SERVICE BENEFITS AVAILABLE FOR SURVIVORS AFTER DEATH OF A RETIRED MEMBER: Published April 20, 2009 RAF Mildenhall Retiree Activity Office RAF MILDENHALL, England -- BASIC INFORMATION FOR CONTINUED SERVICE BENEFITS AND PRIVILEGES In general the loss of your loved one does not mean an end to certain military benefits and privileges you received during his/her life. You may continue to receive medical care at medical facilities of the Uniformed Services, in some former public health hospitals designated by the Department of Defense as uniformed services treatment facilities and civilian inpatient and outpatient care subject to limitations as determined by local medical authorities. You may continue to use the commissary, base exchange, and morale, welfare and recreation activities, which includes theaters at bases when these facilities are available. And, although every effort is made to provide these benefits and privileges, at some installations the facilities may be adequate only for the assigned military personnel and their eligible family members. In such cases, the commander of the installation has the right to deny you the use of those facilities. In some overseas areas, the use of service benefits and privileges may not be extended to families of deceased members due to agreements entered into between the United States and the host country or restrictions on their use may apply. This is the case in the United Kingdom; see the Retiree Limited Privilege Program on this web site for details. UNIFORMED SERVICES IDENTIFICATION AND PRIVILEGE CARD (ID CARD) The ID card is used as a means of identification to determine eligibility for the benefits mentioned above. Each card shows the benefits and privileges authorized for the holder and allow them the use of these at Uniformed Services installations where adequate services and facilities are available. This is the same type card you may now have. On the death of a retired member, the ID card held by their dependents must be cancelled and a new ID card issued. Your Casualty Assistance Representative will assist you in obtaining your new ID card. The card is issued to all eligible surviving family members 10 years of age or over. Family members less than 10 years of age may be identified on the card issued to the surviving spouse. If the surviving spouse is deceased or not entitled, the child under age 10 may be issued a separate card. MEDICAL BENEFITS Subject to the installation commander's determination of availability, eligible family members may receive impatient and outpatient care, including pharmacy services at Uniformed Services medical treatment facilities where adequate services and facilities are available. If you remarry someone outside the uniformed services, you are no longer covered. If the marriage is annulled, you may be eligible for reinstatement after the annulment. TRICARE Is the Department of Defense managed health care program designated to improve beneficiary access to care, assure affordable and high quality care, provide choice, and contain costs to beneficiaries and the Department of Defense. Only TRICARE FOR LIFE is available overseas. For more detailed information on TRICARE visit their world wide web site at www.tricare.mil or contact the health benefits advisor at your nearest medical treatment facility. The TRICARE Service Center in the United Kingdom is located in the RAF Lakenheath Military Hospital, telephone number 01638-52-8010. COMMISSARY PRIVILEGES The unremarried or unmarried surviving spouse is eligible for commissary privileges. He or she may, on approval of the local installation commander, let an agent make purchases under certain circumstances. Purchases may be used by all members of the family living in the house. BASE EXCHANGE The unremarried or unmarried surviving spouse is eligible for BX services or, on approval of the installation commander, an agent may be allowed to make purchases under certain circumstances. In the United Kingdom surviving spouses are not permitted to purchase alcoholic drinks, tobacco products or petrol--see the Retiree Limited Privilege Program referenced above. THEATER Eligible family members can attend motion picture theaters on military installations. Family members must have current ID cards. TRANSIENT QUARTERS Eligible family members of deceased retirees may occupy transient quarters on a space-available basis when approved by the installation commander. Contact the billeting office to determine the Commander's policy and to request accommodations. Family members must have current ID cards. RECREATION SERVICES As an unremarried or unmarried surviving spouse, you are entitled to membership in the Officer's or Enlisted Open Mess. The same applies to you and your children in the use of other recreational activities on a military installation such as the golf course, fitness center, bowling alley and hobby shops.