Do I Need Medicare Part B With TRICARE For Life?
Answered by Anthony Orner, Licensed Medicare Insurance Broker — NJ & 34 states
Yes, and it is not optional. TRICARE For Life is wraparound coverage that pays after Medicare, so it only works if Medicare is in place first. Once you are entitled to premium-free Part A, you must have Part B and keep paying the premium to keep TFL. TRICARE is explicit that you lose coverage if you never enroll, if you drop it, or if you stop paying. The premium is $202.90 a month in 2026, the same standard amount everyone pays. Because TFL already fills the gaps Medicare leaves, most TFL holders do not need a Medicare Supplement on top of it.
Why TFL Cannot Stand Alone
TFL is second payer by design. Medicare processes the claim, TFL picks up most of what is left, and the beneficiary usually owes little. Remove Part B and the first payer is gone, so the wrap has nothing to wrap around.
This applies regardless of age and regardless of where you live, including overseas.
Do Not Buy a Supplement on Top
Paying a Medigap premium while holding TFL usually buys coverage you already have. It is one of the more expensive mistakes a military retiree can make, and it is easy to make when the mail starts arriving at 64.
A Part D plan is usually redundant too. TRICARE pharmacy benefits are creditable.
Watch the Timing at 65
Enroll in Part B during your Initial Enrollment Period so there is no gap between TRICARE and TFL. A missed month is a month with no coverage at all, plus a permanent penalty on the premium afterward.
Not on TFL? See what a supplement costs in your area
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EasyKind Medicare is an independent brokerage licensed in NJ and 34 states. Not affiliated with Medicare, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or any government agency. Last updated: September 2026.