OCTOBER 2021

OR RESERVE

When you retire from the National Guard or Reserve, your TRICARE coverage changes.
Learn how TRICARE options may change for you and your family and what you must do.

National Guard and Reserve members may remain eligible HEALTH CARE PLAN OPTIONS CHANGE ONCE
for TRICARE after completing a minimum of 20 qualifying YOU RETIRE
years of service (creditable retirement years).
Once medically retired or retired from the Active
Component, National Guard, or Reserve, your TRICARE
TRICARE AFTER RETIREMENT options depend on your age as the sponsor.

All retired National Guard and Reserve members and their

eligible family members may participate in a TRICARE Under Age 60
health plan. You have access to certain services and health
TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR) is a premium-based health
care benefits based on your age, retiree status, and location.
plan available for purchase by qualified retired members of
the National Guard and Reserve under age 60.
• You may get care at military hospitals and clinics if space
is available.
• You may purchase TRR coverage anytime. TRICARE
• You remain eligible for the TRICARE Pharmacy Program. Open Season doesn’t apply to TRR and other premium-
based plans.
• You may choose to purchase dental and vision coverage
through the Federal Employees Dental and Vision • TRR is available to eligible family members and surviving
Insurance Program (FEDVIP). family members until the day the retired member turns,
or would have turned, age 60.
• You may choose to see any TRICARE-authorized provider.

This brochure is not all-inclusive. For additional information, please go to www.tricare.mil.

WHAT TRICARE PROGRAM OPTIONS DO I HAVE?

Under Age 60 Ages 60–64 Age 65 and After

TRICARE Retired Reserve TRICARE Prime TRICARE For Life (if you’re
(up to age 60) (Available in certain areas) entitled to Medicare Part A
US Family Health Plan and have Medicare Part B)
(Available in certain areas)
TRICARE Select
TRICARE Overseas Program
Options for You Select
and Your Family Extended Care Health Option (ECHO) services for families with special needs aren’t available in retirement.
After Retirement For more information, contact your ECHO Case Management Department.

• You may get care at a military hospital or clinic if space is • If you want TRR coverage, you have to enroll. You may
available. You may also use military pharmacies. request your TRR coverage to begin anytime after the
first day of your retirement. Because TRR is a premium-
Note: If you’re currently enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select based plan, TRICARE Open Season enrollment rules
(TRS), your coverage will end on your retirement date. You don’t apply.
can avoid a break in coverage by purchasing TRR within
90 days of your retirement date. See the How to Enroll in or
Purchase Coverage section in this brochure for information
Ages 60 through 64
about enrolling in or purchasing a plan.
Once you reach age 60 or retire at ages 60 through 64, you
may enroll in:
What You Need to Do:
• TRICARE Prime, if you either reside where TRICARE
• Ensure your retirement eligibility is updated in the Defense Prime is offered (known as a Prime Service Area, or PSA)
Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). Go to or waive drive-time standards, or US Family Health Plan
milConnect at https://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil or call (USFHP) if available in your area
1-800-538-9552.
• TRICARE Select or TRICARE Overseas Program
(TOP) Select if living overseas

TRICARE Prime—including USFHP—is a managed care

Medicare Under Age 65 option, similar to a health maintenance organization.
TRICARE Select is a self-managed, preferred provider option.
Retired service members and their family members
who are under age 65 and entitled to premium- You may enroll in a plan after meeting these qualifications:
free Medicare Part A must have Part B to remain
TRICARE-eligible. • You’ve been issued a “Notification of Eligibility for Retired
Pay at Age 60” letter, also known as a 20-year letter.
If you’re a TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR) enrollee
entitled to Medicare Part A, you aren’t required • You’re drawing military retirement pay.
to have Part B to keep TRR. However, sign up for
Medicare Part B when first eligible to avoid paying a
• Your eligibility is reflected in DEERS.
late-enrollment Medicare premium surcharge. If you
If you don’t meet these criteria, you can only get care at a
wait until age 60, you won’t be eligible for TRICARE
military hospital or clinic if space is available. Once you meet
until your Medicare Part B coverage begins. And you’ll
these criteria, then you may enroll in a plan.
pay higher monthly Part B premiums. To learn more,
visit www.tricare.mil/tfl.
 For cost details, visit www.tricare.mil/costs.

• You must enroll within 90 days of turning age 60. If Age 65 and After
you don’t enroll within 90 days, you may either request
retroactive enrollment within 12 months of turning age TRICARE For Life (TFL) is Medicare-wraparound coverage
60, wait until the next TRICARE Open Season, or enroll for TRICARE-eligible beneficiaries who are entitled to
when you have a Qualifying Life Event (QLE). For more Medicare Part A and have Part B. There’s no enrollment
about QLEs, visit www.tricare.mil/lifeevents. fee to use TFL, but you must pay Medicare Part B monthly
premiums. Learn more about Medicare and TRICARE at
• With TRICARE Prime, you’ll be assigned a primary www.tricare.mil/medicare.
care manager (or with USFHP, you’ll choose a primary
care provider).
• Coverage is automatic once you show as eligible in DEERS,
• Depending on your TRICARE health plan, you may need are entitled Medicare Part A, and have Part B.
referrals or authorizations for some services.
• Medicare will be your primary insurance and will process
• Eligible survivors may enroll in a TRICARE health plan on your health care claims before TRICARE.
the day their sponsor would have turned age 60.
• TFL is available worldwide (In overseas areas where
Medicare doesn’t cover you, TRICARE is the first payer).
What You Need to Do: • You get your choice of provider, but the cost may be different
depending on whether the provider accepts Medicare. Note:
• Complete your retirement package (including filing for In the Philippines, you must see a certified provider for care.
and drawing retirement pay).
• Enroll yourself in TRICARE Prime (if living in a PSA or • Family members not eligible for TFL continue their
current coverage as long as they remain eligible.
waive the drive-time standards), TRICARE Select, or TOP
Select and pay your enrollment fees. Submit your request
within 90 days, but no later than 12 months from when What You Need to Do:
you turn age 60 for coverage to begin the day you turn age
60. See the Retroactive Enrollment Exception and Turning • Ensure that your DEERS information is current.
Age 60 section in this brochure.
• Confirm you’re entitled to Medicare Part A and have
• Enroll in voluntary dental and/or vision coverage Part B. You’re responsible for paying the Medicare Part B
through FEDVIP, if eligible. See the Voluntary Dental income-related monthly premium.
and Vision Coverage section in this brochure.
You may choose to enroll in voluntary dental and vision
coverage through FEDVIP. See the Voluntary Dental and
Qualifying Life Event Vision Coverage section in this brochure.

