TRICARE for Retirees

So you are set to retire, but do you know what is going to happen with your health care? Can you really stand to lose your military health care benefits now that you're leaving and probably have a family to take care of?

Fortunately, health benefits are available for retirees and dependents. Here is a very basic sketch of the health benefits you may qualify for:

• TRICARE benefits (co-payments maybe required)
• Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Care
• TRICARE Retiree Dental Care Program
• TRICARE for Life (TRICARE coverage combined with Medicare you become eligible for Medicare B)
• TRICARE Enrollment and Claims Forms (Link to TRICARE)

Again, this list is an outline. You will have to do more research to determine exactly which benefits you are eligible for.

Retiree TRICARE Eligibility:

Uniformed Service Retirees (including Reserves and Guardsman over 65 - see TRICARE for Life) and their eligible family members. The following is a list of eligible family members:

• A spouse
• An unremarried widow(er)
• An unmarried child, including an adopted child or a stepchild, under 21, or under 23 if still enrolled full-time at an educational institution.
• A dependent parent or parent-in-law (check dependency requirements)
• Unremarried former spouses, under certain conditions. These former spouses must also not have other medical coverage under an employer-sponsored plan.
• A person who would qualify as an eligible family member from a previous marriage.

For general information about TRICARE, call the toll-free TRICARE information line for your region found at the TRICARE Contact Us web page.