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TRICARE coverage and Medicare explained

While Medicare is available to retired Americans collecting Social Security, there is another healthcare available to veterans called TRICARE.

stethoscope used for patients receiving medicare and tricare

TRICARE is a health insurance program for active duty and retired uniformed services members to offer better access to high quality healthcare services.

Service members that qualify for Medicare Parts A and B can also get TRICARE’s wrap around coverage.

It is a supplement to Medicare and pays the deductible and patient cost share.


How to sign up for insurance

In order to receive TRICARE benefits, you must be entitled to Part A and enroll in Part B.

If members choose to not enroll in Part B they will lose their supplemental coverage.

Exception to losing TRICARE due to loss of Medicare Part B coverage

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 made it so anyone eligible after Oct. 2009 can retain TRICARE with retroactive disability benefits.


How to get a replacement Medicare card

If you’re given retroactive disability insurance benefits, you may become eligible for Medicare Part A and may then enroll in Medicare Part B.

Those who were given retroactive disability insurance benefits do not need to enroll in Part B for the past months being covered, but do need to enroll to keep TRICARE moving forward.

Learn more about this coverage and all the changes to the law here.

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