TRICARE For Life Customer Service: Claims & Medicare

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TRICARE For Life beneficiaries may need assistance with a claim that did not cross over from Medicare, an unexpected medical bill, incorrect eligibility information, other health insurance, an appeal, prescription coverage, overseas care, or a problem accessing TRICARE4u.

The correct place to start depends on whether the issue involves Medicare, the TRICARE For Life contractor, Express Scripts, DEERS, Social Security, an overseas contractor, or the healthcare provider.

Below are current TRICARE For Life contacts, claim-filing instructions, Medicare coordination guidance, appeal information, complaint steps, and related consumer resources.

TRICARE For Life contact information reviewed and updated in June 2026.

TRICARE For Life Help by Issue

  • TRICARE For Life claim or benefit question: Contact WPS Government Services at 1-866-773-0404 or use TRICARE4u.
  • Medicare claim or Medicare coverage question: Contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE.
  • Claim processed by Medicare but not TRICARE: Check the Medicare Summary Notice and TRICARE4u, then contact WPS.
  • Provider says you do not have TRICARE For Life: Confirm Medicare Part A and Part B and verify eligibility information in DEERS.
  • TRICARE4u login problem: Use the portal’s Login Assistance option rather than creating multiple accounts.
  • Prescription or pharmacy problem: Contact Express Scripts, which administers the TRICARE Pharmacy Program.
  • Medicare Part B premium or enrollment question: Contact Social Security.
  • Address, eligibility, or personal-information problem: Update DEERS through the DMDC Support Office.
  • Claim denied by both Medicare and TRICARE: Determine which program’s decision must be appealed first.
  • TRICARE-only service denied: Follow the TRICARE appeal instructions shown on the explanation of benefits.
  • Other health insurance: Make sure WPS knows about the policy and submit all required explanations of benefits.
  • Care outside the United States and U.S. territories: Contact the applicable TRICARE Overseas Program regional call center.
  • Quality-of-service complaint: File a grievance or complaint rather than a medical-coverage appeal.
  • Possible phishing message: Do not use a number or payment link contained in the unexpected message.

How To Contact TRICARE For Life

Important: TRICARE East and West regional contractors generally do not process TRICARE For Life claims. For care in the United States and U.S. territories, contact WPS Government Services at 1-866-773-0404.

What Is TRICARE For Life?

TRICARE For Life is Medicare-wraparound coverage for TRICARE-eligible beneficiaries who have Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B.

Coverage is generally automatic when:

  • You remain eligible for TRICARE
  • You have Medicare Part A
  • You have Medicare Part B
  • Your eligibility and Medicare information are correct in DEERS

There is no separate TRICARE For Life enrollment process and no separate TFL membership card. Beneficiaries generally use their Medicare card and Uniformed Services identification card as proof of coverage.

TRICARE For Life does not charge a separate enrollment fee. Beneficiaries must continue paying any required Medicare Part B premium.

Who Should I Call About TRICARE For Life?

Several organizations participate in TRICARE For Life. Calling the wrong organization can delay resolution.

Contact WPS Government Services For:

  • TRICARE For Life claims
  • TRICARE4u explanation of benefits
  • Claim status
  • Medicare crossover problems
  • TRICARE-covered services
  • Paper claim requirements
  • Other health insurance coordination
  • TRICARE appeals
  • Provider payment questions involving TFL
  • General TFL benefit questions

Contact Medicare For:

  • Medicare claim status
  • Medicare coverage decisions
  • Medicare Summary Notices
  • Medicare deductibles and coinsurance
  • Medicare provider participation
  • A Medicare appeal
  • Original Medicare benefit questions

Contact Social Security For:

  • Enrolling in Medicare Part A or Part B
  • Medicare Part B premium questions
  • Late-enrollment penalties
  • Income-related premium adjustments
  • Social Security records affecting Medicare eligibility

Contact DEERS For:

  • TRICARE eligibility records
  • Name, address, email, or telephone updates
  • Medicare entitlement information not appearing correctly
  • Sponsor or dependent records
  • Uniformed Services identification information

Contact Express Scripts For:

  • TRICARE prescription coverage
  • Home Delivery
  • Network pharmacies
  • Medication copayments
  • Prior authorization for prescriptions
  • Formulary questions
  • Prescription claim problems

How TRICARE For Life Claims Work

For most care received in the United States and U.S. territories, the healthcare provider files the claim with Medicare first.

