Medicare-eligible uniformed services retirees, their spouses, and survivors who are age 65 and over are entitled to expanded health care benefits, including coverage under TRICARE and pharmacy coverage.
TRICARE beneficiaries who turned 65 before April 1, 2001, may use the pharmacy benefit without being enrolled in Medicare Part B. Those who reached age 65 on or after April 1, 2001, must be enrolled in Medicare Part B to use the pharmacy benefit.
Effective October 1, 2001, under the new law, eligible beneficiaries who continue to receive medical care from their current Medicare providers will have TRICARE as their second payer. TRICARE will pay their out-of-pocket costs for services covered under Medicare and TRICARE. In addition, they have access to TRICARE benefits that may not be covered under Medicare. To continue using TRICARE after age 65, Medicare-eligible beneficiaries must be enrolled in Medicare Part B.
Medicare eligibility begins on the first day of the month in which you turn 65. However, if your 65th birthday falls on the first day of the month, then your Medicare eligibility begins on the first day of the preceding month.
If you are the widow or widower of a service member, and remarry someone outside the uniformed services, you are no longer covered by TRICARE (unless the marriage is annulled, in which case eligibility is reinstated after the annulment). If you remarry a member or former member of the uniformed services entitled to retired or retainer pay you will remain eligible.
Retired reservists, National Guard, and their families are covered by TRICARE after the reservist reaches age 60 and begins to receive retired pay. Check with your BCAC/HBA/TSC on this.
Families of veterans with 100 percent, permanent disability, or of veterans, who died from a service-connected disability, may be covered by CHAMPVA as long as they are not eligible for TRICARE. These veterans -- who left active duty without qualifying for a regular military retirement -- must receive their care from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Military retirees who need treatment of service-connected conditions may choose to be treated under TRICARE or to get civilian health care that’s paid for by the VA -- but not both.
