Can I have both veterans benefits and Medicare Part D?

I get my prescriptions filled through the VA Do I need Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage as well

VA prescription drug coverage is “creditable” — meaning that Medicare considers it at least as good as Part D — so you can choose not to sign up for Part D and won’t be hit with late penalties if you change your mind at a later date. However, having drug benefits from both the VA and Part D allows you more choice and convenience: You can get prescriptions from non-VA doctors and fill them at local retail pharmacies. You can obtain medications that the VA doesn’t cover. You can apply for low-cost drug coverage under Part D’s Extra Help program if your income is under a certain level. (For information on Extra Help and how to obtain it, see section 2 of AARP’s consumer guide to the Part D program, at .) Note that you can’t have the same prescription filled under both systems; you must use one or the other. If you’re enrolled in a Part D plan, you can use the plan’s card at a pharmacy that’s in the plan’s pharmacy network; or you can use the VA’s mail-order system

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