  1. The provider submits the claim to Medicare.
  2. Medicare processes its portion.
  3. Medicare electronically forwards the claim to WPS Government Services.
  4. WPS processes the TRICARE For Life portion.
  5. Medicare and TRICARE issue separate benefit explanations.

When a service is covered by both Medicare and TRICARE, the beneficiary generally has little or no remaining out-of-pocket cost. Costs can remain when a service is covered by only one program or by neither program.

Medicare Processed the Claim but TRICARE Did Not

A crossover problem can occur when Medicare processes a claim but the claim does not appear in TRICARE4u.

Before Contacting WPS

Collect:

  • The beneficiary’s name
  • The sponsor identification number
  • The healthcare provider’s name
  • The date of service
  • The Medicare claim number
  • The Medicare Summary Notice
  • The amount Medicare approved and paid
  • The provider’s itemized bill
  • Any other insurance explanation of benefits

Questions To Ask

  • Did WPS receive the claim from Medicare?
  • Was the claim rejected during electronic crossover?
  • Does WPS need a paper claim?
  • Is the beneficiary’s Medicare information correct?
  • Is other health insurance listed on the account?
  • Is additional provider information required?
  • What filing deadline applies?
  • Can WPS provide a claim or call reference number?

Do not send the same claim repeatedly without checking its status. Duplicate submissions can make the record more difficult to review.

How To File a TRICARE For Life Claim

Most stateside claims are automatically forwarded by Medicare. A beneficiary may need to file a claim when:

  • TRICARE is the primary payer
  • Medicare does not cover the service
  • The beneficiary has other health insurance
  • The provider opted out of Medicare
  • The beneficiary received civilian care overseas
  • The Medicare crossover did not occur

TRICARE For Life Claims Address

WPS/TRICARE For Life
P.O. Box 7890
Madison, WI 53707-7890

Documents That May Be Required

  • Patient’s Request for Medical Payment, DD Form 2642
  • The provider’s itemized bill
  • The Medicare Summary Notice
  • Explanation of benefits from other health insurance
  • Proof of payment when requesting reimbursement
  • Supporting medical documentation when requested

Stateside TRICARE For Life claims generally must be filed within one year of the date of service or within one year of an inpatient discharge for applicable facility charges.

Claims for care received in overseas areas outside the United States and U.S. territories generally have a longer filing period, but beneficiaries should submit them as soon as possible.

TRICARE4u Account and Login Problems

TRICARE4u allows beneficiaries to view claims, explanations of benefits, forms, benefit information, and secure messages.

Before Contacting Support

  • Use the Login Assistance option
  • Confirm the correct username
  • Check whether the account is locked
  • Try the password-reset process
  • Confirm that the browser is current
  • Record the exact error message
  • Avoid creating a second account for the same beneficiary

For questions involving a specific claim or private health information, use TRICARE4u’s secure message service rather than the general email form.

Do not include medical details, Social Security numbers, sponsor identification numbers, or claim information in an unsecured general email.

Provider Says You Do Not Have TRICARE For Life

If a provider cannot confirm TFL coverage:

  1. Confirm that Medicare Part A and Part B are active.
  2. Check that the effective dates have passed.
  3. Contact DEERS and verify that Medicare information is recorded.
  4. Confirm the beneficiary’s name and date of birth match all records.
  5. Show the provider the Medicare card and Uniformed Services identification card.
  6. Ask the provider to bill Medicare first.
  7. Contact WPS if the provider needs TFL billing guidance.

There is no separate TFL identification card for WPS to issue.

Finding a Provider Who Accepts TRICARE For Life

TRICARE For Life does not use a traditional TFL provider network. Beneficiaries may generally seek care from Medicare-participating providers, Medicare nonparticipating providers, or authorized TRICARE providers.

Medicare-participating providers generally provide the simplest billing experience because they accept Medicare assignment and submit Medicare claims.

