Tricare and Medicare are separate programs, but military retirees often use both

Tricare is health insurance for active-duty service members, retirees, and their families. Medicare is a federal health program for people 65 and older, regardless of military service. They are not the same program, but if you are a military retiree who turns 65, you will likely have both — and they work together in specific ways.

The key difference: Tricare is earned through military service. Medicare is earned through age and work history. A military retiree at 65 does not lose Tricare when Medicare starts. Instead, the two programs coordinate, with Medicare becoming primary (paying first) and Tricare becoming secondary (paying what Medicare does not cover).

Understanding which program pays for what, and in what order, matters because mistakes can cost you money or leave gaps in coverage. This guide explains how the two work together and what you need to do when you turn 65.

Key Takeaways

  • Tricare is military health insurance; Medicare is a federal program for people 65 and older — they are separate but coordinate when you have both.
  • When you turn 65, Medicare becomes your primary payer and Tricare becomes secondary, meaning Medicare pays first and Tricare covers some remaining costs.
  • You must enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B when you turn 65, even if you have Tricare, or you will face lifetime penalties.
  • Tricare for Life is a Tricare plan designed specifically for people 65 and older who also have Medicare, and it covers many costs Medicare does not.
  • You do not lose Tricare when you turn 65 — military retirees keep their Tricare coverage for life unless they choose to drop it.

How Tricare and Medicare coordinate when you turn 65

When you reach 65 and have both Tricare and Medicare, Medicare becomes the primary payer. That means Medicare processes your claim first and pays its share. Tricare then reviews what Medicare paid and covers some of the remaining costs, depending on which Tricare plan you have.

This coordination is automatic — you do not have to do anything to make it happen. However, you must enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B during your enrollment window. If you do not enroll when you are supposed to, you will owe a lifetime penalty on your Part B premium, even though you have Tricare. The military does not waive this penalty for Tricare members.

The order matters because it affects how much you pay out of pocket. If you do not enroll in Medicare and only use Tricare, Tricare will not cover costs the way it normally does — it will treat itself as secondary, which usually means higher out-of-pocket costs for you.

Tricare for Life: the Tricare plan for people 65 and older

Tricare for Life is a Tricare plan created specifically for military retirees and their spouses who are 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B. If you are may be able to access, Tricare for Life acts as your secondary insurance and covers many costs that Medicare does not pay — including Medicare deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.

To be may be able to access for Tricare for Life, you must meet all of these conditions: you are 65 or older, you are enrolled in Medicare Part A, you are enrolled in Medicare Part B, you are a military retiree (or the spouse or survivor of one), and you are registered in the Defense Enrollment may be able to access Reporting System (DEERS). Most military retirees meet these conditions automatically.

Tricare for Life has no monthly premium, but you still pay your Medicare Part B premium. There is no separate enrollment process — if you meet the conditions, you are automatically covered. You can verify your enrollment by logging into your Tricare account or calling Tricare customer service.

What happens to your Tricare when you turn 65

You do not lose Tricare when you turn 65. Military retirees keep their Tricare coverage for life, as long as they remain may be able to access (which means staying registered in DEERS and paying any required premiums). Your Tricare plan may change — for example, if you were on Tricare Prime, you may want to switch to Tricare for Life — but your coverage does not end.

If you are a military retiree under 65 and not yet on Medicare, you can stay on your current Tricare plan (Tricare Prime, Tricare Select, or Tricare Prime Remote) until you turn 65. At 65, you become may be able to access for Tricare for Life if you enroll in Medicare Parts A and B.

If you are a survivor or dependent of a military retiree, your coverage rules may differ. Survivors can keep Tricare until age 65, at which point they must enroll in Medicare. Dependents of active-duty service members have different rules. Check your specific status with Tricare if you are unsure.

Enrolling in Medicare as a Tricare member

Even though you have Tricare, you must enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B when you turn 65. Your enrollment window opens three months before the month you turn 65 and closes three months after. For example, if you turn 65 in June, your window runs from March through September.

