Contents
Overview
TRICARE For Life (TFL) is Medicare-wraparound coverage for TRICARE beneficiaries who have both Medicare Part A and Part B. Medicare pays first, TFL pays second — usually leaving little or nothing out of pocket for Medicare-covered services.
What TFL is
TRICARE For Life (TFL) is the secondary payer for retirees, retiree family members, certain survivors, and Medal of Honor recipients who are entitled to Medicare Part A and enrolled in Medicare Part B.
Cost
There is no enrollment fee for TFL itself, but you must pay your monthly Medicare Part B premium (set annually by CMS — $185.00/month standard in 2025; higher for high-income beneficiaries via IRMAA).
How claims pay
How payment works: at a Medicare-participating provider, Medicare pays first, then the claim is automatically forwarded to Wisconsin Physicians Service (WPS), the TFL contractor, which pays the remaining Medicare cost-share. For services Medicare covers but TRICARE doesn't, Medicare pays and you pay the rest. For services TRICARE covers but Medicare doesn't (like care overseas), TRICARE pays first using TRICARE Select rules.
Pharmacy benefit
Pharmacy: TFL beneficiaries get the standard TRICARE pharmacy benefit through Express Scripts. You do not need a Medicare Part D plan; in fact, enrolling in Part D is usually unnecessary.
Automatic eligibility
Eligibility is automatic the day you become entitled to Medicare Part A and enrolled in Part B, as long as you're registered in DEERS.
Key Facts
- Category
- Plans
- Type
- plan