If I am covered by Tricare, when I turn 65 and apply for Medicare, does my wife have to use Medicare as her primary?

Unless your wife under 65 has a disability and would be getting Medicare, then no she will be on Tricare Prime until she becomes eligible for Medicare when it (Medicare) becomes Primary and Tricare becomes secondary. At 65 yrs. it also turns into Tricare for Life. Thank you for your military service. My husband was in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam wars. It is great insurance!

you do not need the supplement insurance for your wife, my husband was Tricare for life, Medicare being 1 st payer, I was not 65 yet so we purchased Tri care prime for me and suspended the BC/BS supplement. Worked perfectly, then at 65 I did not have to pay the TC Prime any longer, as Medicare then became my primary.

Something new for VA recipients that are NOT service connected Medicare will no longer cover this group of veterans, only Tri Care on the back end paying 20% the part that Medicare was paying (80%) will no longer exist, the 1 st 80% will be out of pocket costs for the veteran that does not have a service connected disability.

The same is true for CHAMPVA, if your wife collects disability from Social Security, then after 2 years she qualifies for her own Medicare.

Just faced this ourselves. I am two years older than my husband and Debralee is correct. Your wife cannot go on Medicare until she is 65. You will be on Medicare with Tricare for life as your free, no cost supplement. Your wife will continue on Tricare untiil the age of 65, then can go on Medicare with Tricare for Life as her supplement.

Tricare will still be primary for your wife until she reaches 65. At that time she would be required to have medicare in order to continue with tricare which will become tricare for life. Medicare is an insurance for an individual only.

I would suggest you contact Tricare and pose this question. They should be able to get you the 'straight skinny' on this OR at least advise a source. Are you a Veteran? If so the VA website is another resource. Let us know what you find, it may help others; for I too may have this come up (19yrs 6mos & 28days, forced medical retirement 28AUG04).