Since 2011, we've helped more than 5 million visitors understand Medicare coverage.

A PROPERTY OF HEALTHINSURANCE.ORG, LLC, A NON-GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY
Get a quote From a licensed third party agency
medicareresources.org
Get a quote
From a licensed third party agency
A PROPERTY OF HEALTHINSURANCE.ORG, LLC, A NON-GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY
Enrollment options
Enrollment options by state
Coverage options
Original Medicare Part A Original Medicare Part B Medicare Advantage Part C Medicare Part D Medicare Supplement Plans
Featured
How are Medicare benefits changing for 2026?
Changes to 2025 Medicare coverage include a $2,000 cap on Part D out-of-pocket costs, small reductions in the average premium for Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, increases for Medicare Part B and Part A premiums and cost-sharing, and adjustments to income-related premium surcharges for Part B and Part D.
Guides
Medicare Open Enrollment 2026 Financial help by state Enrollment and Eligibility
Medicare Basics
What is Medicare? History of Medicare Medicare and the ACA
Latest News & Topics
FAQs Blog Glossary
Featured
What is the income-related monthly adjusted amount (IRMAA)?
For 2025, high-income beneficiaries – earning over $106,000 a year – pay an IRMAA surcharge that’s added to their Part B and Part D premiums and determined by income from their income tax returns two years prior.

Home > Glossary > TRICARE for life (TFL)

TRICARE for life (TFL)

What is TRICARE for life (TFL)?

TRICARE for life (TFL) Infographic

What is TRICARE for life (TFL)?

TRICARE for Life serves as supplemental coverage for Medicare, for those who have served in the military and are eligible for TRICARE, but are also enrolled in Medicare Part A and B.1

Their family members can also be eligible for TRICARE for Life benefits, but only if those family members also have Medicare Part A and Part B, since TRICARE for Life is only available to people who are also enrolled in Medicare. So family members who aren’t enrolled in Medicare will need other coverage (which can be a different TRICARE program).2

TRICARE for Life coverage is generally secondary to Medicare, paying claims after Medicare has already paid its share. However, if the person is overseas and needs medical care, TRICARE will pay first,3 as Medicare doesn’t provide coverage outside the US and US territories. The person has to continue to pay premiums for Medicare Part B in that situation in order to have TRICARE for Life, even though Medicare doesn’t provide benefits overseas.

Related Articles

What is Medigap? Your guide to Medicare supplement insurance

What is Medigap? Your guide to Medicare supplement insurance

Medicare supplement insurance, or Medigap, is insurance that supplements Original Medicare, covering some or all of the out-of-pocket costs that a beneficiary would otherwise have to pay for services covered by Original Medicare.

Veteran’s Aid and Attendance benefit

Veteran’s Aid and Attendance benefit

The Veteran’s Aid and Attendance benefit is a pension benefit for war-time veterans who require assistance with the activities of daily living. Receiving this benefit in no way impacts the benefits of other primary or supplemental insurance policies such as Medicare, Medicare Advantage or TRICARE.

What is Medigap? Your guide to Medicare supplement insurance

What is Medigap? Your guide to Medicare supplement insurance

Medicare supplement insurance, or Medigap, is insurance that supplements Original Medicare, covering some or all of the out-of-pocket costs that a beneficiary would otherwise have to pay for services covered by Original Medicare.

Veteran’s Aid and Attendance benefit

Veteran’s Aid and Attendance benefit

The Veteran’s Aid and Attendance benefit is a pension benefit for war-time veterans who require assistance with the activities of daily living. Receiving this benefit in no way impacts the benefits of other primary or supplemental insurance policies such as Medicare, Medicare Advantage or TRICARE.

Footnotes

  1. ”TRICARE for Life” TRICARE. Accessed June 29, 2025 ⤶
  2. ”Q&A: TRICARE For Life and Your Family” TRICARE Newsroom. Sep. 14, 2023 ⤶
  3. ”Using TRICARE For Life Overseas” TRICARE. Accessed June 29, 2025 ⤶