The rule
The TRICARE For Life Handbook (August 2026) says Medicare Part B is required to remain TRICARE-eligible once you have premium-free Part A, whether you qualify by age, disability or end-stage renal disease. TFL coverage is automatic once both parts are in effect, with no TFL enrollment fee.
Part B costs $202.90 a month for most people in 2026, with a $283 yearly deductible that TFL covers for services both programs cover. Higher-income retirees pay more under IRMAA; 2027 amounts haven't been published yet. See Medicare costs in 2026.
Exceptions
- Active duty service members and active duty family members don't need Part B to keep TRICARE. Medicare lets them delay Part B and use a Special Enrollment Period, without a late penalty, any time the sponsor is on active duty, or within eight months after the sponsor retires or TRICARE coverage ends, whichever comes first. People eligible only because of end-stage renal disease don't get this Special Enrollment Period.
- No premium-free Part A: the handbook notes that if neither spouse will be eligible for premium-free Part A, neither needs Part B to remain TRICARE-eligible.
Retiring from active duty after 65? The handbook says to sign up for Part B before the sponsor's active duty status ends to avoid a break in TRICARE coverage.
What to do at 65 in Oklahoma
- Apply for Part A and Part B. Use your Initial Enrollment Period: three months before through three months after your 65th birthday month. Apply at ssa.gov, 1-800-772-1213 or an Oklahoma Social Security office.
- Update DEERS and your ID card. Take your Medicare card to a uniformed services ID card office (find one at idco.dmdc.osd.mil) and confirm Medicare shows on your record.
- Keep paying Part B. It's usually taken from your Social Security check.
More in our guide for veterans, TRICARE and military retirees and on enrollment periods. To talk with a licensed insurance agent at no cost to you, you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent.
Related questions
How TFL works with Medicare
Who pays what.
Do I need Part D with TFL?
TRICARE pharmacy and Part D.
VA and Medicare together
Using both in Oklahoma.
Sources
- TRICARE — TRICARE For Life Handbook (August 2026)
- TRICARE — Becoming Medicare-eligible
- TRICARE — TRICARE For Life
- Medicare.gov — Avoid late enrollment penalties
More questions in this guide
- Can I use VA health care and Medicare together in Oklahoma?
- Can military retirees on Medicare use the pharmacy at Tinker AFB or Fort Sill?
- Do I need Medicare Part D if I have TRICARE For Life?
- Does TRICARE For Life work with Medicare in Oklahoma?
Part of the guide: Veterans, Military Retirees and Medicare in Oklahoma · All questions
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I drop Part B?
You lose TRICARE coverage, including TFL. If you sign up again later, you may wait for the General Enrollment Period and pay a late penalty of 10% for each full 12 months you were without Part B, usually for as long as you have it.
I still work and have employer coverage. Do I need Part B?
Yes, to keep TRICARE. The TFL Handbook says you must have Part B to remain TRICARE-eligible even if you have employer coverage. Medicare's working-past-65 Special Enrollment Period avoids a penalty, but you would lose TRICARE while you go without Part B.
Can I get help paying the Part B premium?
Possibly. If your income and savings are limited, a Medicare Savings Program through the Oklahoma Department of Human Services may pay your Part B premium. You keep TFL either way.
Medicare in your Oklahoma county
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