If I decide to retire at 62, could I sign up for VA medical to bridge the gap until Medicare kicks in at 65?

Thanks for the info, I think VA healthcare would still would be cheaper then a private health ins. Policy.

Sgt Robert Valimont - It absolutely would be. Frankly there is no reason you shouldn't sign up for VA healthcare if you meet the eligibility for one reason - there are no premiums. The only time you could pay anything is if you use it.

If you have a service-connected disability of 10% or higher, you don't have any copays for outpatient OR inpatient care. In other words, to see a primary care, have surgery, etc.

Even if you had to pay full copays (weren't 10%+ rated, above income levels, weren't in any other category that would put you in a lower priority group), the co-pays are better than most health plans - $30 copay for urgent care, $15 copay for primary care, $50 copay for specialty care, no copays for labs, tests, etc., and if you have to be hospitalized, while the rates are higher, you would go "ouch" instead of "I'm doomed" ($1,600 copay for the first 90 days and $10 per day ... $800 copay and $10 per day for each 90 day period beyond that).

For medications, most copays for the 'preferred generics' would be $15 for a 90 day supply and it goes up for 'non-preferred generics' ($24/90-day) and 'brand-name' ($33/90-day). If you're someone that is taking a lot of medications, then the most you would spend is $700 in a year (copay cap).

Again, EVEN if it was just as a back-up, there is absolutely no reason I can think of you wouldn't sign up for VA healthcare if you were eligible.

Sgt Robert Valimont - I went with SS at 62. I also went with a Medicare Part C plan in the last few years when I learned I could a good part of the premium that they deduct from your SS monthly back. The present premiums are $174 and change and I get about $165 of it back. Of course going this route would require you to perform an analysis of your situation. So depending on your VA disability rate, health needs, income and other factors such a plan may be just right or not.

What I wish the VA WOULD DO is hold classes for their Vets as they reach retirement age on what they and Medicare together can do for you. It would also be nice if classes were held to inform Vets locally of what resources are available to them through the VA, local and within their individual state.

Didn't think I could. I've been enrolled in my employers healthcare insurance the last 28 years!

Sgt Robert Valimont to put it in perspective, I work thru the VA and have insurance thru them but I'm also a patient in the VA because I've earned it.

Sgt Robert Valimont - Unfortunately the misunderstanding about VA healthcare eligibility is something I see time and again.

I think there are very valid discussions about wait-times to get care, differing quality of care between doctors, etc., but there is no reason not to be enrolled in VA healthcare if you're eligible.

One other factor that many are not aware of is that VA healthcare is not "health insurance" as defined by law. There is no "primary/secondary" payer when it comes to VA healthcare. The only 'downside' of that is you could think of VA healthcare as a very restrictive HMO if you want to use it - they will decide when or if you see someone outside of the VA healthcare structure.

If you do have other insurance, the VA sends a bill to your insurance carrier for non-service related conditions it treats, but anything they don't reimburse the VA for doesn't come back to you (so if the VA bills them $2,000 and they only cover $1,250 of it, the other $750 is absorbed by the VA) - you only have to pay your copay (assuming you have one).

Not completely accurate. If you meet the normal eligibility criteria*, then you are eligible for VA health care no matter their income. You may be eligible based on your VA disability rating, service history, or other factors.

The broad 'base' category of eligibility is if you served in the active military, naval, or air service and didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge, but the specifics are outlined on the website*.

The largest group of those eligible would have served two years on active duty, served the entire period of active duty they were on orders as if a reservist, or those that were discharged from active duty due to a disability.

If you don't meet the standard eligibility, you may be able to become eligible if you were appointed in any component of the military and meet income levels* defined by your zip code and how many dependants you have.

There is no requirement to be out of work for a year, but the individual may have been referring to your exceeding the income limits for your location.
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* https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/
* Eligibility based on income - https://www.va.gov/health-care/income-limits/introduction

No, you have to have 100% to get all benefits free. As the Colonel pointed out, how much of a co-pay depends on how much of a disability rating and income.

CPT Lawrence Cable - Actually it's 50%+, but the majority of medical will be free if you have just a 10%+ rating (this was a surprise to me as well when I stumbled over it).

A veteran in VA healthcare that has a VA disability rating of 10%+ will not have copays for inpatient or outpatient care (i.e., doctor visits or if they are in the hospital). The biggest difference between the 10%+ and 50%+ is pharmacy benefits.

There are some services which everyone has to pay a copay, even if you're 100% P&T (geriatric and extended care >21 days a year).
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https://www.va.gov/health-care/copay-rates/

Served 4 yrs USA active, honorable discharged, no disability. Have been receiving nearly 100% of my healthcare from the VA for the last 25+ yrs due to low income. Other than some co-pays back in the 90s when I was making more money, I don’t pay a dime. Have been paying medicare A&B for 4+ yrs now. Have never used it once & the VA has never charged it. Just recently, I was informed that the (very poor) State I live in will be picking up my medicare bill. The care I’ve received has been, for the most part, pretty outstanding, particularly as I am a woman. The VA I use has a wonderful women’s clinic/program. No health care/insurance is perfect but I don’t have any serious complaints.

No ma'am separated honorably after 6 years..

No I do not.

I have been receiving VA medical benefits since 1995. I was not disabled until 2014. Before I paid a co-pay for prescriptions. All it took was providing my DD 214

Robert, that is one way you could qualify (if you served in any component, were honorably discharged, and meet certain income limits), but the vast majority of individuals that served on active duty (again, if honorably discharged) would be eligible*.
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* https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/

Thank you COL. Interesting - I'm 81. When I applied earlier this year I met all requirements but had to provide IRS records verifying income (and deducting last years health expenses) as that (was told by the intake staff) was the final accept or knock out criteria hurdle to pass. Good to hear that may not be cast in stone. I'll drop in next visit in Tucson and ask for their clarification.

PO3 Robert Dillon - My apologies. Somehow I never responded to your last post. Doing so now for completeness.
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Robert, the providing of IRS records was most likely to determine which priority group you were in. There are two items at play here that do get confusing at time.

The first is, "does the veteran meet eligibility for health care from the VA". Some Veterans are eligible* for VA health care no matter their income if you're eligible based on an assigned VA disability rating, your service history, or other criteria.

If you're not eligible based on any of the 'standard' criteria, then if you've served any time in the military, you might still be eligible for VA health care depending on your income limits.

The second is "if the veteran is eligible for VA health care, then which priority group* are they placed in?" The priority group you are placed in will be the principal factor in determining how much, if any, you pay* for medical services. For example, if you're in priority groups 1-5, then you have no co-pay for your first three urgent care visits a year but after that there is a $30 copay.

Some groups are automatic (if you are a VA disability rating 50% or higher, you're in priority group 1) while others have to be assigned based on a number of factors (military service history, your disability rating, income level, if you qualify for Medicaid, etc.)

So, in your case the income records were likely to establish which priority group you were in, not to see if you were eligible for VA health care (based on your statement that you met eligibility requirements).
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* VA Eligibility Criteria - https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/
* VA Priority Groups - https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/priority-groups/
* How much do you pay - https://www.va.gov/health-care/copay-rates/