tdiu SSDI - Medicare or TRICARE

[Snake Eyes]

I am entering my second year on SSDI after being rated 90% Schedular and 100% P&T TDIU. It is my understanding that after two years, SSA automatically puts disability recipients on Medicare.

I am a military retiree, 63 yo soon to go on TRICARE for Life.  Here are some questions for anyone who has been in this situation:

• If Social Security mandates I go on Medicare two years early, do I lose TRICARE?
• Do I pay TRICARE and MEDICARE premiums at the same time?
• What becomes of my dependants when I go on Medicare before TRICARE for LIFE kicks in?

It seems odd that the SSA would want to bring someone onto Medicare before he or she needs it. True, they have higher premiums than TRICARE and that's money they need... but then again, it's healthcare premiums in a subsidized program, so they'd save money by letting military retirees continue with their TRICARE and/or private insurance until they age into Medicare.