First and foremost, we would like to take  a moment to thank our veterans and their loved ones. Your selfless acts of bravery do not go unnoticed and we are forever in awe and thanks of your dedication to your country and its citizens. Thank you. In honor of Veterans Day, did you know that you can have both Medicare and Veterans benefits? That’s right! The only catch is they don’t work together. Meaning, Medicare won’t pay for any services performed at a VA facility. If you visit a civilian doctor that takes Medicare, Medicare will help with those costs. Essentially, you get a bigger selection of what doctors and specialists you can see that you will be covered by. If you are a Veteran, wounded or not, the VA still recommends that you enroll in Parts A and B when you become eligible. So if you have coverage already, why would you want Medicare as a Vet? VA benefits are only valid at Veteran facilities and doctors. Meaning, let’s say you are traveling, running errands, or out of town and an emergency happens. There isn’t a VA facility nearby. You may need the hospital ASAP, but you won’t be covered.

What are your options?

  • Part A: If you contributed to Medicare taxes for more than 10 years, you should get Medicare Part A coverage which is premium-free. Enrolling in that case is a no-brainer. For no premium, you can benefit from having access to hospitals and doctors at civilian facilities which might be needed if an emergency occurs.
  • Part B: Part B will have an additional premium but it is still a great thing to consider. Delaying enrollment might result in late penalties. Do some research to learn exactly what your local VA facility will cover, so you aren’t stuck paying huge doctors’ bills out of your pocket.
  • Part C (Medicare Advantage): Medicare Advantage plans offer additional benefits to your Original Medicare Plans *Part A and Part B). Benefits can include vision, dental, hearing, access to doctors over the phone, transportation to visits and more. These plans vary by state and condition. If you need help finding the right plan, or want to learn more, call us.
  • Part D (prescription): Prescriptions are available through the VA but many Vets find that they still prefer a Part D plan. This is because on this plan, you can refill prescriptions at your local pharmacies. On your VA plan, many times you need to wait for a VA doctor to approve and the VA to pay for it.

If you still aren’t sure if you need a plan, please take our questionnaire – or give us a call. We can compare hundreds of plans and see what you could qualify for. The service is free, and it would be our honor to help the men and women who have served our country.