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Date of Last Update:
3/11/2009 2:38:02 PM |
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What is TRICARE For Life (TFL)? |
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2001 (Public Law 106-398) extended TRICARE health care and pharmacy benefits to:
- Medicare-entitled uniformed services retirees,
- Medicare-entitled retired guard members and reservists,
- Medicare-entitled family members and widows/widowers, and
- Medicare-entitled unremarried former spouses who meet TRICARE eligibility requirements.
Pharmacy benefits began on April 1, 2001, and the TRICARE medical benefits began on October 1, 2001. The medical benefits are known as TRICARE For Life (TFL) and the pharmacy benefits are part of the TRICARE Pharmacy Program.
TFL is a permanent program funded through the Department of Defense Medicare-Eligible Retiree Health Care Fund, resourced with general revenues of the U.S. Treasury and annual contributions from appropriations. TFL doesn’t require annual authorization by Congress.
Under Federal law, if you are a TRICARE beneficiary entitled to Medicare because of age, disability or end-stage renal disease (ESRD), you must enroll and pay the monthly Medicare Part B premium in order to remain TRICARE-eligible. If you are an active duty family member entitled to Medicare, you aren’t required to purchase Part B until your active duty sponsor retires. |
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