I’m a medically retired service member. I’m now getting Social Security disability benefits; does this affect my TRICARE eligibility?
Yes. The Social Security Administration automatically enrolls you in Medicare Part A and Medicare and Part B after you get disability benefits for 24 months. As a retiree, you must have Medicare Part B to keep your TRICARE benefits. This applies even if you live overseas. If you drop your Medicare Part B, you may only sign up during Medicare’s General Enrollment Period (January 1 - March 31 each year). Your Medicare Part B coverage starts the first day of the month after you sign up. You may have to pay a higher premium for late enrollment in Medicare Part B.
Review the examples below:
Example 1:
| Corporal Grady is a medically retired service member. She got a letter from the Social Security Administration letting her know her Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B start May 2024. She knows she needs to have Medicare Part B to have TRICARE, so she doesn't drop it. | ||||
| Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B start May 2024 | ||||
| Medicare General Enrollment Period | ||||
| May 2024 – December 2024 | January – March 2025 | April 2025 | ||
| TRICARE eligibility continues without a break. | ||||
Example 2:
| Corporal Grady is a medically retired service member. She got a letter from the Social Security Administration letting her know her Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B start May 2024. She thought she didn't need Medicare Part B so she dropped it. She now has to wait to enroll during Medicare's General Enrollment Period, which is from January 1 - March 31, 2025. She signs up for Medicare Part B in March 2025. Her Medicare Part B coverage starts April 1, 2025. | ||||||
| Medicare Part A starts May 2024 Medicare Part B starts April 2025 |
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| Medicare General Enrollment Period | ||||||
| May – December 2024 | January - March 2025 | April 2025 | ||||
| No TRICARE coverage | TRICARE coverage starts | |||||
Last Updated 12/2/2025