may be available, but no information on that type of insurance is provided here.

1.  Yongsan policy letter
2.  TRICARE dental referral letter
3.  Referred dentist, Dr. Che, Byung Hak (Yongsan-gu), additional details
4.  Referred dentist, Dr. Choi and Associates (Yongsan-gu)
5.  Referred dentist, Dr. Noh, John (COEX Mall)
6.  Referred dentist, Dr. Choi, Simon (Seocho-gu, near Express Bus Terminal)
7.  Referred dentist, Columbia Orthodontic Clinic (Apkujeong)
8.  Other dentist, Dr. Choi & Dr. Ahn, Yongsan-ku (retiree recommendation)