Medicare-Eligible Beneficiaries
You must have Medicare Part B if:
- You're eligible for Medicare, and
- You turned 65 on or after April 1, 2001
If you don’t enroll in Medicare Part B, you can only get your prescriptions filled at military pharmacies.
Medicare Part D
Medicare's prescription drug plan, Medicare Part D, is available to anyone who's eligible for Medicare Part A or Part B.
TRICARE For Life includes prescription drug coverage through the TRICARE Pharmacy Program. This means you don't need Medicare Part D to have prescription coverage.
In some cases, you may benefit from buying a Medicare Part D plan. Here are some things to consider before you enroll in Medicare Part D:
- Drug coverage: Some Medicare Part D plans may cover drugs that TFL doesn't cover. Each Medicare Part D plan has its own formulary. Compare drug coverage across different Medicare Part D plans with TRICARE drug coverage. Beginning July 1, 2026, Medicare Part D covers certain weight loss drugs under the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program.
- Costs: Different Medicare Part D plans have different monthly premiums, deductibles, and copayments. Compare costs across Medicare Part D plans and TRICARE Pharmacy Program costs. If you have limited income, you may be eligible for Extra Help, a program that helps people pay Medicare Part D costs.
TRICARE is Creditable Coverage
TRICARE is . This means you won’t pay extra if you decide to enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan after your Initial Enrollment Period.
When you become eligible for Medicare Part D:
- You'll receive a letter in the mail.
- It will explain how your TRICARE prescription drug plan works with Medicare Part D.
- Keep this letter for your records.
- You may need it to show that you don’t have to pay extra if you decide to enroll in Medicare Part D.
If you do decide to enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan:
- TRICARE will pay second after Medicare.
- You can enroll during your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period or the Medicare Open Enrollment Period each year.
- The Open Enrollment Period is Oct. 15–Dec. 7, with prescription drug coverage beginning the next Jan. 1.
For More Information
- Visit the Medicare website.
- Download Your Guide to Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage.
Note: Beneficiaries who live overseas (non-U.S. territories) or who are in prison aren’t eligible for Medicare Part D.
Last Updated 7/2/2026
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