How does TRICARE for Life work with Medicare?
The short answer
TRICARE for Life is a Medicare supplement benefit for military retirees and their dependents. It wraps around Medicare, covering most of what Medicare does not, so your out-of-pocket costs are typically very low.
The full explanation
TRICARE for Life (TFL) is a benefit available to military retirees, their spouses, and certain dependents who are entitled to Medicare Part A and enrolled in Part B. It does not replace Medicare. It works alongside it.Here is how it generally flows: Medicare pays first as the primary insurer. TRICARE for Life then steps in as the secondary payer, covering most or all of the remaining cost-sharing that Medicare leaves behind, like deductibles and coinsurance. For most covered services, that means very little comes out of your pocket.To keep TRICARE for Life, you must stay enrolled in Medicare Part B and continue paying the Part B premium. If you drop Part B, you lose TFL. That is a detail that catches some people off guard.TRICARE for Life also includes prescription drug coverage through the TRICARE pharmacy benefit, which means most TFL beneficiaries do not need a separate Part D drug plan. In fact, adding a Part D plan could create complications, so it is worth understanding how your drug coverage is structured before making changes.Because TFL acts as a supplement, most military retirees with this benefit do not need a Medigap policy or Medicare Advantage plan. Adding those could duplicate coverage or interfere with how TFL pays. Always verify current benefits with TRICARE directly, as details can change.
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