Turning 65 & Medicare Transition
When you or your sponsor turns 65, TRICARE eligibility changes significantly. To maintain TRICARE coverage, you must enroll in Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Medicare Part B (medical insurance). Once enrolled in both, you automatically qualify for TRICARE For Life (TFL), which acts as a secondary payer to Medicare. TFL has no enrollment fee and covers most of what Medicare does not, giving you comprehensive coverage. If you fail to enroll in Medicare Part B when first eligible, you may face a late enrollment penalty and a gap in TRICARE coverage. The transition must happen during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) around your 65th birthday.
Timeline
Receive Medicare enrollment information from Social Security Administration
Enroll in Medicare Part A (usually automatic if receiving Social Security)
Enroll in Medicare Part B (requires action if not automatically enrolled)
Verify DEERS reflects Medicare enrollment
TRICARE For Life coverage begins automatically
Previous TRICARE Prime/Select coverage ends
Action Checklist
- Contact Social Security Administration 3 months before 65th birthday
- Enroll in Medicare Part A
- Enroll in Medicare Part B (do not delay)
- Update DEERS with Medicare information
- Verify TRICARE For Life activation in milConnect
- Understand that TFL is automatic once Medicare A & B are active
- Review pharmacy benefits under TFL
- Cancel any supplemental insurance that is no longer needed
- Inform your healthcare providers about the Medicare/TFL transition
- Keep Medicare and military ID cards together for provider visits
Plan Impact
TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select eligibility ends when you become Medicare-entitled at age 65. You transition to TRICARE For Life, which wraps around Medicare. Medicare becomes the primary payer and TRICARE For Life pays most remaining costs. You can see any Medicare-participating provider. TRICARE pharmacy benefits continue through Express Scripts.
Cost Impact
TRICARE For Life has no enrollment fee or monthly premium beyond what you pay for Medicare Part B (standard 2026 premium is approximately $185/month). Most services covered by Medicare and TFL together result in zero out-of-pocket costs. You still pay TRICARE pharmacy copayments. If you delay Medicare Part B enrollment, you face a 10% premium penalty for each 12-month period you were eligible but not enrolled.
Required Forms & Documents
- CMS-40B (Application for Enrollment in Medicare Part B)
- Social Security Administration Medicare enrollment (online at ssa.gov or in person)
- DEERS update to reflect Medicare enrollment
Are you getting full coverage?
Our free 2-minute coverage check finds gaps and potential savings personalized to your situation.
Check My Coverage