Tricare For Life - Getting out, military health issues - Air Force Times

Tricare For Life

Medicare and Tricare both play a role in health coverage for older retirees. Medicare Part A covers hospitalization. Those entitled to Part A should purchase Medicare Part B as outpatient enrollment insurance. Coverage, including doctor fees, lab fees and other costs, requires paying monthly premiums.

Medicare-eligible beneficiaries who are entitled to Part A and purchase Medicare Part B can use Tricare as a secondary payer under the Tricare for Life option. Those eligible for Medicare Part A who do not enroll in Part B lose Tricare eligibility, with one exception: Medicare-eligible active-duty family members are not required to purchase Part B until the sponsor retires.

Tricare for Life works as a wraparound supplement to Medicare only in the U.S. and its territories because Medicare does not cover health care abroad. Overseas, Medicare-eligible beneficiaries are covered by Tricare Standard if they have Part B insurance.

Contact: www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/ home/overview/Plans