Should I sign up for Medicare if I have VA benefits?
Yes. We encourage you to sign up for Medicare as soon as you can. This is because: We don’t know if Congress will provide enough funding in future years for us to provide care for all Veterans who are signed up for VA health care. If you’re in one of the lower priority groups, you could lose your VA health care benefits in the future.
Does Medicare work with Veterans Affairs (VA)?
For veterans approaching Medicare eligibility, it’s common to have questions about whether Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits will work with this new health care coverage. The short answer is that Medicare doesn’t coordinate with VA benefits. However, you can have both types of insurance at the same time and benefit from doing so.
Do I need Medigap If I have VA insurance?
When you go to the Veterans facilities, the only coverage you have is Veterans Administration coverage. Then, when you go to civilian facilities, you only have Medicare coverage. Unless, of course, you enroll in Medigap.
Do you qualify for VA health care benefits?
You may also qualify for certain VA health care benefits. If you’re separating from service due to a service-connected illness or injury, you may be eligible for VA health care benefits and certain TRICARE benefits.
Do I need Medicare if I have VA benefits?
If you have VA benefits, you do not have to enroll in Medicare in order to keep your VA benefits. That being said, the Veterans Administration actually recommends veterans enroll in Medicare when they become eligible.
Can you have VA insurance and Medicare at the same time?
You can have both Medicare and Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, but Medicare and VA benefits do not work together. Medicare does not pay for any care that you receive at a VA facility. In order for your VA coverage to cover your care, you must generally receive health care services at a VA facility.
Is VA insurance considered Medicare?
Enrollment in the VA health care system is considered creditable coverage for Medicare Part D purposes. This means VA prescription drug coverage is at least as good as the Medicare Part D coverage.
Do VA benefits affect Medicare?
Having VA benefits does not affect Medicare costs. You can qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A coverage, but you'll likely have to pay premiums or a monthly fee for your other Medicare coverage depending on your plan.
Do veterans get free healthcare for life?
You can get free VA health care for any illness or injury that we determine is related to your military service (called “service connected”). We also provide certain other services for free.
Is VA insurance always primary?
VA health benefits always provide primary coverage in VA facilities. If you have VA benefits and become eligible for Medicare, you should consider the benefits of both types of insurance and whether you should enroll in Medicare now or delay enrollment—and the potential consequences of delayed enrollment.
What Medicare plan is best for veterans?
Medicare Advantage plans can be good options for veterans. A Medicare Advantage plan may be worth considering if you are a veteran. A Medicare Advantage plan will provide all the same coverage as Original Medicare, and some Medicare Advantage plans may cover some additional benefits that Original Medicare doesn't.
What happens to my VA disability when I turn 65?
Even after veterans reach full retirement age, VA's disability payments continue at the same level. By contrast, the income that people receive after they retire (from Social Security or private pensions) usually is less than their earnings from wages and salary before retirement.
Do military retirees have to pay for Medicare?
All military retirees have been required to enroll in Medicare since Medicare was established in 1965.
How Much Does VA health care cost per month?
The charge ranges from $5 to $11 for each 30 day or less supply of medications provided on an outpatient basis for nonservice-connected conditions. Outpatient – The copayments will be based on primary care visits ($15) and specialty care visits ($50).
Will I lose my VA disability if I go to a nursing home?
The VA may pay all or part of the nursing home costs for disabled and elderly veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides both short-term and long-term care in nursing homes to veterans who aren't sick enough to be in the hospital but are too disabled or elderly to take care of themselves.
Does VA health care meet the ACA?
If I’m signed up for the VA health care program, does that mean I meet the requirements to have health care under the Affordable Care Act (ACA)? Yes. Being signed up for VA health care meets your Affordable Care Act health coverage requirement of having “minimum essential health coverage.”.
Does VA pay deductible?
Your private insurer may apply your VA health care charges toward your annual deductible (the amount of money you pay toward your care each year before your insurance starts paying for care).
What is Medicare Advantage for veterans?
Many veterans are going to find Medicare Advantage a practical solution to coverage. Most plans boast a $0 premium and extra benefits beyond Medicare. Some plans may include prescription drug coverage. Depending on the service area, an Advantage plan could include telehealth, dental, vision, and a gym membership.
Who pays first, Medicare or Veterans Administration?
Who Pays First, Medicare, or the Veterans Administration? The simple answer to the question of who pays first is both. When you go to the Veterans facilities, the only coverage you have is Veterans Administration coverage. Then, when you go to civilian facilities, you only have Medicare coverage.
Does Medicare cover veterans?
As you know, Veteran benefits only apply to Veterans’ facilities and doctors. So, if you want to see a civilian doctor, Medicare can help with some of the costs. Having both Medicare and Veterans benefits gives you the opportunity to see a wide range of doctors and specialists. The Veterans Association recommends you enroll in Part A ...
Do disabled veterans have to have Medicare?
