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Civilian Military Employees: What TRICARE Can’t Cover in Your Federal Retirement

Missy E
November 14, 2025

Key Takeaways

As a civilian employee working for a military institution, you are not automatically eligible for TRICARE upon retirement—even if you spent your career within a military setting.
Your retirement health coverage depends primarily on FEHB (Federal Employees Health Benefits), and knowing what TRICARE won’t cover ensures you prepare for potential gaps.

Understanding the TRICARE Misconception

Many civilian employees who’ve worked alongside uniformed service members mistakenly believe they’ll receive TRICARE coverage in retirement. However, TRICARE is a health insurance program designed specifically for active-duty service members, military retirees, and their eligible family members. Simply working on a military base or for a military branch does not qualify you for this benefit.

TRICARE eligibility is determined by military status as reported in DEERS (Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System). As a civilian, unless you have prior uniformed service or qualify through another means, you are not eligible for TRICARE.

What FEHB Offers You Instead

As a civilian federal employee, your primary retirement health insurance option is through the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program. This program continues into retirement if you meet eligibility rules, including:

Being enrolled in FEHB for at least 5 years prior to retirement.
Retiring with an immediate annuity (typically after meeting your MRA + 10 or standard FERS retirement eligibility).

FEHB plans are comprehensive, covering hospital care, doctor visits, preventive care, and prescription drugs. But they are structured differently than TRICARE, especially in terms of cost-sharing, provider networks, and coordination with Medicare.

What TRICARE Doesn’t Cover for You

TRICARE won’t be available to cover your medical expenses unless you are eligible as a military retiree or dependent. As a civilian retiree:

No TRICARE Prime or Select: These plans are limited to uniformed service retirees and their dependents.
No access to TRICARE Pharmacy Program: Civilian retirees must rely on FEHB or Medicare for prescription coverage.
No use of military treatment facilities (MTFs): While some installations may offer limited access under pilot programs, this is not guaranteed or uniform across all bases.
No TRICARE For Life: This Medicare-wraparound plan is exclusive to military retirees with Medicare Part A and B.

What You Can Do Instead

To ensure you’re covered in retirement, there are several important steps you can take as a civilian military employee:

1. Maintain Continuous FEHB Enrollment

Enroll and stay enrolled in FEHB for at least five years before you retire. This ensures you’re eligible to carry coverage into retirement.

2. Coordinate with Medicare at Age 65

If you’re eligible for Medicare (usually at age 65), coordinate your FEHB plan with Medicare Part A and Part B. Most retirees opt for both Parts A and B to reduce out-of-pocket expenses:

Medicare becomes primary once enrolled.
FEHB becomes secondary, often covering additional costs like deductibles and coinsurance.
You may switch to a lower-cost FEHB plan since Medicare will shoulder more of the medical cost burden.

3. Review Your Plan Annually

During Open Season (held each year from November to December), review your plan. Look for options that offer the best value when paired with Medicare, and make sure it covers:

Chronic condition management
Out-of-pocket limits
Prescription drug costs

4. Consider FEDVIP for Dental and Vision

FEHB plans don’t typically include dental and vision benefits. For this, you may want to enroll in the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) in retirement. You must enroll during Open Season or after a qualifying life event.

Healthcare Costs You’ll Face Without TRICARE

Even with FEHB and Medicare, you may encounter costs that uniformed military retirees with TRICARE might avoid:

Monthly FEHB premiums that increase annually
Deductibles and coinsurance that vary by plan
Prescription drug costs, especially if you don’t choose a plan with strong pharmacy benefits
Dental and vision coverage only through separate FEDVIP plans

While TRICARE often comes with lower out-of-pocket costs for military retirees, your expenses under FEHB can be higher—but still manageable with proper planning.

Debunking the Military Association Myth

Being part of a military environment can create an identity closely aligned with service members. This often leads civilian employees to assume they’re entitled to military retiree benefits. In 2025, it remains true that:

Your paycheck may come from the Department of Defense, but your benefits are governed by OPM.
You may work alongside uniformed personnel, but your retirement benefits follow civilian rules.
You are not listed in DEERS unless you have separate qualifying military service.

What Happens If You Also Have Military Service

If you previously served in the military and qualify for military retirement, you may indeed have TRICARE eligibility. In that case, you can:

Enroll in TRICARE and use it as your primary or secondary insurance.
Use TRICARE For Life with Medicare starting at 65.
Suspend your FEHB in retirement to use TRICARE instead (you can re-enroll later).

But remember, this only applies if you qualify as a military retiree—not simply as someone who worked in a civilian role within a military institution.

Key Dates and Enrollment Deadlines

Medicare Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): Starts 3 months before you turn 65 and ends 3 months after.
FEHB Open Season: Held every year from mid-November through mid-December.
FEDVIP Open Season: Occurs alongside FEHB Open Season.

Failing to enroll during these periods can lead to penalties or gaps in coverage.

Your Retirement Strategy Should Be Proactive

In 2025, healthcare planning is as crucial to your retirement security as your annuity or Thrift Savings Plan. Civilian military employees have strong coverage options, but those options are not the same as their uniformed colleagues. Knowing this distinction allows you to:

Avoid future surprise costs
Choose benefits that align with your medical needs
Understand your real eligibility and rights

Prepare for Retirement on Civilian Terms

As someone who spent your career in service to military operations, your retirement deserves the same level of diligence. Don’t let assumptions about TRICARE create blind spots in your planning. Instead:

Rely on FEHB and Medicare as your core health coverage
Consider FEDVIP for dental and vision
Regularly review and adjust your plan during Open Season

If you’re unsure about your eligibility or need help comparing plans, reach out to a licensed professional listed on this website to get personalized advice.