Stage 2 - TRICARE for Life path
Learning the system - TRICARE for Life
TRICARE for Life is your supplement to Medicare as a military retiree. Medicare pays first on all Medicare-covered services and TRICARE for Life pays the remaining patient cost-sharing, leaving your out-of-pocket near zero. This guide covers how the coordination works, what it costs, and what to watch for.
Topic one
How TFL works
TRICARE for Life activates automatically when you have both Medicare Part A and Part B active and your DEERS record is current. There is no enrollment form and no premium beyond the Medicare Part B premium you already pay.
Step 1
Medicare pays first
For any service covered by Medicare, Medicare processes the claim first and pays its portion. The remaining patient cost-sharing - deductibles, coinsurance, copays - is then forwarded to TRICARE for Life.
Present your Medicare card first at every appointment
Step 2
TFL pays second
TRICARE for Life picks up the Medicare cost-sharing. For most Medicare-covered services, this leaves you with zero out-of-pocket. TRICARE for Life also covers some services Medicare does not, including care received overseas.
In most cases you will not receive a bill for Medicare-covered services when TFL is active and current in DEERS
TRICARE for Life requires both Medicare Part A and Part B to be active. If you only have Part A, TFL does not activate.
This is the most common reason TRICARE for Life fails to pay. Beneficiaries who declined Part B when they turned 65 - perhaps because they had other employer coverage - need to enroll in Part B before TRICARE for Life activates. Part B enrollment has specific windows and late enrollment penalties. If you are not yet enrolled in Part B, contact Medicare immediately.
Topic two
What TRICARE for Life covers
TFL covers the cost-sharing you would otherwise owe under Medicare and fills several gaps Medicare does not cover.
Primary function
Medicare cost-sharing
Part A deductible, Part B deductible, and all Medicare coinsurance and copays. For most Medicare-covered services, your share after TFL is zero.
TFL covers, Medicare does not
Overseas care
Medicare does not cover care received outside the United States. TRICARE for Life provides coverage for care received overseas, including at military treatment facilities worldwide.
TFL covers, Medicare limits
Some dental and vision
TRICARE for Life does not include comprehensive dental or vision coverage. However, TRICARE Dental Program (TDP) is available as a separate premium-based option for retirees and their dependents.
You do not need a Medigap supplement if you have TRICARE for Life. Purchasing one would be paying for duplicate coverage.
TRICARE for Life performs the same function as a Medigap supplement - it covers Medicare cost-sharing. Buying a Medigap plan in addition to TFL would duplicate that protection without adding meaningful coverage. Unless you have a specific unusual reason to need additional coverage, do not purchase Medigap when you have TFL active.
Topic three
DEERS - keeping your record current
DEERS is the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System - the database that determines your eligibility for TRICARE benefits. Outdated DEERS records are one of the most common causes of TRICARE for Life claim denials.
If your DEERS record is wrong, your TFL claims will be denied even when you are fully entitled to coverage.
DEERS errors are not unusual. Name discrepancies, date of birth mismatches, outdated addresses, and incorrect eligibility dates all cause claim denials. A denial based on a DEERS error looks identical to a legitimate denial from outside - you will simply receive a bill. Verify your DEERS record now, before a claim issue occurs. Update your record online at milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil or by calling 1-800-538-9552.
1
Verify your DEERS record now
Log in to milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil with your CAC or DS Logon to view your eligibility record. Confirm your name, date of birth, address, and Medicare enrollment status are all accurate. Do this at enrollment and annually.
2
Update your address any time you move
TRICARE for Life correspondence and some claims processing depend on the address in DEERS. Update it within 30 days of any address change. You can update online, by phone at 1-800-538-9552, or in person at any military ID card office.
3
Confirm your Medicare Part B is reflected in DEERS
DEERS should show your Medicare Part B enrollment. If it does not, TRICARE for Life will not activate correctly. If you enrolled in Medicare but TFL claims are being denied, contact the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) at 1-800-538-9552 to verify Medicare Part B is reflected in your DEERS record.
Topic four
TRICARE pharmacy
TRICARE for Life includes access to the TRICARE pharmacy benefit, which offers very low drug costs through multiple channels.
Lowest cost
Military treatment facility pharmacy
Prescriptions filled at an MTF pharmacy are free for TFL beneficiaries. If you live near a military installation with a pharmacy, this is the most cost-effective option.
Convenient
TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery
Mail-order service for maintenance medications. Copays apply but are low. A 90-day supply delivered to your home. Enroll through Express Scripts at tricare.mil/pharmacy or 1-877-363-1303.
Retail network
TRICARE retail pharmacies
Network retail pharmacies across the country accept TRICARE. Copays are higher than MTF or home delivery but lower than non-network retail. Verify a pharmacy is in the TRICARE network before filling.
TRICARE pharmacy coverage counts as creditable Part D coverage. You do not need a Medicare Part D plan if you use TRICARE pharmacy.
TRICARE's pharmacy benefit satisfies the Medicare Part D creditable coverage requirement. If you rely on TRICARE for prescriptions, you will not face a late enrollment penalty if you later decide to enroll in Part D - as long as your TRICARE coverage was continuous. Most TFL beneficiaries do not need a separate Part D plan.
Topic five
Coverage gaps to know
Key TFL coverage limits
Long-term custodial care
TRICARE for Life does not cover long-term custodial care - daily help with bathing, dressing, and daily activities when no skilled care need exists. Medicare does not cover this either. This is a significant gap that Medicaid or private long-term care insurance addresses.
Plan independently
Non-Medicare-covered services
TRICARE for Life covers Medicare cost-sharing. If a service is not covered by Medicare and not separately covered by TRICARE, TFL does not help. Comprehensive dental and routine vision are the most common examples.
Check TRICARE separately
DEERS record errors
Any error in your DEERS record can cause claim denials until corrected. This is not a gap in coverage but a common operational issue. Verify DEERS accuracy regularly.
Verify DEERS annually
About the information on this page. TRICARE for Life rules, DEERS requirements, and pharmacy benefit details come from the Defense Health Agency at tricare.mil. Medicare figures reflect published 2025 rates from CMS. TRICARE benefit details and cost shares can change annually. Verify current rules at tricare.mil or by calling 1-866-773-0404. Project Kos is an educational resource. Nothing on this page is legal, financial, or medical advice.
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