While it’s not mandatory, the Veterans Administration suggests all veterans, disabled or not, have Medicare. It’s especially beneficial to have Medicare when the need for civilian coverage arises. You might be thinking you’re fine without it, but delaying Part B will result in penalty charges when you do enroll.
Can you get a prescription for Part D?
Part D for Veterans. Even though you can get prescriptions through the Veterans Administration, sometimes it’s more convenient to have Part D. For example if a civilian doctor prescribes a medication, the Veterans Administration doctor needs to approve the medication for the Veterans Administration to cover. But, if you have Part D, you can go fill ...
Is Medicare creditable for veterans?
This is because the Veterans’ benefits are not considered creditable coverage under Medicare. Medicare will provide coverage outside a Veterans facility, this can come in handy in the case your Veteran benefits are dropped or if your local Veteran facility does not cover all your health services, you could pay up to 100% ...
When can veterans enroll in Medicare?
Like other Americans, veterans become eligible for Medicare at age 65. (Those with a qualifying disability may enroll earlier.) The best time to sign up is during your initial enrollment period. That begins 3 months before the first day of your birthday month and lasts for 7 months.
Do you have to enroll in Medicare if you have VA benefits?
You don’t. But without Medicare coverage, you’ll be uninsured for any treatment you get at non-VA facilities or care from providers not authorized in advance by the VA. You’ll be billed for the full cost of those services, at serious risk to your net worth. That’s why the VA recommends that veterans sign up for Medicare as soon as they can.
What are the benefits of combining Medicare and VA benefits?
Enrolling in Medicare could fill in gaps in the coverage you get through the VA benefits. That’s because you’ll be able to go either to VA facilities for treatment (covered under VA benefits) or to Medicare-approved doctors and facilities (covered by Medicare). Also, VA benefits are not guaranteed, so your coverage could change in the future.
Which areas of Medicare coverage and VA benefits can you combine?
Medicare and VA benefits do not work together. But they can sometimes complement each other. For example, if the VA pre-authorizes treatment at a non-VA hospital but not certain services you get during the hospital stay, Medicare may pay for those services. For specifics, contact your Medicare plan.
How does VA disability affect Medicare?
VA benefits — including disability payments — don’t affect Medicare. At age 65, you are eligible for Medicare regardless. Before that, you may receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) while you’re on VA disability. After 2 years of SSDI payments, you can enroll in Medicare. Your VA disability benefits remain in place.
What do you have to do to manage Medicare and VA benefits?
You will have to pay the premiums for Medicare Part B or Medicare Advantage as well as any cost-sharing copayments. For VA benefits, there typically aren’t enrollment fees, monthly premiums, or deductibles. But some veterans may have copayments for healthcare or prescription drugs.
Where can you get help coordinating Medicare and VA benefits?
Various government-supported offices have staffers to help you combine and manage your health plans:
How to file a VA claim?
The process varies depending on the provider’s preferences: 1 The provider can file the claim with the VA, and you only pay any applicable deductibles. You can also choose to use your Medicare benefits. 2 You pay for the fees relating to the services you received, then submit your own claim to the VA. This option takes longer, but it might prove necessary if you can’t get to a VA hospital. 3 Use your Medicare benefits instead of your VA medical benefits. You might prefer this option if you don’t have the money to pay up front for services rendered as described in the second option.
How to avoid paying penalties for VA?
To avoid paying penalties, make sure you enroll in a creditable drug plan by the due date. VA medical benefits offer a creditable drug plan that might prove more cost-effective than other options, such as Medicare or TRICARE. Sometimes, paperwork gets lost or buried.
Can you use Medicare and Medicare at the same time?
The government can suspend or lower funding at any time, and you don’t want to find yourself without viable medical coverage. Just remember that you can’t use both benefits at the same time. If you use Medicare to help pay for an MRI scan, for instance, the VA won’t pick up the rest of the cost.
Can disabled veterans live near VA hospitals?
Some disabled veterans don’t live near VA hospitals. In this case, they may receive fee-based identification cards. They can present these for treatment at a health care facility or doctor’s office. Be sure to call ahead before accepting an appointment since not all providers accept these cards.
Does Medicare cover VA hospital?
If you get medical care at a VA hospital, your VA benefits will generally cover the costs. This is because the VA uses providers who are covered under the plan, so you won’t necessarily need the institution to submit any claims to Medicare. However, Medicare can also cover services included with your VA medical benefits.
What age do you have to be to be on Medicare?
are age 65 or over and enrolled in Medicare Part B. are any age and have a qualifying disability, end stage renal disease (ESRD), or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and are enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B.
When is Medicare open enrollment?
If you are not enrolled, want to make changes to an existing Medicare part A or B, or are over age 65 but still looking to enroll, the open enrollment period is January 1 to March 31 every year. To get started with enrollment, visit Medicare’s enrollment page and follow the prompts.
What is Medicare Part C?
Medicare Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, offers healthcare coverage that the VA and basic Medicare do not. This includes dental, vision, hearing, prescription drugs, and more.
What is the VA phone number for Part B?
Contact Your coverage providers. For VA healthcare coverage questions, call 844-698-2311.
