Beneficiaries Enrolled in the US Family Health Plan

If entitled to Medicare Part A, you're not required to have Medicare Part B. However, you're encouraged to enroll in Medicare Part B when first eligible.

• You may be required to pay the Medicare Part B Late Enrollment PenaltyYour monthly premium for Part B may go up 10% for each full 12-month period that you could have had Part B, but didn't sign up for it.
• If you disenroll from the US Family Health Plan or move to a non-US Family Health Plan area, you won’t be eligible for other TRICARE benefits if you don’t have Part B.

See below for some exceptions to US Family Health Plan enrollment based on your entitlement to Medicare and US Family Health Plan enrollment date.

If Enrolled in US Family Health Plan Before October 1, 2012

If you enrolled in the US Family Health Plan before October 1, 2012 and have remained continuously enrolled and become eligible for Medicare, you can stay enrolled in the US Family Health Plan as long as there is no break in coverage.

New Enrollments on or After October 1, 2012

If you enroll in the US Family Health Plan on or after October 1, 2012, you'll be transferred to TRICARE For Life when you become entitled to Medicare based on age. Medicare-eligible beneficiaries entitled to Medicare based on age can no longer enroll in the US Family Health Plan. If you enrolled in the US Family Health Plan on October 1, 2012 or later and you are under age 65 and entitled to Medicare, you may remain enrolled in the US Family Health Plan until your 65th birthday. At that time, you'll transition to TRICARE For Life.