Before an appointment, ask:

  • Do you accept Medicare?
  • Are you a Medicare participating provider?
  • Will you submit the claim to Medicare?
  • Will the claim cross over to TRICARE For Life?
  • Do you require payment before Medicare processes the claim?
  • Have you opted out of Medicare?

A provider who has opted out of Medicare may require the beneficiary to file claims and may charge more than the Medicare-approved amount.

Unexpected Bill From a Provider

Do not assume that every provider bill is correct or that TRICARE has denied the claim.

Review:

  • The provider’s bill
  • The Medicare Summary Notice
  • The TRICARE4u explanation of benefits
  • Any other insurance explanation of benefits
  • The date each program processed the claim
  • The service and billing codes

Ask the Provider:

  • Was the claim filed with Medicare?
  • Did Medicare deny or return the claim?
  • Was the claim forwarded to WPS?
  • Is the bill only a statement while insurance is pending?
  • Does the provider need updated insurance information?
  • Was the claim submitted under the correct beneficiary?

Contact Medicare first when Medicare has not processed the claim. Contact WPS when Medicare completed its portion but TRICARE For Life has not processed the remaining claim.

TRICARE For Life and Other Health Insurance

The payment order changes when a beneficiary has coverage in addition to Medicare and TRICARE.

When the other insurance is based on current employment, that insurance may pay first, Medicare may pay second, and TRICARE may pay last.

When the other insurance is not based on current employment, Medicare generally pays first, the other insurance pays second, and TRICARE pays last.

Paper Claim Documents May Include:

  • The provider’s itemized bill
  • The Medicare Summary Notice
  • Every other insurance explanation of benefits
  • A completed DD Form 2642

Report other health insurance to WPS. Incorrect or outdated insurance records can delay claims or cause incorrect payment.

TRICARE For Life Appeals

An appeal challenges a benefit or payment decision. It is different from a customer-service complaint about wait times, communication, or employee conduct.

Which Program Should Receive the Appeal?

  • Service covered by Medicare and TRICARE: Appeal Medicare’s decision first.
  • Service covered only by TRICARE: Follow the TRICARE appeal instructions.
  • Pharmacy decision: Follow Express Scripts’ pharmacy appeal process.

Review the Medicare Summary Notice or TRICARE explanation of benefits for the filing deadline and required information.

TRICARE For Life Appeals Address

WPS/TRICARE For Life
Attn: Appeals
P.O. Box 7490
Madison, WI 53707-7490

Include:

  • The beneficiary’s name
  • The sponsor identification information requested by WPS
  • The claim number
  • The date of service
  • A copy of the denial or explanation of benefits
  • A clear explanation of why the decision should be reconsidered
  • Supporting medical or billing records
  • A representative-appointment form when another person is filing the appeal

Send copies rather than original documents and retain proof of mailing.

TRICARE For Life Written Correspondence

General written correspondence can be sent to:

WPS/TRICARE For Life
P.O. Box 7889
Madison, WI 53707-7889

Correspondence Fax: 608-301-2114

Do not send claims or appeals to the general correspondence address. Claims and appeals have separate mailing addresses.

TRICARE For Life Pharmacy Problems

The TRICARE Pharmacy Program is administered by Express Scripts rather than WPS.

Contact Express Scripts about:

  • Home Delivery
  • Prescription refills
  • Network pharmacies
  • Drug coverage
  • Prior authorization
  • Copayments
  • Prescription denials
  • Pharmacy claims

Express Scripts support and pharmacists are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

TRICARE For Life Overseas

Medicare generally does not cover healthcare outside the United States and U.S. territories. In most other overseas locations, TRICARE becomes the primary payer.

Beneficiaries must continue to have Medicare Part B to remain eligible for TRICARE, even when Medicare does not cover the overseas care.

Overseas beneficiaries may be responsible for applicable TRICARE deductibles and cost-shares and may need to pay the provider before filing for reimbursement.

The old universal overseas number should not be relied upon for every country or region. Use the current country-specific contact directory.

TRICARE East and West Region Contacts

Most TRICARE For Life stateside claims are handled by WPS, not the East or West regional contractor. Regional contacts may still be relevant for another family member’s TRICARE plan or a separate regional benefit question.

