If you're a military retiree, TRICARE has probably been the easiest part of your life for decades. Then you approach 65, the Medicare mail starts arriving, and suddenly there are deadlines, premiums, and a dozen companies telling you to buy things.

Here's the honest version, from someone who helps South Carolina veterans through this every year. At 65, two things are true: there's one Medicare step you absolutely cannot skip — and there's a whole shelf of coverage you're being pitched that you probably don't need. Getting both of those right is the entire game.

What happens to TRICARE at 65

When you become eligible for Medicare (usually at 65), your TRICARE doesn't disappear — it transforms into TRICARE For Life (TFL). TFL is excellent coverage: it wraps around Original Medicare and pays as your secondary insurance. Medicare pays first, TFL picks up most of what's left. For most retirees, the combination leaves very little out of pocket.

But TFL only works if you hold up your side of the deal — and that side is Medicare.

The one step you cannot skip: Medicare Part B

This is the part that costs veterans dearly when they miss it. To keep TRICARE after 65, you must enroll in Medicare Part B. TRICARE will not waive it.

Three things to burn into memory:

• The premium. Part B costs $202.90 a month in 2026 for most people (higher earners pay more — see IRMAA below).
• The consequence of skipping it. If you don't enroll in Medicare when you're supposed to, your TRICARE benefits end — as early as the first day of the month you turn 65. This isn't a warning; it's the rule.
• The penalty for being late. Miss your enrollment window and Medicare adds a 10% penalty to your Part B premium for every 12 months you could have had it but didn't — and that penalty sticks for life.

Your enrollment window is a 7-month Initial Enrollment Period: the 3 months before your 65th-birthday month, the birthday month itself, and the 3 months after. Don't wait until the end of it — enroll early so your coverage is active the day you need it.

(Also make sure you're enrolled in Medicare Part A, which most retirees get premium-free based on their work record. There's no reason to skip it.)

Now the good news: what you can SKIP

Here's what almost no one tells veterans, and where I often save people money instead of selling them something. Because TRICARE For Life is so strong, you generally do not need the extra products aimed at other Medicare beneficiaries:

• You don't need a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) plan. TFL already does the job a Medigap does — it wraps around Original Medicare and covers most of the cost-sharing. Buying a Medigap on top is usually paying twice for the same protection.
• You don't need a Medicare Part D drug plan. The TRICARE pharmacy benefit is "creditable" prescription coverage — Medicare considers it at least as good as Part D. That means you're already covered and you're protected from the Part D late-enrollment penalty, so you can decline Part D with confidence.
• You generally don't need a Medicare Advantage plan. Enrolling in one can actually complicate how TFL coordinates. For most retirees, Original Medicare + TFL is the cleanest, strongest setup.

So if someone is pushing you toward a supplement, a drug plan, or an Advantage plan "because you're turning 65," pump the brakes. A good agent's job here is to confirm you're set — not to sell you a fourth layer you don't need.

What to Do Two moves, in order: (1) Enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B during your 7-month window so TRICARE For Life switches on smoothly. (2) Skip the Medigap and Part D pitches — TFL already covers those roles. If you want a second set of eyes to confirm before your birthday, that's exactly what I'm here for, and it's free.

Two things higher earners and couples should know

• IRMAA. If your income is above certain thresholds, Medicare adds an income-related surcharge (IRMAA) to your Part B premium — so your cost can be higher than $202.90. It's based on your tax return from a couple of years back, and it's worth planning for.
• Your spouse has their own deadline. TRICARE For Life follows each person individually. Your spouse must enroll in Medicare Part B when they turn 65 to keep their own TFL coverage. Don't let one birthday get handled and the other slip.

A note on exceptions

Most retirees must take Part B at 65 — full stop. But a few situations differ (for example, if you're still on active duty past 65, or covered as the family member of an active-duty service member). If that's you, confirm your timing directly with TRICARE before you make any decision. When in doubt, ask.

South Carolina is full of people this affects

South Carolina is home to hundreds of thousands of veterans and a heavy active-and-retired military presence — Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, MCAS Beaufort in the Lowcountry, and Fort Jackson in Columbia, among others. That means a lot of neighbors are hitting this exact 65th-birthday decision every month, and a lot of them are getting bad or salesy advice.

You don't have to navigate it alone, and you should never pay for help choosing Medicare coverage. Free, trustworthy help is available through 1-800-MEDICARE, the TRICARE line, South Carolina's SHIP counselors, and a local licensed agent like me. If you're closer to the Midlands, I go deeper on the base angle in Military Retirees Near Fort Jackson: TRICARE For Life and Medicare, and you can always reach local Medicare help in the Columbia area.

Turning 65 with TRICARE? Let's Confirm You're Set — for Free.

No-cost, no-pressure review for military retirees. I'll make sure your Part B timing is right so TRICARE For Life switches on cleanly — and I'll tell you honestly what you don't need to buy.

📞 Call or Text Ben: 803-920-8827 🌐 MauldinInsuranceGroup.com 📍 100 Old Cherokee Rd STE F #167, Lexington, SC · Serving all of South Carolina · Thank you for your service.

This article is general information, not enrollment advice. Always confirm your specific situation with TRICARE, Medicare (1-800-MEDICARE), or a licensed agent.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do military retirees have to enroll in Medicare Part B at 65? Yes. To keep TRICARE (which becomes TRICARE For Life) after 65, most military retirees must enroll in Medicare Part B and pay the premium — $202.90 a month in 2026 for most people. If you don't enroll when eligible, your TRICARE coverage can end.

What happens if I skip Medicare Part B? Skipping Part B can end your TRICARE benefits as early as the first day of the month you turn 65, and Medicare adds a lifelong late-enrollment penalty of 10% of the Part B premium for every 12 months you delayed. It's a costly mistake to avoid.

Do I need a Medigap plan if I have TRICARE For Life? Generally no. TRICARE For Life already wraps around Original Medicare and covers most cost-sharing, functioning much like a Medigap plan. Buying a separate Medicare Supplement is usually paying twice for the same protection.

Do I need Medicare Part D if I have TRICARE For Life? No. The TRICARE pharmacy benefit is creditable prescription coverage — Medicare considers it at least as good as Part D — so you're already covered and protected from the Part D late penalty. You can add Part D later if you ever choose to, but most retirees don't need it.

Does my spouse also have to enroll in Medicare Part B? Yes. TRICARE For Life applies to each person individually, so your spouse must enroll in Medicare Part B when they turn 65 to keep their own TRICARE For Life coverage.

Is TRICARE For Life free? There's no separate TFL premium, but you must pay your Medicare Part B premium to keep it, and higher earners may pay an income-related surcharge (IRMAA) on top of the standard Part B amount.