Do You Need Medicare if You Have Veterans’ Health Care?
Do I need to sign up for Medicare if I m a veteran with VA health care
You aren’t required to sign up for Medicare if you have health care coverage through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), but the VA encourages veterans to sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B during their at 65, unless they also have . That way, you’ll have more options for care. VA health benefits provide coverage for care in VA clinics and hospitals but they generally don’t cover other facilities and doctors. Even if you’re happy with your VA health care benefits now, your medical needs or the VA health system’s costs and coverage could change. And you could end up with a late-enrollment penalty if you decide to sign up later for Medicare. How does Medicare work with veterans health benefits
VA health benefits and Medicare are two separate systems. VA health benefits cover services at VA hospitals and other locations within its system; Medicare doesn’t pay for the care. VA health benefits generally don’t cover hospitals, doctors and other providers that participate in Medicare. VA benefits will not pay for Medicare’s deductibles, copayments and coinsurance. The rules are different for coordinating Medicare and for military retirees. The VA occasionally pays for care from some providers not within its network, but only if you receive permission in advance. If the VA authorized only some services you need at a non-VA facility, Medicare can help with the additional costs. Coverage varies. When you you’re assigned to a that determines your coverage and out-of-pocket costs within the VA system. The priority groups range from 1 to 8, with the number 1 priority given and veterans with service-connected illnesses or injuries rated at least 50 percent disabling, and the lowest priority, 8, applied to some veterans who earn a higher income and don’t have a service-connected disability qualifying them for VA compensation. Your priority level can affect your eligibility for certain VA services and treatments, such as dental care. If you have a lower priority level, you may need to make copayments for doctor’s visits, specialty tests such as MRIs, and inpatient hospital stays not related to the disability you have because of your military service. Think about the future. Even if you’re happy now with your VA coverage, financing for the VA health care system could change, especially for veterans at lower priority levels. Your health care needs could change too. You might move to another area farther from a VA facility or want to go to a doctor outside the VA system. If you don’t sign up for Medicare during your initial enrollment period at age 65, you may have to wait until the next , Jan. 1 to March 31 each year, and you may have to pay a . An exception: If you or your spouse is still working and you have , you can choose to delay. If I have VA drug coverage do I need Medicare Part D
You aren’t required to buy Medicare if you have VA health benefits. The prescription drug benefits from the VA are considered to be as good as or better than Medicare Part D, which the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services calls “creditable coverage,” so you won’t have to pay a penalty if you decide to sign up for Part D later. But VA health care only covers VA providers and pharmacies. Some people sign up for Part D too, so they can also get prescriptions from doctors outside the VA and fill them at a nearby pharmacy. Also, a Part D plan may cover different drugs than the VA and charge different copayments. VA copays for prescription drugs can vary by priority level. You cannot use your VA and Part D benefits for the same expenses. If you have VA drug benefits, you can sign up for a Part D plan without paying a any time after you enroll in Medicare Part A or Part B or within 63 days of losing VA drug benefits. Keep in mind
Medicare has premiums, deductibles, copayments and other . If your income and assets fall below certain levels, you may qualify for help with some of these expenses from a . You also may be eligible for help with Medicare Part D premiums and copayments from the . Updated August 19, 2022 More on Medicare br
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