Important: Health Net Federal Services stopped serving as the West Region contractor at the end of 2024. TriWest became the West Region contractor on January 1, 2025.

Updating DEERS for TRICARE For Life

Incorrect DEERS information can affect eligibility verification and claims.

Verify:

  • Legal name
  • Date of birth
  • Physical address
  • Email address
  • Telephone number
  • Medicare Part A effective date
  • Medicare Part B effective date
  • Sponsor and dependent relationships

DEERS requires a physical residential address; a post office box cannot serve as the physical address.

TRICARE For Life Phishing and Impersonation Scams

Scammers may impersonate WPS, Medicare, TRICARE, or another government contractor and claim that coverage is about to expire or that an immediate payment is required.

Be suspicious of unexpected messages requesting:

  • A Social Security number
  • A Medicare number
  • A sponsor identification number
  • Bank or payment-card information
  • A gift-card payment
  • A one-time verification code
  • Remote access to a computer or phone
  • Immediate payment to preserve TFL coverage

TRICARE For Life does not charge a separate enrollment fee. Beneficiaries do pay required Medicare Part B premiums through the applicable government process.

Do not use the telephone number or link contained in a suspicious message. Contact WPS, Medicare, DEERS, or Express Scripts through an official website or a number you independently verify.

How To Escalate an Unresolved TRICARE For Life Problem

  1. Identify the responsible organization. Determine whether the issue belongs to Medicare, WPS, Express Scripts, DEERS, Social Security, or an overseas contractor.
  2. Collect the documents. Keep Medicare notices, TRICARE explanations of benefits, provider bills, claim forms, and other insurance records.
  3. Request a reference number. Record the date, representative, and explanation provided.
  4. Use secure messaging. Send claim-specific questions through TRICARE4u rather than unsecured email.
  5. State the requested resolution. Ask for claim processing, record correction, appeal instructions, provider education, or a written explanation.
  6. Contact the provider’s billing office. Some problems result from an incorrect or incomplete Medicare submission.
  7. File the proper appeal. Use Medicare first when the service is covered by both Medicare and TRICARE.
  8. File a grievance when appropriate. A grievance addresses service quality, behavior, or administrative concerns rather than a benefit denial.
  9. Contact a Beneficiary Counseling and Assistance Coordinator. A BCAC may help explain military-health benefits and identify the correct contractor.
  10. Keep protected information private. Do not publish medical records, identification numbers, claim numbers, or personal health details in a public review.

TRICARE For Life Customer Reviews and Complaint Sentiment

At the time this page was updated, CustomerServiceNumbers.com did not have enough published TRICARE For Life reviews to calculate meaningful beneficiary sentiment or identify reliable complaint trends.

As beneficiaries submit reviews, this section may be updated with recurring topics involving:

  • Medicare crossover claims
  • Claims missing from TRICARE4u
  • Eligibility and DEERS records
  • Unexpected provider bills
  • Other health insurance coordination
  • Appeals and denied services
  • Pharmacy benefits
  • Overseas claims
  • Telephone and portal assistance
  • How effectively problems were resolved

Future sentiment summaries will be based on actual CustomerServiceNumbers.com submissions rather than general assumptions about TRICARE, Medicare, WPS, or military healthcare.

What To Include in Your TRICARE For Life Review

  • Whether the issue involved Medicare, WPS, DEERS, Express Scripts, or overseas care
  • The general type of problem without revealing medical details
  • Whether a claim, appeal, grievance, or record correction was involved
  • Which support channel you used
  • Whether you received a reference number
  • How long it took to receive a response
  • Whether the issue was resolved

Do not publish Social Security numbers, Medicare numbers, sponsor identification numbers, claim numbers, dates of birth, medical diagnoses, prescriptions, addresses, or other protected information.

TRICARE For Life Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TRICARE For Life customer-service number?

For TRICARE For Life in the United States and U.S. territories, call WPS Government Services at 1-866-773-0404.

What are TRICARE For Life customer-service hours?

Automated support is available 24 hours a day. Representatives are currently available from 5:00 a.m. Monday through 10:00 p.m. Friday, Central Time, excluding holidays.