How long do you have to enroll in a life insurance policy after retirement?
You have 90 days after a qualifying life event to change your coverage or enrollment.
When does tricare start?
You may enroll in Tricare for Life during TRICARE’s open enrollment season, which begins in November.
Is Medicare good for veterans?
Medicare Enrollment for Veterans. The world of veteran’s benefits can be confusing, and it can be difficult to know how much coverage you really have. Supplementing your veteran’s healthcare coverage with a Medicare plan may be a good idea, especially because Veteran’s Administration (VA) healthcare coverage can vary drastically from person ...
Do you need Medicare Part B if you have VA benefits?
Medicare Part B is coverage for doctors and outpatient services. Generally, most care you need that’s not inpatient care is covered under Medicare Part B.
Do I need Medicare Part D (a Medicare drug plan) if I have VA benefits?
If you have VA benefits, you also have a prescription drug benefit. However, as we mentioned before, you have to go to a VA doctor once a year to get that prescription renewed. You also must use the VA mail-order service. You can’t fill your prescriptions at a local pharmacy.
How does Medicare coordinate with VA benefits?
In short, there is no coordination of benefits between Medicare and VA benefits. They’re two completely separate entities.
Do I need a Medicare Supplement if I have VA benefits?
If you have Medicare – which is recommended even if you have VA benefits – we are going to recommend a Medicare Supplement (also called Medigap plan) to go with it.
What about VA benefits and Medicare Advantage plans?
You could also choose a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan if you wish, but it has one major issue – it too has networks.
Why do you need a Medicare Supplement Plan?
Because both of these plans provide you with more coverage than Original Medicare ( Part A and B ). A Medicare Supplement plan helps fill in the gaps (deductibles, copayments, out-of-pocket expenses, etc.) left by Medicare.
Is Medicare Part B required?
Medicare Part B is optional, but there are penalty fees for signing up after the initial enrollment period. It’s important to note that Part B can help pay for care that’s not covered by your VA benefits. So, while it’s not a requirement, it is good to enroll once you qualify.
Do veterans need medicare?
So, do veterans need Medicare? No, they don’t. That said, veterans’ benefits only cover your care at VA clinics. Medicare covers you ANYWHERE that accepts Original Medicare. So, adding Medicare is a great way to save on costs and have more choices with your health insurance. For even more coverage, savings, and flexibility, you can add a Medicare Supplement or switch to Medicare Advantage.
Does Medicare cover VA hospital?
For example, when you go to a VA hospital, your VA benefits will cover it (Medicare will not). When you go to a non-VA hospital in your network, your Medicare plan will cover it (VA benefits usually won’t).
Does Medicare Advantage cover Part B?
With a Medicare Supplement plan, you have access to any doctor who accepts Medicare. Medigap also covers most costs associated with seeing your doctor, including Part B copayments, Part B premiums, and excess charges.
Do VA benefits work together?
This leaves many veterans wondering how (or if) Medicare and VA benefits can work together to provide them with the healthcare they need. Moreover, if you already get VA health benefits, you may want to know if you should buy a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan.
Is Medicare primary or non VA?
If you go to VA clinic or hospital, your VA benefits will be your primary. Alternatively, if you go to a non-VA clinic, Medicare will be your primary.
Signing up for Medicare might make sense even if you have private insurance
Jeffrey M. Green has over 40 years of experience in the financial industry. He has written dozens of articles on investing, stocks, ETFs, asset management, cryptocurrency, insurance, and more.
How Medicare Works
Before diving into how Medicare works with your existing health coverage, it’s helpful to understand how it works on its own. Medicare has four main parts: A, B, C, and D. You can also purchase Medicare supplement insurance, known as Medigap.
Medicare Enrollment Periods
Medicare has a few enrollment periods, but the initial enrollment period may be the most important. This is when you first become eligible for Medicare. And if you miss the deadline to sign up for Parts B and D, you could face expensive penalties .
How Medicare Works If You Have Private Insurance
If you have private insurance, you may want to sign up for Parts A, B, D—and possibly a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) and Medigap, once you become eligible. Or not. There are reasons both for and against. Consider how the following types of coverage work with Medicare to help you decide.
Primary and Secondary Payers
Your Medicare and private insurance benefits are coordinated, which means they work together. Typically, a primary payer will pay insurance claims first (up to plan limits) and a secondary payer will only kick in for costs not covered by the primary payer.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
No, you can delay signing up for Medicare without penalty, as long as you are covered by another type of private insurance. Generally, if you are eligible for premium-free Part A, you should still sign up for it, even if you have additional private insurance coverage. 18
How many priority groups are there for VA?
When you apply for VA health care, you’ll be assigned 1 of 8 priority groups. This system helps to make sure that Veterans who need immediate care can get signed up quickly. Your priority group may affect how soon we sign you up for health care benefits.
Can I get VA health care benefits if I served in the military?
Am I eligible for VA health care benefits? You may be eligible for VA health care benefits if you served in the active military, naval, or air service and didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge.
