Note: This article first appeared in Transitioning Into Medicare and TRICARE For Life, a publication exclusive to MOAA Premium and Life members. Find more member-exclusive publications at this link, and check out member-exclusive discounts at this link.

When enrolled in Medicare and traveling overseas, TRICARE becomes your primary source of health care coverage.

Traveling or Living Overseas

TRICARE Overseas Program (TOP)/TFL is available to beneficiaries residing or traveling overseas. The Medicare Part B enrollment requirement applies regardless of whether you live in the U.S. or abroad.

International SOS is the TOP contractor responsible for customer service for the TRICARE/Medicare population who reside or receive care overseas.

TOP/TFL pays the TRICARE allowable amount for overseas claims. You are responsible for the applicable TRICARE deductible, cost shares, and remaining billed charges. The catastrophic cap is still $3,000.

Outside the U.S. and U.S. territories, there might be no limit to the amount a nonparticipating, non-network overseas provider may bill. You are responsible for paying any amount that exceeds the TRICARE-allowable charge, in addition to your deductible and cost shares. You might be required to pay up front for care and then file claims with the TRICARE overseas claims processor (TRICARE.mil/claims).

For those traveling overseas, we recommend travel insurance to cover these additional fees and cost shares.

When living overseas with TRICARE as your primary resource, users might want to consider supplemental insurance. Start looking early because it might be difficult to procure.