Using TRICARE for Life with Other Health Insurance

TRICARE For Life (TFL) is Medicare wraparound coverage for TRICARE beneficiaries who have Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B, regardless of age or place of residence. With TFL, you have the freedom to seek care from any Medicare-participating or nonparticipating provider, or at a military hospital or clinic on a space-available basis. Enrollment is not required, but you must pay Medicare Part B premiums.

If you have other health insuranceHealth insurance you have in addition to TRICARE, such as Medicare or an employer-sponsored health insurance. TRICARE supplements don’t qualify as “other health insurance.”, such as a Medicare supplement or an employer-sponsored health plan, you can use TRICARE For Life as long as you have both Medicare Parts A and B.

+ TRICARE pays last after Medicare and your other health insurance

+ Visit the Medicare website to see which plan—Medicare or your other health insurance—pays first

+ After your other health insurance processes the claim, you will have to file a paper claim with the TRICARE For Life contractor, Wisconsin Physicians Service (WPS).

+ WPS will process the claim and pay TRICARE’s portion of the claim directly to you.

Send your paper claims to WPS along with a copy of:

+ your provider’s itemized bill,

+ the Medicare Summary Notice, and

+ the explanation of benefits from all other health insurances.

Your claim must be filed within one year from the date of care. For more information, visit the WPS website.