By MOAA Staff
Once you get over the shock of you or your spouse moving to Medicare (and the Part B premium amount), what happens to the younger spouse or family members?
[RELATED DOWNLOAD: Aging Into Medicare (Exclusive to Premium and Life Members)]
Younger family members stay on their current TRICARE plan. Only the person turning 65 moves to Medicare-TRICARE For Life (TFL).
A younger spouse alone under a TRICARE plan will convert to the single fee rate. If the younger spouse is combined with children, the family rate still applies. Check with Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) to ensure you are paying the proper rate (learn more at TRICARE.mil/deers).
The transition to Medicare-TFL by one spouse opens the Qualifying Life Event (QLE) window for the other spouse or family members. A QLE allows a spouse or family members to make a change to their TRICARE program outside the normal Open Season window. Not that you would want to, but if you did, your spouse could change a plan from Prime to Select or vice versa. You get 90 days to make any changes.
As the new Medicare-TFL member, after enrolling in Medicare Parts A and B, take your Medicare enrollment card to the ID card office, get an updated ID card, and get enrolled in TFL. That’s all you’ll need to do.
Have More Questions About Your Health Care Benefit?
MOAA's TRICARE Guide answers some commonly asked questions.