Q&A: TRICARE For Life and Your Family

• You have both Medicare Part A and Part B
• You show as TRICARE-eligible in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System

Q: I’ve heard that TFL is an individual entitlement. What does this mean, and how does it affect my family? 
A: This means that TFL only covers the person who has Medicare Part A and Part B. Your family members who aren’t eligible for Medicare may stay in their current TRICARE health plan as long as they’re eligible.
 
Q: Is becoming eligible for Medicare a TRICARE Qualifying Life Event?
A: If you become eligible for Medicare at age 65, you won’t have a Qualifying Life Event, but your TRICARE-eligible family members under age 65 will. These family members can make eligible changes to their TRICARE health plan within 90 days of the Medicare-eligible family member’s Medicare effective date.
 
Learn more at Becoming Medicare-Eligible.

Q: I didn’t sign up for Medicare Part B during my Initial Enrollment Period. How does this affect my family members’ TRICARE coverage?
A: It doesn’t. Family members who aren’t eligible for Medicare may stay in their current health plan as long as they’re TRICARE-eligible.
 
Remember, if you’re eligible for Medicare, you must have Medicare Part A and Part B to have TFL coverage. This includes people who live overseas and people with employer-sponsored health plans. If you have employer-sponsored health coverage, you can delay Medicare Part B and sign up during a Special Enrollment Period. If you choose to rely solely on employer-sponsored coverage, sign up for Medicare Part B the month before you retire or lose employer-sponsored coverage. This ensures your Medicare Part B and TRICARE coverage under TFL starts as soon as your other coverage ends.
 
If you don’t sign up for Medicare Part B during your Initial Enrollment Period and you aren’t eligible for a Special Enrollment Period, you can also sign up during the Medicare General Enrollment Period.

To learn more about signing up for Medicare Part B, check the TRICARE For Life Handbook.
 
Q: Will my family’s TRICARE annual enrollment fee change when I become eligible for Medicare? 
A: TFL doesn’t have an annual enrollment fee. But if you have family members enrolled in a TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select plan, your family’s enrollment fee may change:  

• The fee changes to the single rate if you have only one family member enrolled in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select.
• Your enrollment fee will stay the at the family rate if you have two or more family members enrolled in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select.

• Check out the TRICARE For Life Handbook, TRICARE and Medicare Turning Age 65 Brochure, and TRICARE and Medicare Under Age 65 Brochure.
• Watch the latest TFL webinar.
• Listen to the “TRICARE For Life 101” series of the TRICARE podcast.