AFFORDABLE CARE ACT-TRICARE-MEDICARE

Here are some highlights of Tricare and the Affordable Care Act: (ACA)
*  ACA made no significant changes to the TRICARE program or VA health care system
* ACA opened a special Medicare Part B enrollment window for the Tricare for Life program.

* TRICARE was extended to Medicare eligible military retirees, their Medicare eligible spouses and dependent children, and Medicare eligible widow/widowers by the Floyd D Spence National Defense Authorization Act of 2001.

•  This law established the (TFL) TRICARE for Life program which acts as a secondary payor to Medicare and provides supplemental coverage to TRICARE-eligible beneficiaries who are entitled to Medicare Part A based on age , disability, or end stage renal disease.
• In order to participate in TFL, eligible participants must:

1. Enroll in and pay premiums for Medicare Part B.
2. If entitled to Part A but decline Part B upon becoming eligible lose benefits for TRICARE benefits.
3. Individuals can enroll later in Part B but the late penalty would apply.
4. The Affordable Care Act waives the Medicare Part B late enrollment penalty during the 12 month special enrollment period (SEP) for military retirees, their spouses, (including widows/widowers), and dependent children who are otherwise eligible for TRICARE and are entitled to Part A based on disability or ESRD, but have declined Part B.  This is the only provision in the ACA that has an effect on beneficiary eligibility under the TRICARE program.