Do I need to enroll in TRICARE For Life?

No separate TFL enrollment is generally required. Coverage begins automatically when an eligible beneficiary has both Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B and the information is correctly recorded.

Will I receive a TRICARE For Life card?

No separate TFL card is issued. Beneficiaries generally use their Medicare card and Uniformed Services identification card.

Who processes TRICARE For Life claims?

Medicare processes most stateside claims first. Medicare then forwards the claim to WPS Government Services for the TRICARE For Life portion.

Why did Medicare pay but TRICARE did not?

The claim may not have crossed over, WPS may need more information, or other insurance may be listed. Review TRICARE4u and contact WPS with the Medicare Summary Notice.

Where do I mail a TRICARE For Life claim?

Send stateside TFL claims to WPS/TRICARE For Life, P.O. Box 7890, Madison, Wisconsin 53707-7890.

How long do I have to file a TRICARE For Life claim?

Stateside claims generally must be filed within one year of the date of service or applicable inpatient discharge. Submit claims promptly and confirm the deadline with WPS.

Where do I send a TRICARE For Life appeal?

Send TRICARE appeals to WPS/TRICARE For Life, Attn: Appeals, P.O. Box 7490, Madison, Wisconsin 53707-7490.

Do I appeal Medicare or TRICARE first?

If both Medicare and TRICARE cover the service, appeal Medicare’s decision first. If only TRICARE covers the service, follow the TRICARE appeal process.

What is the TRICARE pharmacy phone number?

Express Scripts administers the TRICARE Pharmacy Program and can be reached at 1-877-363-1303.

Does TRICARE For Life work overseas?

Yes. Outside the United States and U.S. territories, Medicare generally does not pay and TRICARE becomes primary. Beneficiaries must still maintain Medicare Part B to remain eligible.

Who is the current TRICARE West contractor?

TriWest Healthcare Alliance is the current West Region contractor. Its customer-service number is 1-888-874-9378. WPS remains the contractor for stateside TRICARE For Life claims.

How do I update my TRICARE information?

Contact DEERS at 1-800-538-9552 or update eligible information through ID Card Office Online.

Where is TRICARE administered?

TRICARE is administered by the Defense Health Agency, located at 7700 Arlington Boulevard, Suite 5101, Falls Church, Virginia 22042-5101.

Related Healthcare and Insurance Customer Service Pages

Official TRICARE For Life Resources

Related Consumer Resources

Why Trust CustomerServiceNumbers.com?

CustomerServiceNumbers.com has helped consumers locate support information and share customer-service experiences since 2004. We independently organize contact routes, common benefit problems, claim guidance, complaint information, and practical resolution steps.

Our goal is not simply to repeat a telephone number. We help beneficiaries determine whether an issue belongs to Medicare, WPS Government Services, Express Scripts, DEERS, Social Security, an overseas contractor, or a healthcare provider.

Reviews may be moderated for spam, profanity, medical information, identification numbers, and personally identifiable information while preserving the reviewer’s original meaning.

Share Your TRICARE For Life Experience

Have you contacted TRICARE For Life about a Medicare crossover claim, unexpected provider bill, eligibility record, appeal, other health insurance, pharmacy benefit, overseas claim, or TRICARE4u account?

Leave a rating and review below. Explain which organization you contacted, the general type of issue, whether you received a reference number, how long it took to receive assistance, and whether the problem was resolved.

Your experience may help another beneficiary determine whether to contact Medicare, WPS, Express Scripts, DEERS, Social Security, an overseas contractor, or the provider’s billing office.

Disclaimer: CustomerServiceNumbers.com is an independent consumer website and is not affiliated with TRICARE, the Defense Health Agency, the Department of Defense, Medicare, WPS Government Services, Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation, Express Scripts, Social Security, Humana Military, TriWest Healthcare Alliance, or International SOS. These organizations do not provide support through this website.

This page provides general consumer information and does not provide medical, legal, insurance, or benefits advice. Official TRICARE documents, Medicare rules, explanations of benefits, individual eligibility records, and contractor decisions control each beneficiary’s coverage and claim.

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