Dayton–Fairborn coverage guide: Montgomery and Greene County

Wright-Patterson spans parts of Greene and Montgomery counties and has more than 38,000 military, civilian and contractor employees. Its medical center, run by the 88th Medical Group, serves eligible Defense Department beneficiaries, and the Dayton VA Medical Center's main campus is on West Third Street in Dayton.

For military retirees, TRICARE For Life is available to TRICARE-eligible beneficiaries who have both Medicare Part A and Part B, and it starts the first day both are in effect. TFL coverage is individual; it doesn't extend to family members.

Veterans using VA health care should know that VA care generally must be at a VA location unless VA pre-authorizes outside care, and VA doesn't bill Medicare. VA encourages veterans to sign up for Medicare when they become eligible.

Leaving the service? SGLI continues free for 120 days after separation. To convert to Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI), apply within 1 year and 120 days of leaving; apply within 240 days and you won't need to prove good health. That window is also a sensible time to compare VGLI with privately purchased life insurance.

For federal civilians, OPM generally requires FEHB enrollment for the five years of service immediately before retirement (or since your first opportunity to enroll) and retirement on an immediate annuity to keep FEHB. OPM notes that enrolling in Medicare doesn't change your FEHB premium and that canceling FEHB as an annuitant is permanent, so review how the two fit together before changing anything.

Manna Financial Services is an independent agency and is not affiliated with Medicare, TRICARE, the VA or OPM. Olive works with Dayton-area clients by phone or video.