TRICARE For Life 2026: Who Qualifies, Costs and How It Pays

tricare.mil: “TRICARE For Life is Medicare-wraparound coverage if you’re TRICARE-eligible and have Medicare Part A and Part B, regardless of age or place of residence.” Coverage is only for those with Medicare and who are TRICARE eligible. Coverage doesn’t extend to family members.

• No enrollment. You aren’t required to enroll in TFL. TFL coverage is automatic if you have Medicare Part A and Part B.
• Start date. Coverage starts the first day Medicare Part A and Part B are in effect.
• Part B is required. If you’re eligible for both TRICARE and Medicare Part A, then in most cases, you must have Medicare Part B to keep TRICARE. You’ll lose your TRICARE coverage if you don’t have Part B, if you drop Part B, or you fail to pay your Part B premiums.
• It is in the law. 10 U.S.C. 1086(d)(1) says: “A person who is entitled to hospital insurance benefits under part A of title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395c et seq.) is not eligible for health benefits under this section.” Paragraph (d)(2) lifts that bar for a person who “is enrolled in the supplementary medical insurance program under part B of such title (42 U.S.C. 1395j et seq.)” (and, if under 65, is entitled to Part A on the grounds the statute lists).
• Proof of coverage. All you need for proof of coverage is your Medicare card and Uniformed Services ID card.

Special situations

• Active duty family members: If you’re eligible for Medicare Part A, you aren’t required to have Medicare Part B to keep your TRICARE benefits. However, you must have Part B to keep TRICARE once your sponsor retires. If you enroll in Part B after your sponsor retires, you’ll have a break in TRICARE coverage.
• Age 65 with an active duty sponsor: If you’re 65, but you have an active duty sponsor, you don’t have to have Medicare Part B until your sponsor is retired. Sign up before your sponsor retires to avoid a gap in TRICARE coverage.
• Under 65 with Medicare because of a disability: If you have Medicare Part A due to a disability and you have Medicare Part B, you don’t have to disenroll from TRICARE Prime or the Uniformed Services Family Health Plan. If you’re in Group A, you may have your TRICARE Prime enrollment fee waived. Check with your regional contractor for details. The fee waiver doesn’t apply to Group B.
• Not eligible for Medicare Part A: tricare.mil: “You must have Medicare Part A and Part B in order to have TRICARE coverage when you’re 65. Or, you must have proof of your ineligibility for Medicare.” Take your Notice of Award, Disapproved Claim, or both to your local ID card office to update your Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System record and get a new ID card. You continue to be eligible for TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select past your 65th birthday.

Missed Part B? If you didn’t sign up for Medicare Part B when you first became eligible, or you dropped it, you can sign up during Medicare’s general enrollment period (Jan. 1– March 31 each year). Your Part B and TRICARE For Life coverage will start the first day of the month after you sign up. You may have to pay a Medicare Part B late enrollment penalty. Estimate it with the Medicare late enrollment penalty calculator.

In the U.S.: Medicare is your primary payer. TRICARE pays second to Medicare, or last if you have other health insurance. Medicare pays its portion first and sends the claim to the TFL claims processor. TRICARE then pays the provider directly for TRICARE-covered services. TRICARE benefits include covering Medicare’s coinsurance and deductible for services covered by Medicare and TRICARE.

Generally, you’ll have no out-of-pocket costs for services that both Medicare and TRICARE cover. You’ll have out-of-pocket costs for care that isn’t covered by Medicare, TRICARE, or both. You can only get care at military hospitals and clinics if space is available.

With other health insurance (OHI)

• Employer-sponsored insurance with current employer: The OHI pays first. Medicare pays second. TRICARE pays last.
• Other health insurance that isn’t based on your or a family member’s current employment: Medicare pays first. The OHI pays second. TRICARE pays last.

Overseas, TRICARE is the primary payer

Medicare provides coverage in the U.S. and U.S. territories. Medicare doesn’t provide coverage in any other overseas locations. When you use TFL in all other overseas locations, whether you live or travel overseas: TRICARE is the primary payer. You’re responsible for paying TRICARE’s annual deductible and cost-shares. If you live overseas, you must have Medicare Part B to remain eligible for TRICARE even though Medicare doesn’t provide coverage overseas.

Medicare Advantage, claims and pharmacy

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, tricare.mil says: “You may pay a plan premium each month in addition to your Medicare Part B premium.” “If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you may have to pay copayments at the time of service.” TRICARE can reimburse you for copayments you paid for TFL services. You may need to file your own claims. Your claim must be filed within one year from the date of care.

TRICARE For Life includes prescription drug coverage through the TRICARE Pharmacy Program. You must have Medicare Part B, unless: You qualify for one of the exceptions listed above. You turned 65 before April 1, 2001. You can continue to get prescriptions filled with no break in coverage as long as you have Medicare Part B when you first become eligible for Medicare Part A. If you don’t enroll in Part B, you can only get your prescriptions filled at military pharmacies. The TRICARE pharmacy benefit is considered creditable prescription drug coverage. This means you don't need Medicare Part D to have prescription coverage.

When you have Medicare Part A and Part B, you automatically receive coverage through TRICARE For Life. When retired service members or eligible family members reach age 65 and are eligible for Medicare, they become eligible for TFL and are no longer able to enroll in other TRICARE plans. TFL is not part of TRICARE Open Season: tricare.mil says open season does not apply to TRICARE For Life beneficiaries (see TRICARE Open Season 2026).

Prime and Select fees are 2026 figures from tricare.mil, shown on the open season page. Group A means the sponsor’s service began before Jan. 1, 2018.

• Your own Prime or Select enrollment: the tricare.mil pages used here do not say what happens to an existing enrollment when you turn 65; call your regional contractor.
• Under 65, with Medicare Part A and Part B: If you have Medicare Part A due to a disability and you have Medicare Part B, you don’t have to disenroll from TRICARE Prime or the Uniformed Services Family Health Plan. If you choose not to enroll in TRICARE Prime or USFHP, you’ll automatically be covered by TFL.
• Family members under 65: TRICARE-eligible family members under age 65 can: Enroll in a different TRICARE health plan. Request enrollment changes within 90 days of the Medicare-eligible family member’s Medicare effective date.
• Plan retirement pay too: see the military retirement pay calculator.

The TFL contractors provide customer service and can help you with claims.

• U.S. and U.S. territories: WPS Government Services, 866-773-0404 (TDD: 866-773-0405). Same number to order a printed TRICARE For Life Handbook.
• All other overseas areas: International SOS Government Services, LLC. tricare.mil lists country-specific toll-free numbers.
• Pharmacy: Express Scripts, 877-363-1303.
• Medicare: 800-MEDICARE (633-4227). DMDC/DEERS Support Office: 800-538-9552.
• Website: TRICARE For Life contractor (WPS) site, the link tricare.mil gives for the TFL contractor.