Medicare Advantage for Veterans

Medicare Advantage plans are available for those who meet the eligibility criteria for Veterans Administration benefits or VA benefits. Those benefits are not the same as TRICARE for Life or Champs VA. You are eligible for VA benefits if you were in the military and served the country, and your eligibility will depend on where you have served the duty and how long were you in. TRICARE or Champs VA is for military retirees (who have served in the military until retirement). However, it is possible to combine Medicare Advantage with TRICARE or VA health coverage.

Medicare Advantage For Veterans

With Medicare Advantage plans you get the best of the two options because this plan mix the benefits of Original Medicare (Parts A and B) including the Part D prescription drug coverage all in. one plan. Those plans are offered by private insurance companies instead of federal government.

However, all Medicare Advantage plans must provide a minimum of basic benefits that are normally covered under Original Medicare. Also, most private insurance companies provide additional services like dental, hearing, and vision care benefits.

Enrolling in Medicare Advantage can cost you less because it can reduce your out-of-pocket medical costs by covering benefits not covered by your VA benefits. However, you must have Original Medicare to be eligible for Medicare Advantage and still be responsible for paying Part B monthly premium. However, most Part C plans offer zero dollars premiums for their plans and also include drug coverage all in one plan.

Medicare Advantage Plans for veterans have a large network of providers which keeps your costs lower, so with a private plan like Medicare Advantage, you get the best of both worlds.

 

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Combination Of VA Benefits And Medicare Advantage

There are several MA Plans which are designed for Veterans. With a Medicare Advantage plan, you can use healthcare providers and hospitals outside the VA system, which can be closer to your living area, especially in case of an emergency.

And if you choose a plan that includes coverage for Rx drugs, you can pick up your prescriptions from your local in-network pharmacy.

Therefore, as a veteran you can get the best coverage from both worlds: your Medicare Advantage plan and Parts A and B as well.

The VA pushes you to have Original Medicare so that you can receive a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan. MA plans include the same basic coverages but have extra benefits not found in Original Medicare. This combination of Medicare Advantage and VA can help you in many ways:

  • Sometimes VA facilities have long wait times.
  • MA plans cover all your needs in one handy plan.
  • It also covers you when you are traveling outside of the U.S.
  • Eligibility for VA health coverage is subject to change. It is not guaranteed.
  • MA plans to put an out-of-pocket maximum on your healthcare, which Original Medicare does not do.
  • you can go and visit non-VA hospitals and non-VA doctors, which means that you can yous your civilian providers network and just call your local doctor you are dealing with health care issues (larger network size of providers)

 

Medicare Advantage Benefits For Veterans

Medicare Advantage plans for Veterans often cost zero dollars of monthly premiums and among that provide beneficiaries with additional benefits that aren’t covered under traditional Medicare- Parts A and B. Those health benefits can include the following:

  • Lower Part B premium: if you are a veteran sometimes you can qualify for a Part B premium monthly reduction
  • Gym memberships: if you go to the gym that accepts your Advantage plan there will be no additional costs to you
  • Nutrition programs
  • Drug prescriptions
  • Dental coverage: often a 1000$ a year benefit
  • Vision care: often routine eye exams on an annual basis
  • Hearing care: hearing aids, with a relatively small co-pay

You can combine your VA benefits in the best possible way.

If you want to enroll in Medicare Advantage plan to get more coverage alongside your veteran benefits Turning 65 Solutions can help you. Ron Ray is a licensed Medicare broker with experience in the Medicare world.

If you have any doubts or concerns about how Medicare Advantage works with Va Benefits, don’t hesitate, to call us today and we will be happy to find you a plan that best suits your budget and needs!