Medicare Advantage for Veterans
Why Medicare Advantage for Veterans is beneficial for you
Medicare Advantage for Veterans is less restrictive and it offers you all the benefits of Original Medicare, TRICARE, and VA health coverage. It also allows you to combine your Medicare plans, making your healthcare coverage more comprehensive and effective.
Combined Medicare Advantage and VA coverage
Medicare Advantage eligibility requires you to be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B Plans. As a result, you get all the benefits of Original Medicare in addition to VA and Medicare Advantage.
Medicare Advantage covers:
- Chronic condition healthcare services and support
- Adult day-care services
- Dental, vision, and hearing
- Fitness, nutrition, and wellness programs
- Over-the-counter drugs
- Doctor’s appointment transportation
By combining Medicare Advantage and VA, you create the perfect healthcare coverage complement as:
- Medicare Advantage covers out-of-pocket expenses that VA does not cover.
- The combination extends your healthcare coverage and makes your Medicare plan more flexible.
- It covers healthcare outside the United States if you go on a vacation.
- VA has lengthy waiting periods which are significantly reduced by combining it with Medicare Advantage
- VA coverage is unpredictable and may change at any moment while Medicare Advantage is more predictable.
Medicare Advantage for Veterans enrolment periods
To join a Medicare Advantage for Veterans plans, you can enroll within any of the following periods:
- Initial Coverage Election Period
Medicare Advantage for Veterans’ initial coverage enrolment is open for seven months and falls between the three months before you turn 65 and three months after you turn 65.
Young people living with a disability on the other hand become eligible for Medicare Advantage benefits 25 months after they become Social Security Beneficiaries. Their enrolment period will be open between the first three months and the next three months before and after they become eligible respectively.
- Annual Election Period
The Annual Election Period is open from October 15th to December 7th and your Medicare Advantage coverage will begin on the 1st of January the following year. During this period, you can make changes to your Medicare Advantage plan for veterans or opt for Original Medicare coverage.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrolment Period
During this enrolment period, you can make changes to your Medicare for Veterans plan or move back to Original Medicare.
- Special Election Period
Special Election enrolment periods are open when individuals land in unique situations such as changing their Medicare Advantage coverage area, getting extra Medicare healthcare coverage, or moving into a nursing home. You can change your Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare during this period.