Posted on Dec 16, 2022
With my being a 100% DAV, is signing up for Medicare necessary?
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I'll be 65 in 7 months. I have a 100% rating and am on community care already due to distance to nearest VA Clinic. Do I really have to sign up for medicare and all those other things associated with it? Who's the SME?
VHA
Veterans Affairs (VA)
Health
Medicine
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 20
BLUF: There will be no change in your VA coverage when you turn 65 and Medicare only gives you more options at a cost of premiums.
The SME is obviously the VA - VA health benefits hotline, [login to see] , Hours: Monday through Friday,
8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET
Rick, you are not required to have Medicare with VA, but you are if you have TRICARE (in order to keep your TRICARE benefits). Medicare and the VA are two entirely separate programs and operate independently from each other (unlike TRICARE and Medicare).
However, the VA recommends that you do for a very simple reason. If you go to a non-VA hospital for anything, you'll have more options (i.e., non-VA doctors). Additionally, they state the following:
● Funding for VA health care could change in the future. We encourage you to sign up for every health care benefit that you’re eligible for so you have options if you need them.
● If you delay signing up for Medicare Part B (coverage for doctors and outpatient services) and then need to sign up later because you lose your VA health care benefits or need more choice in care options, you’ll pay a penalty. This penalty gets bigger each year you delay signing up—and you’ll pay it every year for the rest of your life.
● If you sign up for Medicare Part D (coverage for prescription drugs), you’ll be able to use it to get medicine from non-VA doctors and fill your prescriptions at your local pharmacy instead of through the VA mail-order service. There’s no penalty for delaying Medicare Part D as long as you enroll when you’re first eligible or within 63 days of when you no longer have VA health care or other creditable prescription drug coverage. Learn more about how to avoid the Part D penalty on the Medicare website.
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* VA and OHI - https://www.va.gov/health-care/about-va-health-benefits/va-health-care-and-other-insurance/
* How do Medicare and VA work together (they don't) - https://www.medicareinteractive.org/get-answers/coordinating-medicare-with-other-types-of-insurance/veterans-affairs-va-benefits-and-medicare/making-part-b-enrollment-decisions-with-va-benefits
The SME is obviously the VA - VA health benefits hotline, [login to see] , Hours: Monday through Friday,
8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET
Rick, you are not required to have Medicare with VA, but you are if you have TRICARE (in order to keep your TRICARE benefits). Medicare and the VA are two entirely separate programs and operate independently from each other (unlike TRICARE and Medicare).
However, the VA recommends that you do for a very simple reason. If you go to a non-VA hospital for anything, you'll have more options (i.e., non-VA doctors). Additionally, they state the following:
● Funding for VA health care could change in the future. We encourage you to sign up for every health care benefit that you’re eligible for so you have options if you need them.
● If you delay signing up for Medicare Part B (coverage for doctors and outpatient services) and then need to sign up later because you lose your VA health care benefits or need more choice in care options, you’ll pay a penalty. This penalty gets bigger each year you delay signing up—and you’ll pay it every year for the rest of your life.
● If you sign up for Medicare Part D (coverage for prescription drugs), you’ll be able to use it to get medicine from non-VA doctors and fill your prescriptions at your local pharmacy instead of through the VA mail-order service. There’s no penalty for delaying Medicare Part D as long as you enroll when you’re first eligible or within 63 days of when you no longer have VA health care or other creditable prescription drug coverage. Learn more about how to avoid the Part D penalty on the Medicare website.
------------------------------------------------------------
* VA and OHI - https://www.va.gov/health-care/about-va-health-benefits/va-health-care-and-other-insurance/
* How do Medicare and VA work together (they don't) - https://www.medicareinteractive.org/get-answers/coordinating-medicare-with-other-types-of-insurance/veterans-affairs-va-benefits-and-medicare/making-part-b-enrollment-decisions-with-va-benefits
VA health care and other insurance | Veterans Affairs
If you have other forms of health care coverage (like a private insurance plan, Medicare, Medicaid, or TRICARE), you can use VA health care benefits along with these plans. Learn more about how VA works with other health insurance.
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PO1 Laurence Ryan
CPT Lawrence Cable - I have heard, don't know if it is true, that once you sign up for a Medicare supplement plan, you can NEVER go back to Medicare. I don't know why you would want to but if they made a rule that you can't do it, there must be a reason/situation when you would want to go back.
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COL Randall C.
PO1 Laurence Ryan - Not true PO1 Laurence Ryan - you can switch back during the open enrollment (15 OCT - 7 DEC each year) as normal.
