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Medicare and TRICARE For Life in Beaufort, SC: What Military Retirees Should Know

by

Skyler Abilla

Medicare and TRICARE For Life in Beaufort, SC: What Military Retirees Should Know

Beaufort is home to Parris Island, MCAS Beaufort, and a naval hospital. If you are a military retiree, here is how Medicare and TRICARE For Life fit together and what to check before you change plans.

Medicare and TRICARE For Life in Beaufort, SC

Medicare and TRICARE For Life in Beaufort, SC: A Guide for Military Retirees

Beaufort has a large military community. If you retired from the service and are turning 65, Medicare and TRICARE work together, but only if you set them up the right way.

13,607
Residents of the city of Beaufort, 2020 census
20.8%
Share of Beaufort residents age 65 or older, 2020
A + B
The two parts of Medicare you generally need to keep TRICARE For Life

A military town

Beaufort is known for its proximity to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, and a U.S. naval hospital. Wikipedia describes the military as the city's largest economic sector. Many retirees from the service settle in the Beaufort and Bluffton area.

How TRICARE For Life works with Medicare

TRICARE For Life is the TRICARE benefit for military retirees and certain family members who are also entitled to Medicare. To keep it, you generally need to be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B and keep paying the Part B premium. Medicare pays first, and TRICARE For Life usually pays most of what Medicare leaves behind.

Do not skip Part B

If you delay Part B because you have TRICARE, you may lose TRICARE For Life and face a lifetime Part B penalty when you do enroll. The time to sign up is when you first become eligible for Medicare. Confirm your situation with TRICARE or an agent before your 65th birthday month.

What about Medicare Advantage and Medigap?

TRICARE For Life is designed to work with Original Medicare. Joining a Medicare Advantage plan generally means you stop using TRICARE For Life as your second payer, so talk to TRICARE or a licensed agent before you switch. Many people with TRICARE For Life do not need a Medicare Supplement, since TRICARE already fills much of the same gap. A Part D drug plan is still a separate decision, so compare your options.

Spouses and family members

Rules can differ for spouses, surviving spouses, and dependents, and for people who are not yet 65. Get the details for your own family before you decide.

Talk to a local agent

Skyler Abilla is a licensed Medicare agent in Bluffton. Call (843) 284-6815 or book a free call. For TRICARE questions, contact TRICARE directly.

If you are turning 65, your Initial Enrollment Period runs for seven months around your birthday month. Do not miss it, especially if you have TRICARE.
How Your Bills Are Paid With Medicare and TRICARE For Life
1. You enroll in Part A and Part BYou generally need both, and you keep paying the Part B premium, to stay eligible for TRICARE For Life.
2. Medicare pays firstMedicare is the primary payer for care that Medicare covers.
3. TRICARE For Life pays secondTRICARE For Life usually covers most of what Medicare leaves behind.

Source: General TRICARE For Life and Medicare rules; U.S. Census Bureau 2020 figures as reported on Wikipedia for Beaufort, South Carolina. Confirm your own details with TRICARE.

A note on this data: Population figures come from the 2020 U.S. Census as reported on Wikipedia. TRICARE and Medicare rules are summarized in general terms and change. Confirm your own eligibility with TRICARE and Medicare.

This article is for educational purposes only. Abilla Advisors does not offer every plan available in your area. For information on all of your options, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). This content is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, TRICARE, or the federal Medicare program.

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