Friday, April 13, 2018

Tricare help: Do I need a supplement with Tricare for Life?


By: Patricia Kime    May 9, 2016

Q. I am 64. My husband will be 64 in October. We currently use Tricare Standard for our primary insurance and a Tricare/CHAMPVA supplemental insurance policy as secondary payer. After collecting Social Security disability for 24 months, I will be eligible for Medicare in October. Then Medicare becomes my primary and Tricare, or Tricare For Life, becomes my secondary insurer. Is it necessary to obtain a third plan, or will these two be sufficient?
A. Deciding whether to maintain supplemental insurance for Medicare is a personal choice, and you should carefully weigh your health insurance needs to determine whether it is necessary. Many retirees have told Military Times they are happy with Medicare as their primary payer with Tricare For Life as the secondary and don't need additional insurance. You could consider contacting your State Health Insurance Assistance Program, which offers free counseling on health insurance needs and plans, before making a decision. If you decide to purchase supplemental insurance, Medicare would be the primary payer, the supplement would pay second and Tricare would pay third.
Write to Tricare Help, Times News Service, 6883 Commercial Drive, Springfield, VA 22159; or tricarehelp@militarytimes.com. In email, include the word "Tricare" in the subject line and please do not attach files.

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