Should I keep Medicare Part B Coverage after qualifying for VA Healthcare?

Sgt Gene Stanton — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 23:55:30 -0400

I have had Medicare coverage (Part B) since 1/2017 after I retired from my civilian job and recently qualified for VA healthcare in 2020. Do I need to keep Medicare part B? I am worried about losing my VA healthcare and having to go back to medicare part B and then having to pay a hefty penalty for a lapse in Medicare coverage.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2022 12:05 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Jun 2022 00:05:26 -0400

Sgt Gene Stanton Do your due diligence. I have both.

https://www.medicarefaq.com/faqs/medicare-supplemental-health-insurance-for-veterans/#:~:text=Medicare%20is%20not%20mandatory.%20However%2C%20there%20is%20significant,care%20at%20a%20VA%20facility%2C%20unless%20otherwise%20approved.

Page not found - MedicareFAQ

Response by MSgt Earl King made Jun 4 at 2022 5:50 AM

MSgt Earl King — Sat, 04 Jun 2022 05:50:26 -0400

Unless you are 100% and on TRICARE for Life, you still must have parts A-B Medicare. That's my understanding! I suggest you call Medicare rather than end up in very hot water.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Jun 4 at 2022 7:34 AM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Sat, 04 Jun 2022 07:34:58 -0400

Once you turn 65 you must have part B for Tricare to act as your secondary to Medicare. I am 100% with the VA, but maintain my Medicare/Tricare arrangement to give me the ability to use a physician of my choice should I not be comfortable with the VA's decision on my care.

A financial advisor might consider it a foolish expenditure, but I used the civilian option to take care of a cancer that the VA was not addressing in what I considered a timely fashion. Saved my life.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2022 3:05 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 15:05:54 -0400

I would definitely continue having Medicare Part B for many reasons. The first one is that you are not even guaranteed that the VA will even continue to have medical facilities open nearby to you.

Response by Maj Bruce Miller made Oct 18 at 2023 11:39 PM

Maj Bruce Miller — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 23:39:44 -0400

It depends If you have a high percent service connected disability and you live near a VA hospital and outpatient clinic net work, you could elect not to carry Medicare part B and D and save the $164.90 and Part D premiums each month and rely 100% on VA for medical services over your life time. I have a 30% service connected disability and visit my VA doctor once each year. But I also enrolled in our local Medicare part B Kaiser Senior Advantage Medicare Advantage plan. I pay the part B monthly premium (deducted automatically from my Social Security benefit) that includes my part D premium, and use Tricare For Life to pay any out of pocket costs from my MA plan. This has worked well for us.