Who is eligible to get benefits under TRICARE for Life (TFL)?

September 20, 2009 by admin

The Department of Defense implemented TRICARE for Life (TFL) on October 1, 2001. To be eligible for this program, a beneficiary must generally be a Medicare-eligible military retiree or Medicare-eligible dependent, widow, or widower. TFL acts as a secondary payer to Medicare. Here is how the program works: When a benefit is covered by both plans (which will apply to the vast majority of health care services you will receive), Medicare will pay the provider first, and TRICARE will pay second. TRICARE may pay applicable Medicare deductible and cost-sharing amounts. There will be a few services that are covered only by one of the programs. When a benefit is covered only by Medicare (for example, chiropractic care), you will generally be responsible for any remaining costs after Medicare has paid the provider. When a benefit is covered only by TRICARE (for example, prescription drugs), you will generally be responsible for all TRICARE cost-shares and deductibles. The amounts Medicare and TRICARE will pay are based on your use of a Medicare provider. To get benefits through TRICARE for Life, a beneficiary must be enrolled in Medicare Part B. To get more information about TRICARE for Life, including specific benefit coverage information, call 1-866-773-0404 or go to the TRICARE web site .