Medigap for veterans and military retirees

TRICARE For Life (military retirees)

If you're a military retiree or family member with Medicare Part A and Part B, you're generally covered by TRICARE For Life (TFL). TFL pays after Medicare for services both cover, which usually leaves little or no cost-sharing for Medicare-covered care in the U.S.

For most TFL beneficiaries, a Medigap policy would duplicate what TFL already pays. Keeping Part B is required to keep TFL. Before buying Medigap, compare what TFL leaves you paying; most find it's very little.

VA health care (veterans)

VA health care and Medicare don't coordinate the way TRICARE and Medicare do. The VA pays for care at VA facilities and VA-authorized community care. Medicare pays for care outside the VA.

So a veteran who uses only VA care may not need Medigap. A veteran who also uses non-VA doctors and hospitals through Medicare pays Medicare's normal cost-sharing for that care, and that's what Medigap covers. Reasons veterans in Washington add Medigap:

• The nearest VA facility is far away. Spokane, Seattle, Tacoma (American Lake), Vancouver, Walla Walla and Wenatchee have VA medical centers or major clinics, but much of rural Washington is hours from one.
• They want a choice of non-VA specialists or hospitals for a serious illness.
• Their VA priority group leaves them paying VA copays, or they expect to use emergency care outside the VA.

Part B for veterans

The VA doesn't require Part B, but if you delay Part B without other creditable employer coverage, you'll pay a lifelong late penalty when you take it, and your Medigap open enrollment won't start until you do. Many veterans take Part B at 65 to keep options open.