Medicare And The Va

[bobz]

I keep reading that the VA cannot bill Medicare for non service connected care you receive there. Question is Now that they have rated me on the stroke will that raise any premium I have to pay for a medigap insurance? Being under 65 it is hard to try to find anything reasonable without them wanting to sell you a regular policy on line. I do not want them calling every 5 minutes pitching their products to me. Anyone go through this already?

[Pete53]

Look into a Medicare HMO. Mostly just copays when you have it may be much better than MediGap Insurance.

[BakerGeckos]

I know the VA doesn't hold you responsible for shortfalls or co-payments when it charges insurance.

[shipswriter]

If you go with an HMO while on Medicare that is fine, but remember you will likely need a referral in that case in order to see a specialist.

Even though the cost is a little more for PPO, I recommended it but check it out first; I did because I wanted to see my specialist without having to jump through fences waiting for the PCP to write a consult.

[Philip Rogers]

I have recently started using my Medicare, w/a Medicare supplement policy and a Humana drug policy. I still get most drugs from the VA but use my Humana policy for meds the VA won't approve and it costs me some out of pocket.

I've recently seen a cardiologist, have a pulmonologist appointment and am starting insulin. If I hadn't gone to private doctors, I would have given up on my CPAP, now a BPAP, due to no support, and I wouldn't be receiving oxygen that I need at night. Also I just found out I have some restrictive lung disease. The VA would have never given me these referrals.

My care thru the VA SUCKS!!! They only care about doing the cheapest care, for the most patients(called triage), even if some die as a result. Sometimes free care is worth just what you pay for it, "nothing."

If you care about your health, don't worry about the cost so much. jmo

pr

[Notorious Kelly]

Philip- glad you're getting better care with Medicare; I am also.

Well worth some out of pocket to use the civilian system, especially if you travel.

[john999]

Good medigap policies are expensive. I am lucky to have medical insurance as part of my retirement benefits. However, the family plan blows a hole in my gold plated federal pension. 30% of my pension goes to pay for my family plan for me and my wife. I say that if you are eligible for medicare take A&B for sure. Obamacare does not help those of us with medicare and this is unfortunate. My wife will soon have medicare and champVA and she will be better off than I am. I am paying $5000 a year for my private insurance, but I feel it is worth it as long as I have the money to pay. A severe NSC illness can destroy a person's finances.

John