Check Medicare Part B requirements while living overseas

Practical guide

Who this is for

Medicare-eligible retirees, disabled beneficiaries under 65, and CHAMPVA families.

Eligibility and coverage rules

For Medicare Part A-eligible military retirees and their family members, Part B is generally required to keep TRICARE, including overseas. With TRICARE For Life in Thailand, TRICARE is ordinarily primary unless other insurance pays first, and TRICARE deductibles and cost-shares still apply. This differs from the familiar U.S. Medicare-first arrangement.

Steps to take

1. Check each person's Medicare eligibility and effective dates, including disability-based eligibility before age 65.
2. Confirm the Part B requirement with TRICARE or CHAMPVA before declining or canceling it.
3. If Medicare-ineligible, ask what proof of ineligibility your benefit program requires.

Important limits

• Under 65 is not a blanket exemption. TRICARE has specific exceptions, including active-duty categories and people using Reserve Select or Retired Reserve; verify the precise category.
• CHAMPVA generally requires Parts A and B when Medicare-eligible at any age. Its limited historical exception is not a general overseas exemption.
• Medicare's rare foreign-care exceptions do not provide ordinary comprehensive coverage for living in Thailand.

Confirm for your circumstances

Enrollment periods, late penalties and unusual eligibility histories need individual review. This guide does not recommend buying or canceling a specific Medicare plan.

Documents checklist

• Medicare card or eligibility decision
• TRICARE or CHAMPVA coverage record
• Enrollment correspondence