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Had a prescription filled at my local CVS. I normally have drugs mailed to me thru Express Scripts. But I needed this prescription cream now. The pharmacist took my cards, inputing the info. She looked at my Medicare card and said "you know you have Part B?" I said yes I did. Why did she mention this? Is there a reason I should or should not have it? I have Tricare as my secondary. I have heard that people do not HAVE to have Part B. I didn't think about it until I got home or would have questioned her.

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You are paying for the part B, which doesn't cover drugs. So if you have Tricare, do you really need Medicare part B? Check with Medicare and your Tricare office. Maybe you can be saving some money by suspending the part B.
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I looked it up on computer and it said if you have Tricare, you have to have Part B.
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I would definitely say YOU NEED PART B.....my Mom, who had excellent health all of her life, and hence never went to the doctor..period...just flat refused to go for anything and I do mean anything, did NOT have Part B. Mom sustained near life ending injuries in an in home accident over two years ago and let me tell you, without that part B, her financial situation has been destroyed. The secondary carrier will NOT pay above a certain percentage without your having Part B....at least this is the case with a senior citizen, I'm assuming if you're at an age and on Medicare it is the same overall ...anyway, we decided she definitely needed part B and because it had been so long before she got it SHE GOT PENALIZED A HUGE AMOUNT and is paying over three times what she would otherwise have to pay for Part B. I appealed it but was denied and will continue appealing however after all this time, do not foresee a favorable outcome...it is my opinion only , however I would NOT drop Part B based on our own personal experience...since getting Part B, her last trip to the hospital left her owing very little out of pocket cost...prior to Part B, I can't even tell you how many thousands we still owe on those bills and I will be paying them off for the rest of my life....
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Good info, Hope. Like i said, I looked up on computer and it said if you have Tricare, you HAD to have Part B. A few Vets who told me I did not need Part B....well, they did not retire from the service. Both of my husbands did, and that is why I have Tricare. Also like you said, if you don't have it and want it get it later, it could really hit you in the pocket. If I do not renew my ID card every 2 years, I will lose Tricare. Think I will stick with Part B. Again, thanks for your feedback.
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There are several types of Tricare, so I don't know that my answer will be the same as your situation, but:
My mother has Tricare4Life. Most drugs are through ExpressScripts, but they will pay for prescriptions that go through a pharmacy, it just costs a little more and is usually meant more for the drugs you needs once in awhile rather than the long-term ones.

However, pharmacies are obsessed with getting everyone on Part B or a variety of prescription drug plans through the various drug programs. They mean well, but they don't understand that, just because you don't have Part B doesn't mean you're not covered.

They will urge you strenuously to check to see whether you could get a better deal elsewhere no matter how many times you tell them that you're covered.

I've gone through this many times with my mother's TriCare coverage at the pharmacy. The new role of the pharmacy seems to be to take a more active role is keeping us healthy, both physically and financially. While they take it seriously, they can also be obtuse and annoying about it.
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