If you’re eligible for both TRICARE and Medicare Part A, then in most cases you must have Medicare Part B to keep TRICARE. Understanding how Medicare and TRICARE work together and when to buy Part B can be confusing. Review the following pages carefully to understand what you need to do to keep your TRICARE coverage:
- Active Duty Service Members
- Active Duty Family Members
- Retired Service Members and Family Members
- Beneficiaries Using TRICARE Reserve Select
- Beneficiaries Using TRICARE Retired Reserve
- Beneficiaries Enrolled in the US Family Health Plan
- Beneficiaries Who Don’t Qualify for Medicare Part A
What is Medicare?
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people who are age 65 or older, people under age 65 with certain disabilities, people of any age with end stage renal disease, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), or mesothelioma.
Medicare Part | Description |
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Part A |
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Part B |
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Part D |
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Enrolling in Medicare
If You’re Turning 65
You should sign-up for Medicare benefits a few months before you turn 65 to avoid a break in coverage. You’re eligible to enroll in Medicare Part B at age 65 even if you are not eligible for Medicare Part A.
- Sign up for Part B when first eligible to avoid a late enrollment penalty.
- If your sponsor is on active duty, you may delay Part B enrollment without penalty.
- Get Started with Medicare
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 (January 1 – March 31 each year). You may have to pay a paying a Medicare Part B premium surcharge penalty.
If you Have Employer-Sponsored Group Coverage
- You may sign up later for Part B. However, you won’t have TRICARE coverage if you don’t have Medicare Part B.
Do You Have a Disability?
- If you’re receiving Social Security Disability payments, you’ll automatically get Medicare Part A and Part B in the 25th month of disability.
Medicare Part B Premiums
Your Part B premium is based on your income. Most people pay the standard monthly premium. For more information about Part B premiums, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778).
If you’re getting Social Security Retirement or Disability, or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) benefits, your Part B premiums are taken from your monthly payment. If not, you’ll be billed quarterly for your Part B premiums.
No, its done automatically for you.
Call the Defense Manpower Data Center Support Office at 1-800-538-9552 if your eligibility for Medicare changes or if you’re unsure about your eligibility for TRICARE. For questions about Medicare, call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit www.medicare.gov.
more info at: http://www.tricare.mil/Plans/Eligibility/MedicareEligible.aspx