TRICARE for Life: Part B Requirements and How It Works With Medicare
TRICARE for Life (TFL) is a Medicare supplement for military retirees enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B. Medicare pays first and TFL covers most remaining costs — but if you skip Part B enrollment, you lose TFL coverage permanently and face Part B late-enrollment penalties.
Key Rules
- TFL requires enrollment in both Medicare Part A and Part B — Part B enrollment is mandatory, not optional
- Medicare pays first; TFL pays most of the remaining costs including copays and deductibles
- If you drop or fail to enroll in Part B, you lose TFL coverage permanently
- TFL has no monthly premium, but Medicare Part B has a standard premium that must be paid