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 creditable prescription drug coverage . 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.