You can enroll online at Medicare.gov, by phone at 1-800-MEDICARE, or in person at your local Social Security office. You will need your Social Security number and information about your current coverage. Tell Medicare that you have Tricare — this does not affect your enrollment, but it helps Medicare coordinate with Tricare correctly.

If you miss your enrollment window, you can still enroll, but you will owe a lifetime penalty on your Part B premium. The penalty is 10 percent of the standard Part B premium for each full year you were may be able to access but not enrolled. This penalty stays with you for life, even if you later enroll. Tricare will not pay this penalty for you.

Costs: Tricare, Medicare, and what you pay out of pocket

Your total costs depend on which Tricare plan you have and how much Medicare and Tricare each cover. Tricare for Life members pay their Medicare Part B premium (which varies by income) but no Tricare premium. Medicare Part A is usually free for people with 40 quarters of work history.

When you see a provider, Medicare pays first. Tricare for Life then covers Medicare's deductibles and coinsurance for in-network providers. For out-of-network providers, Tricare for Life coverage is more limited. You may still owe some costs out of pocket, depending on the provider and the service.

If you choose a different Tricare plan instead of Tricare for Life (which is rare for people 65 and older), your costs will be higher because you will owe more out-of-pocket costs that Tricare for Life would have covered. Most military retirees at 65 choose Tricare for Life because it offers the most comprehensive secondary coverage.

What to ask your doctor and Tricare

Before you have a procedure or see a specialist, confirm with your provider that they accept both Medicare and Tricare. Some providers accept Medicare but not Tricare, or vice versa. Ask your provider's billing office which insurance they will bill first and whether they will bill Tricare as secondary.

If you are unsure whether a service is covered, contact Tricare before you receive care. You can call Tricare customer service or use your Tricare online account to check coverage. Ask specifically: "Will this service be covered if I have Medicare as primary and Tricare for Life as secondary?" This prevents surprise bills.

If you receive a bill you think is wrong, ask your provider for an itemized statement showing what Medicare paid and what Tricare paid. Compare it to your Medicare Summary Notice and your Tricare Explanation of Benefits. If amounts do not match, contact both programs to ask why.

When to contact Tricare or Medicare

Contact Tricare if you have questions about your Tricare coverage, your enrollment status, or whether a specific service is covered. Tricare customer service is available by phone, online chat, and mail. You can also visit a Tricare service center in person if one is near you.

Contact Medicare if you have questions about your Medicare coverage, your enrollment, or your Medicare bills. You can call 1-800-MEDICARE, visit Medicare.gov, or go to your local Social Security office. If you are having trouble coordinating the two programs, both agencies can help.

Seek when ready care if you have a medical emergency — do not wait to confirm coverage. Emergency rooms must treat you regardless of insurance status. After the emergency, contact both programs to make sure the bills are processed correctly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to drop Tricare when I turn 65 and get Medicare?

No. You keep Tricare for life as a military retiree. At 65, you become may be able to access for Tricare for Life, which works alongside Medicare. You do not lose Tricare, and you do not have to choose between them — you have both.

What if I do not enroll in Medicare when I turn 65?

You will owe a lifetime penalty on your Part B premium — 10 percent for each full year you were may be able to access but not enrolled. This penalty never goes away. Tricare will not cover it. You should enroll during your window even if you have Tricare.

Does Tricare for Life cost anything?

Tricare for Life has no monthly premium. You pay your Medicare Part B premium (which varies by income) and any out-of-pocket costs for services Medicare and Tricare do not fully cover. Most military retirees find this less expensive than other Tricare plans at 65.

Can I use any doctor with Tricare and Medicare together?

You can see any doctor who accepts Medicare. Tricare for Life covers more if you see providers in the Tricare network, but you are not limited to network providers. Ask your doctor's office whether they accept both Medicare and Tricare before your first visit.

What if I am a survivor or dependent of a military retiree?

Coverage rules differ for survivors and dependents. Survivors can keep Tricare until 65, then must enroll in Medicare. Dependents of active-duty members have different may be able to access. Contact Tricare to confirm your specific status and what happens when you turn 65.