A Qualifying Life Event (QLE) is a certain change in your

life, like retirement from military service, becoming HOW TO ENROLL IN OR PURCHASE COVERAGE
entitled to Medicare, moving, marriage, or birth of a
Enrollment options include online via Beneficiary Web
child. This means TRICARE health plan options for you
Enrollment on milConnect, phone, mail, or in person at
and your family may change. To learn more, visit
a TRICARE Service Center (if living overseas). For more
www.tricare.mil/lifeevents.
details, go to www.tricare.mil/enroll.

Retroactive Enrollment Exception and Turning Age 60

If you’re a Retired Reserve member and you don’t enroll in a TRICARE health plan within 90 days of turning age 60, you
may be able to request a late enrollment. If applicable, you must pay back enrollment fees and any applicable cost-
shares or copayments from the retirement date. Visit www.tricare.mil/lifeevents and click on “Turning age 60 (Retired
Reserve)” to learn more.
TRICARE PHARMACY PROGRAM VOLUNTARY DENTAL AND VISION COVERAGE
If you have a TRICARE health plan, you have pharmacy Retired service members and family members may qualify
coverage. Note: If you’re enrolled in the USFHP, you aren’t to purchase dental and vision coverage through the Federal
eligible for the TRICARE Pharmacy Program. You must use Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP).
USFHP pharmacy providers. FEDVIP is a voluntary program that offers eligible TRICARE
participants a choice among a number of dental and vision
With the TRICARE Pharmacy Program, you may fill your carriers. The FEDVIP plans vary in coverage and cost. The
prescriptions through: military pharmacies, TRICARE U.S. Office of Personnel Management offers FEDVIP.
Pharmacy Home Delivery, TRICARE retail network
pharmacies, and non-network pharmacies. For FEDVIP vision coverage, you must be enrolled in a
TRICARE health plan. FEDVIP vision plans may include
Your options for filling prescriptions depend on the type of routine eye exams, glasses, and contact lenses.
drug your provider prescribes and where you live. There are
some limitations overseas. Most retirees and their families Note: Retirees have 60 days after retirement to enroll in a
are required to fill select maintenance medications through FEDVIP plan. If eligible for FEDVIP, you can also enroll
TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery. during Federal Benefits Open Season in the fall.

Learn more about the TRICARE Pharmacy Program and For more information, visit www.benefeds.com.
costs at www.tricare.mil/pharmacy.

LOOKING FOR More Information? GO TO www.tricare.mil

TRICARE East Region TRICARE West Region TRICARE For Life TRICARE Overseas Program (TOP)
Humana Military Health Net Federal Services, LLC www.tricare.mil/tfl International SOS
1-800-444-5445 1-844-866-WEST (1-844-866-9378) Wisconsin Physicians Service Government Services, Inc.
HumanaMilitary.com www.tricare-west.com Military & Veterans Health www.tricare-overseas.com
www.tricare-east.com 1-866-773-0404 For toll-free contact information, visit
www.tricare4u.com www.tricare-overseas.com/contact-us

TOP Regional Call Centers

TRICARE Prime TRICARE Select US Family Health Plan Eurasia-Africa

+44-20-8762-8384 (overseas)
www.tricare.mil/prime www.tricare.mil/select www.tricare.mil/usfhp
1-877-678-1207 (stateside)
tricarelon@internationalsos.com

Latin America and Canada

TRICARE Retired Reserve +1-215-942-8393 (overseas)
www.tricare.mil/trr 1-877-451-8659 (stateside)
tricarephl@internationalsos.com

Pacific (Singapore)
+65-6339-2676 (overseas)
An Important Note About TRICARE Program Information 1-877-678-1208 (stateside)
At the time of publication, this information is current. It is important to remember that TRICARE policies and sin.tricare@internationalsos.com
BR409G020921WP

benefits are governed by public law and federal regulations. Changes to TRICARE programs are continually
made as public law and/or federal regulations are amended. Military hospital and clinic guidelines and Pacific (Sydney)
policies may be different than those outlined in this publication. For the most recent information, contact +61-2-9273-2710 (overseas)
your TRICARE regional contractor or local military hospital or clinic. 1-877-678-1209 (stateside)
sydtricare@internationalsos.com
TRICARE is a registered trademark of the Department of Defense, Defense Health Agency. All rights reserved.