TRICARE for Life (TFL) is Medicare-wraparound coverage for military retirees and other TRICARE-eligible beneficiaries who have both Medicare Part A and Part B. It works as a secondary insurance that picks up most of the costs Medicare doesn’t fully cover, often leaving you with little or nothing to pay out of pocket for covered services. There are no enrollment fees and no separate sign-up process. Coverage kicks in automatically once you have both parts of Medicare and your information is current in DEERS.
Who Is Eligible
You qualify for TRICARE for Life if you meet two conditions: you’re already eligible for TRICARE (as a military retiree, retiree’s spouse, survivor, or certain other beneficiary), and you’re enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B. Age doesn’t matter, and neither does where you live. Most people become eligible at 65 when they transition to Medicare, but younger beneficiaries who qualify for Medicare due to disability or certain medical conditions can also receive TFL.
The critical requirement is Medicare Part B. Many military retirees assume their existing TRICARE coverage is enough and consider skipping Part B to avoid its monthly premium. That’s a costly mistake. Without Part B, you lose TRICARE coverage entirely. This rule applies even if you live overseas, where Medicare itself doesn’t pay for any care.
How Medicare and TRICARE Work Together
When you see a doctor or receive hospital care in the United States, Medicare acts as the primary payer. It processes the claim first and pays its share. The claim then automatically crosses over to WPS Government Services, the TRICARE for Life contractor, which reviews and pays TRICARE’s portion. In most cases, you don’t need to do anything. Your provider files with Medicare, Medicare pays, and the remainder is handled behind the scenes.
There are a few situations where you’ll need to file a claim yourself with WPS: when the service isn’t covered by Medicare at all, when TRICARE is your primary insurer (such as overseas care), or when you carry other health insurance that complicates the payment order. But for standard medical visits and hospital stays in the U.S., the process is largely hands-free.
What It Costs
TRICARE for Life has no enrollment fee and no monthly premium. Your only required payment is the Medicare premiums themselves, both Part A (which is free for most people with enough work history) and Part B (which in 2025 runs about $185 per month for most beneficiaries, though it can be higher based on income).
Because TFL wraps around Medicare, the combination typically covers the vast majority of your medical costs. Medicare pays first, TRICARE covers most or all of the remaining balance, and your out-of-pocket expenses for covered services are minimal. For many routine doctor visits and hospital stays, you’ll owe nothing beyond your Medicare premiums.
Prescription Drug Coverage
TFL beneficiaries have access to the TRICARE pharmacy benefit, which includes three filling options: military pharmacies (no cost), home delivery through Express Scripts (up to a 90-day supply), and retail network pharmacies.
If you take a medication regularly for a chronic condition, TRICARE requires you to fill it through home delivery or at a military pharmacy. You’re allowed to pick it up at a retail pharmacy twice, but after a third retail refill, you’ll pay 100% of the cost yourself. Express Scripts sends reminder letters after the first and second retail fills to prompt you to switch. This rule applies to brand-name maintenance medications specifically, so it’s worth setting up home delivery early to avoid unexpected costs.
Home delivery ships to most locations, though medications that need refrigeration or use pressurized dispensing won’t ship to military APO/FPO/DPO addresses. Home delivery also isn’t available in Germany, Norway, or Saudi Arabia.
What TFL Doesn’t Cover
Routine eye exams are not covered under TRICARE for Life. Routine dental care isn’t included either. For both, you may be eligible to enroll in the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), which offers separate dental and vision plans. Enrollment happens during the annual Federal Benefits Open Season or after a qualifying life event like a move or change in family status.
Using TFL Overseas
Medicare only pays for care in the United States and U.S. territories. If you live abroad or travel internationally, Medicare won’t cover anything, but TRICARE for Life still does. In those situations, TRICARE flips from secondary to primary payer. You’ll be responsible for TRICARE’s annual deductible and cost-shares, which are higher than what you’d typically pay stateside where Medicare absorbs the bulk of the bill.
You must maintain Medicare Part B enrollment to stay eligible for TRICARE overseas, even though Medicare itself provides zero coverage outside the U.S. The overseas contractor is International SOS, which handles claims, provider searches, and authorizations for TFL beneficiaries abroad.
How to Activate Your Coverage
TRICARE for Life doesn’t require a formal enrollment process. Once you’re enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, coverage begins automatically, provided your records in DEERS (the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System) are up to date. DEERS is the military’s database for tracking who qualifies for benefits, and it needs to reflect your current Medicare status.
When you become Medicare-eligible, update DEERS promptly. You can do this online through milConnect (ID Card Online), by phone at 800-538-9552, by fax, or by visiting a local ID card office. If you’re visiting in person, call ahead to schedule an appointment and confirm which documents to bring. Delays in updating DEERS can cause gaps in coverage or claim processing problems, so it’s worth handling this as soon as your Medicare coverage starts.