The Learning Path
Understand Medicare and TRICARE For Life — start to finish
A free, 15-lesson plain-English course built for retired military and their spouses. Grounded in the official 2026 handbooks. Designed to be completed at your own pace.
No account needed. Read in any order. Each lesson takes 3–7 minutes. Official resources cited at the bottom of every page.
- 1What is Medicare? A complete overview for retired militaryA plain-English, handbook-grounded overview of the federal health insurance program for people 65 and older, written specifically for retired service members and their families.
- 2Understanding Original Medicare (Parts A & B) for veteransExactly what Part A and Part B cover, what they cost in 2026, and why both are required to keep TRICARE For Life.
- 3What is TRICARE For Life? The complete guide for retired militaryThe Medicare-wraparound benefit you earned through service — what it covers, who qualifies, what it costs, and how it activates.
- 4How Medicare and TRICARE For Life work togetherThe exact mechanics of who pays first, who pays second, and what you owe — for every common care scenario.
- 5Enrolling in Medicare: timing, methods, and the military-specific rulesWhen and how to sign up for Medicare Parts A and B — and the timing that protects your TRICARE For Life activation.
- 6Avoiding the Medicare late-enrollment penaltyThe Part B late penalty is permanent — and TRICARE does not waive it. Here's how to make sure you never owe it.
- 7How Medicare and TRICARE For Life claims are paidThe mechanics of the Medicare-to-TFL crossover system — what providers do, what WPS does, and what to do if a claim gets stuck.
- 8Using military hospitals and clinics (MTFs) after age 65What changes about Military Treatment Facility access once you become Medicare-eligible — and how to plan for the transition.
- 9Using civilian doctors and hospitals with Medicare + TRICARE For LifeHow to find Medicare-participating providers, what to ask before your first visit, and how TFL changes nothing about provider choice — except making it easier.
- 10Prescription drug coverage under TRICARE For LifeWhy TFL beneficiaries use TRICARE Pharmacy (Express Scripts), not Medicare Part D — and how the four pharmacy options compare.
- 11Dental, vision, and hearing coverage gaps — and how veterans fill themNeither Original Medicare nor TFL covers routine dental, vision, or hearing care. Here are the three real options veterans use.
- 12How VA healthcare coordinates with Medicare and TRICARE For LifeVA, Medicare, and TFL are three separate systems with three separate purposes. Here's how retired veterans use all three together.
- 13Medicare Advantage for veterans: when it makes sense and when it doesn'tCarrier-neutral education on Medicare Advantage (Part C) for retired military — including how MA changes the role of TFL.
- 14Common mistakes retired military make at 65 — and how to avoid themThe most expensive errors retired service members and spouses make during the Medicare and TFL transition, and the simple fixes for each.
- 15Frequently asked questions about Medicare and TRICARE For LifeA quick-reference summary of the questions retired service members and spouses ask most often — with citations to the official source.
Want the source material?
Every lesson links to the official Medicare and TRICARE publication it draws from. The full library is at Official Resources.