We Honor Our Veterans for Their Service and Sacrifice.

Medicare is a national program that provides health insurance for older adults and some younger folks with disabilities. Do you have VA benefits due to your military service? If so, you may wonder if you should enroll in Medicare when you already get access to healthcare at VA facilities.

For many veterans, signing up for Medicare offers an additional layer of protection against high out-of-pocket costs. Medicare coverage can also provide more flexibility when choosing healthcare providers.

At Lacayo Group Insurance, we’re here to serve our clients in Florida and Texas with Medicare Advantage plans that can expand their coverage and options for care.

Who Qualifies for VA Benefits?

If you served in the active military, air service, or naval service and received an honorable discharge, you may qualify for VA healthcare benefits.

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How Medicare Works with Your VA Benefits

You can have VA health care and Medicare benefits at the same time. In fact, having both types of coverage is beneficial if:

You need specialized care
You have a condition not related to your military service
You want to use non-VA providers

If you choose to enroll in Medicare, your VA benefits pay for services authorized by the VA, and Medicare pays for services covered by Medicare.

What Is Medicare Advantage?

Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans work with VA health care and may cover MORE services than your VA benefits. These plans combine the benefits available under Medicare Parts A and B (Original Medicare) into one plan that may include “extras” not covered by your VA plan, like dental, vision, or hearing care.

Medicare Advantage plans combine hospital coverage 🏥 (Part A), medical coverage 🩺 (Part B), and in most cases, prescription drug coverage 💊 (Part D) into a single plan offered by a private health insurance company.

🦷 👓 Some insurers cover dental or vision care.

👇 💲 By enrolling, you can reduce your out-of-pocket medical expenses.

👉 You may also gain access to a larger network of health professionals.

Why You Need Medicare Advantage

A common question we get is, Why do I need Medicare if I have VA benefits in Florida or Texas?

Your Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits cover your care at VA facilities. However, with a Medicare Advantage plan, you’ll be able to access doctors and hospitals outside of this VA system, which may be more convenient — closer to your home!

And VA benefits aren’t the same for all veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs assigns every beneficiary to a priority group that dictates how much you’ll pay for services. If you’re in one of the lower priority groups — with higher out-of-pocket costs — it’s very helpful to have Medicare.

Plan Features

As an independent insurance agency, we have access to Medicare Advantage plans in Florida and Texas, designed for veterans with a Part B giveback.

✔ $0 monthly premiums

✔ $0 copays for primary care provider visits

✔ Most include a Medicare Part B giveback

You can get all these features without disrupting your VA privileges.

Eligibility for Medicare Advantage

Like all Advantage plans, you must be enrolled in Original Medicare (Parts A and B) to qualify. You’re eligible for Parts A and B if you’re 65+ and paid Medicare taxes while working at least 10 years.

You’ll continue to pay the Part B premium ($148.50 in 2021) while enrolled in your Advantage plan designed for veterans.

The Bottom Line

The commitment you made to your country is honorable. In the same way, you should commit to your health and get the best coverage available.

If the VA was to have a shortcoming or not cover something, it’s crucial to be prepared. That’s why we recommend you either have a Medicare Advantage plan — designed for veterans — or a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan in place to make sure you don’t have any detrimental out-of-pocket costs.

Need Help? Give Us a Call.

For questions or to get the process started, call Lacayo Group Insurance today. We’ll tell you which benefits you’re eligible for and help you get the most value out of your Medicare plan.

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