I am 66 1/2 year old vet with VA medical. Should I sign up for Medicare?

I am also 60% disabled by the v.a and being at 60% they take care of all my need and my perception.....I have no copay and I pay nothing....I can even use out side sources and they pay for it as long as I notify them in 72 hours of going to the hospital....and I can go to one of them out side clinic 3 times a year so I don't see why I need medicare

I had emergency gallbladder surgery and was taken by ambulance to the outside hospital and the bill a little over 10,000.00 I paid nothing the v.a. pick every thing up because I notify them in 72 hours

SPC Thomas Marsh - MEDICAID & MEDICARE is only for the CONUS and not OCONUS. That's what the SSA told my wife that it wont be available to her if she goes back to the P.I. as well as my GOV. EMP's Health Benefit and TRICARE. Only exception if your a Military Spouse married to a Active Service Member Station abroad. Don't OPT out of MEDICARE because when and if you do come back to the U.S. the SSA will collect back MEDICARE payments when you reapply.

no dont sign up for medicare use your VA benefits exclusively. no reason to throw out what money you make, what part of the phillipines are you going to?
cebu?

Maj Rob Drury - FIRST Major, I Did NOT Mean To Say "OBAMACARE", That We Totally In Error:
But Since We're On The Subject Of Health Care, And We're All Vets, And Have The VA System,.. Please Note. IF Any Of You Are Having Legitimate Problems With The VA Your Using, Call This Number In Washington :
WHITE HOUSE VA HOTLINE team member AT [login to see] ....... Of All The Places I've Contacted With NO Results,
THESE Folks Get Right Down To Business,..CONTACT THEM ~!~~
GREAT People With Quick Results.

MSG (Join to see) - A couple with two kids, making 40K a year, is NOT going to pay half of their annual income for medical coverage, not if they are enrolled in the ACA. A1C DeVaney is just wrong!

SPC Edward Abney -
Actually, he's not. A silver plan for a couple with 2 children is approx 1600 a month.
It may be lower if you qualify for discounts, the problem is someone has to pay for those discounts and a family making 40,000 or more is frequently the ones that do the paying.

MSG (Join to see) - Way lower, MSG, with the ACA. Someone has to pay, just like someone is paying for our VA benefits.

I was on Medicare, but after 3 years of never using, I dropped part B. I'm now nearly 75 and the VA takes very good care of me.

If you do not have a service-connected disability income guidelines apply for VA care. I am classified as 8E income is over and I have to pay for VA, visits. The VA does not accept Medicare, or Tricare for life only private insurance.

It depends. Not having Medicare B will save you $175 per month. There is a Patriot Medicare Advantange that cost $125 per month. It all depends on your personal choice. The VA provides excellent care in some area and not as good in others. I use VA medical care for vision, hearing and medicine. I use Medicare for primary care because I have a n escellant Doctor that takes a very aggressive approach if I have any problems. The VA seems to take a long time to get an MRI or other speciallity clinic referral and care.

always use your VA benefits. i have been poor so i qualified to receive medical though the va and they havent let me down yet, i have a prescription co pay and if i have to pay a medical co pay it still beats having to get insurance and praying you have money left over for food.