VETERANS

If you have coverage through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and are eligible for Medicare, you are not required to enroll in a secondary plan, but you may have good reasons to do so. The VA itself strongly recommends that veterans with VA health care also enroll in Medicare Parts A and B as soon as they become eligible (unless they have group insurance from a current employer).

• VA health coverage isn’t set in stone and isn’t the same for everyone. The VA assigns enrollees to different priority levels according to various factors, such as income and whether they have any medical condition that derives from their military service. If federal funding for VA health care drops or doesn’t keep pace with costs, some vets in the lower priority groups may lose VA coverage entirely.
• Having both Medicare and VA benefits greatly widens your coverage. VA coverage pays for medical services if you go to a VA hospital or doctor. If you need to go elsewhere, you may end up having to pay the full cost yourself, even in emergencies. With Medicare and a Medicare Advantage Plan, you’ll have coverage if you need to go to a non-VA provider as long as they are in network. This is especially a point to consider if you live some distance from the nearest VA facility.
• You may be subject to penalties in the future. At some point, when you’re well past 65, you might lose VA coverage or otherwise decide that you need Medicare. If you are not already signed up for Part B (and don’t have insurance through an employer or other source), you’ll likely have to wait a while for coverage, and you could be liable for late penalties that are permanently added to your Part B premiums.

Medicare Advantage plans with $0 Premiums can be a great option with your VA benefits. You can play both sides! In addition, your Medicare Advantage plan may give you additional benefits like Dental, Vison, Hearing, Gym membership, Over the Counter credit, etc. Let us help you search for a good secondary plan to your VA benefits.