VVA Chapter PI 887

When retired service members and their families become eligible for TRICARE For Life, typically at 65, they are no longer able to enroll in TRICARE Prime.

TRICARE For Life

When you have Medicare Parts A and B, you automatically receive coverage from TRICARE For Life. There are no enrollment forms or enrollment fees for TRICARE For Life.

 Medicare is your primary payer.

TRICARE pays second to Medicare or last if you have other health insuranceHealth insurance you have in addition to TRICARE, such as Medicare or an employer-sponsored health insurance. TRICARE supplements don’t qualify as “other health insurance.”.

TRICARE benefits include covering Medicare’s coinsurance and deductible for services covered by Medicare and TRICARE. When retired service members or eligible family members reach age 65 and are eligible for Medicare, they become eligible for TRICARE For Life and are no longer able to enroll in other TRICARE plans.