I understand that there are new benefits available to Uniformed Services retirees and their dependents. What are these benefits? Who is eligible?

September 20, 2009 by admin

The Department of Defense implemented TRICARE for Life (TFL) on October 1, 2001. TRICARE for Life provides expanded medical coverage for: Medicare-eligible uniformed services retirees, including retired National Guard members and reservists; Medicare-eligible family members and widows/widowers; and certain former spouses if they were eligible for TRICARE before age 65. You must be 65 or over and have Medicare Part A and Part B to be eligible for TFL. If eligible, you get all Medicare-covered benefits under the Original Medicare Plan, plus all TFL-covered benefits. If you use a Medicare provider, Medicare will be the first payer for all Medicare-covered services, and TFL will be the second payer. TFL will pay all Medicare co-payments and deductibles and cover most of the costs of certain care not covered by Medicare. When only Medicare covers a benefit (for example, chiropractic care), you will generally be responsible for any remaining costs after Medicare has paid the provider. When only TRICARE covers a benefit (for example, prescription drugs), you will generally be responsible for all TRICARE co-payments and deductibles. The amounts Medicare and TRICARE will pay are based on your use of a Medicare provider. To get more information about TRICARE for Life, call 1-888-DOD-LIFE (1-888-363-5433) or look at theTRICARE web site. Call 1-800-538-9552 for other military retiree eligibility and benefit questions.