TRICARE For Life and Medicare
Keep Part B, or lose TRICARE.
TRICARE For Life (TFL) is TRICARE coverage for military retirees and eligible family members who have Medicare. It pays after Medicare, and it requires you to have both Part A and Part B.
How they work together
For services both cover, Medicare pays first and TRICARE For Life pays most or all of what's left. For services Medicare doesn't cover but TRICARE does, TRICARE pays as the primary payer, with its own cost sharing.
You must keep Part B
If you're eligible for premium-free Part A, you need Part B to keep TRICARE coverage. There's a Special Enrollment Period for people who lose TRICARE coverage because they didn't have Part B.
Drugs and other choices
TRICARE's pharmacy coverage is creditable, so most TFL beneficiaries don't need a Part D plan to avoid the penalty. Medigap usually isn't needed either, because TFL covers most Medicare cost sharing.
Common questions
Usually not. TFL covers most of Medicare's deductibles and coinsurance for services both cover.
Active-duty family members have different rules. Ask TRICARE before you decide.
Want help with your own choices?
Every state runs a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) with trained counselors who give free, unbiased Medicare help and do not sell plans. Find yours on our Medicare by state pages, or call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) (TTY 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
Planning the rest of your coverage in retirement? We can help with life insurance later in life and final expense coverage.
Sources
- How Medicare Works with Other Insurance, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Checked September 29, 2026.
- When does Medicare coverage start?, Medicare.gov. Checked September 29, 2026.
General information about the federal Medicare program, not advice about your situation. Figures are for 2026 unless stated and change every year; last reviewed September 29, 2026. Quote My Policy is a private company. Not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program.
Quote My Policy does not sell Medicare plans on this site. For plan-specific help, contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) (TTY 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program.