Why wouldn't you want Medicare Advantage? Flexibility is usually the answer*
-----------------------------------------------
* Medicare Advantage vs Original Medicare - https://boomerbenefits.com/original-medicare-vs-medicare-advantage/
Why wouldn't you want Medicare Advantage? Flexibility is usually the answer*
-----------------------------------------------
* Medicare Advantage vs Original Medicare - https://boomerbenefits.com/original-medicare-vs-medicare-advantage/
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CPT Lawrence Cable
PO1 Laurence Ryan you can switch Medicare Advantage plans by picking a new plan to during open enrollment. To switch back to Medicare, you can do it through your provider or by calling Medicare.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
Medrick DeVaney is sending you information from Benefits.gov. Benefits.gov is a website that helps identify government benefits you may be eligible to receive. Visit us at https://www.benefits.gov
Based on answers submitted to the Benefits.gov Benefit Finder questionnaire, the following benefit(s) returned as resources that you, or a loved one, may be eligible to receive:
Hope for Homeowners
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity -- Adults and Dislocated Workers Program
Veterans Pension
Home Loan for Regular Purchase
Commodity Supplemental Food Program
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs
Emergency Management Institute (EMI) Independent Study Program
Weatherization Assistance Program for Low-Income Persons
Montgomery GI Bill (Selected Reserve)
Medicare Program
Consolidated Health Centers
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
National Center on Physical Activity and Disability
Low Income Taxpayer Clinic
National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled
Community Services Block Grant
Housing Counseling Assistance Program
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Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights
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Nevada Energy Assistance Program (EAP)
Nevada Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Special Milk Program for Nevada
Nevada Weatherization Assistance Program
Medicare Prescription Drug Plans
Federal Retiree Benefits
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)
Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Program (FEGLI)
Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS)
Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS)
The Go Direct® Campaign
Payments for Children of Women Vietnam Veterans Born with Certain Birth Defects
Life Sciences Awards
Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)
Energy Efficient Mortgage Insurance
Jobs for Veterans State Grants Program (JVSG)
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Free File
Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities
American Music Abroad Program
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U.S. Participation at Venice and Cairo Biennale Exhibitions
DanceMotion USA
Identity Protection
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Social Security Medicare Savings Program
Social Security Widow(er)'s Insurance Benefits
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Social Security Independently Entitled Divorced Spouse's Benefits
Health Insurance Marketplace
Direct Express® Prepaid Debit Card
Based on answers submitted to the Benefits.gov Benefit Finder questionnaire, the following benefit(s) returned as resources that you, or a loved one, may be eligible to receive:
Hope for Homeowners
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity -- Adults and Dislocated Workers Program
Veterans Pension
Home Loan for Regular Purchase
Commodity Supplemental Food Program
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs
Emergency Management Institute (EMI) Independent Study Program
Weatherization Assistance Program for Low-Income Persons
Montgomery GI Bill (Selected Reserve)
Medicare Program
Consolidated Health Centers
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
National Center on Physical Activity and Disability
Low Income Taxpayer Clinic
National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled
Community Services Block Grant
Housing Counseling Assistance Program
Client Assistance Program (CAP)
Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
Nevada Energy Assistance Program (EAP)
Nevada Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Special Milk Program for Nevada
Nevada Weatherization Assistance Program
Medicare Prescription Drug Plans
Federal Retiree Benefits
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)
Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Program (FEGLI)
Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS)
Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS)
The Go Direct® Campaign
Payments for Children of Women Vietnam Veterans Born with Certain Birth Defects
Life Sciences Awards
Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)
Energy Efficient Mortgage Insurance
Jobs for Veterans State Grants Program (JVSG)
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)
Veterans Preference (VP)
Free File
Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities
American Music Abroad Program
Arts Envoy Program
U.S. Participation at Venice and Cairo Biennale Exhibitions
DanceMotion USA
Identity Protection
Social Security Medicare Program
Social Security Medicare Savings Program
Social Security Widow(er)'s Insurance Benefits
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Social Security Independently Entitled Divorced Spouse's Benefits
Health Insurance Marketplace
Direct Express® Prepaid Debit Card
Welcome to Benefits.gov | Benefits.Gov
Benefits.gov is an online resource to help you find federal benefits you may be eligible for in the United States.
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Colonel Cudworth! Thanks for your excellent and detailed commentary!
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CPT Aaron Kletzing
yes, COL Randall C. always gives really terrific answers and advice to the RP community. It's a real blessing to have members like him here helping everyone out.
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COL Randall C.
CPT Aaron Kletzing SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM - Appreciate the comments Dave and Aaron!
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