Still Need Medicare Coverage?

[Bruce Fox]

I currently am covered under Medicare Part 1, 2 & 3 because I was told that the VA would not reimburse for ER visits and a lot of the things that a local hospital visit ER would entail.

I just read an article saying that they now have to pay for ALL non-VA emergency care.  ( https://www.nbcnews.com/news/veterans/court-rules-va-must-pay-veterans-emergency-room-care-decision-n1052131?fbclid=IwAR39i1ses23bqJuV3prHoeEi2Xi4Pa_xKmWkAnx2OmlVAw4DWiXnuFb0BrE ).

Do I still need to have Medicare insurance???   I don't want to pay an extra $135 per month I don't have to!

[broncovet]

Excellent question, and one I went through a few years ago.  

I can not decide for YOU, but here was my reasoning.

If you are satisfied with your VA care AND are certain you will be satisfied in the future, then you can skip Medicare Part B (That is the part that is 135 per month..Part A is at no cost).  

However, if you feel that all or some of your VA care is substandard, and that you may want medical care outside of the VA (now or in the future) then pay the 135 per month.  

If you opt out now for medicare part b, then a couple years later, opt back in, you can do so, but you will be penalized (pay more than 135 per month, and its a big penalty, too)

Here is what I did.  I was disabled and became eligible for medicare before I was 65 because of disabilities.  At that time, I opted out of medicare.  

However, when I became 65, I also became eligble for medicare AGAIN.  This time, I opted "into" medicare part b with no penalty.    I felt later I did not want to be "trapped" into VA care, and it was worth it for me to pay the 135 per month to be able to get private care when I wanted it.  

[Richard1954]

Its really a personal decision to keep Medicare or not.  I have three choices for medical care and I like to be able to pick and choose.

For me I have Tricare ( military insurance) since I am a retiree,  in my case if I want to use Tricare I have to pay for Medicare by Law. 

I can use any Military Hospital,  and I have been admitted twice this year once into  Darnell Medical Center,  and once into Brook Army Medical Center.  In the first instance, the military doctor literally saved my life. In the second instance, a military doctor performed surgery that no one else  wanted to do because of my numerous medical issues.  So, my first choice for care is the Military Medical system, its the best in the world always has been always will be.  My second choice  for SERIOUS medical issues,  is a private medical facility,  this would only happen if the military could not treat me in a given situation. If this happens, ( and it has a few times)  I don't pay a penny out of pocket. Medicare pays 80% , Tricare pays 20%. 

My last choice is to use VA Medical care.  I have found because of the VA rules that I must at least see a primary doctor at the VA every six months. This is because of my medical issues and the need for prosthetic items, like my AFO, wheelchair issue and repair and other items  the VA will not give me if I do not get medical care from the VA.  In  a few instances, I have opted to use Medicare and Tricare to pay for medical devices like my portable oxygen concentrator , or my INS blood testing equipment. This is because even though I am 100% for my lungs the va will only pay for oxygen tanks not a portable concentrator, and my INS levels for blood clotting is monitored by a military doctor, so again its a personal choice. 

 I don't trust the VA to provide quality medical care, sorry but they see  too many veterans in one day and don't spend enough time with the veteran when they do treat you. Also,  the VA hires too many foreign born doctors, some of which you can barely understand because of accents and other issues.   I also don't like to use private facilities either but only because I think they just charge too much for medical care, like $10 for an aspirin.. ( I saw this first hand when I worked for a year as a computer specialist in the Cape Valley Medical Center, in Fayetteville NC. )  

Having three choices insures that no matter what  I can get medical care almost anywhere at any time, and it never cost me anything out of pocket.  If I were to stop paying for Medicare, I would not only lose Medicare but tricare as well.

I've had Medicare since I was 45... in my situation,  if I had refused to pay for part B,  I would not have been able to keep Tricare and would only get Emergency care at a Military hospital, thus limiting my options to VA care only.   In fact,  I remember specifically in 1999, I was told that I would pay a penalty if I refused Medicare at 45 and  tried to get Medicare at a later date regardless of when I decided to opt in.... I wonder about Broncovet statement saying he didn't have to pay a penalty when he turned 65 after refusing Medicare part B at a younger age. 

You have to decide based on your situation.. I personally think its a good deal and smart to have more than one option.

[GBArmy]

IMO, if you are not at least 50% rated combined, I wouldn't drop it. At the 50% marker the veteran doesn't have to pay any co-pays for VA hospital stays, drugs etc. Less than 50% and you have to pay co-pay for some hospital stays, non S-C prescriptions, etc. Anyone who thinks medical care in the US isn't dynamic and will have many changes in the near future is living under a rock. Medicare and Medicaid costs are skyrocketing, and insurance companies are making people pick up more and more cost, while dropping coverages and raising premiums. Legislators are trying to add more and more Free stuff to buy more votes. The VA is cutting back on the number of medical staff, and there are less veterans to participate in the VA Health System every year. When Vietnam veterans pass away, they will be closing many VA clinics and hospitals. If they close the one you use, are you able to travel  to the next one you have to go to? It just is too dynamic to think this is a good option. Again, IMO

[vetquest]

As it is well stated it is a personal decision.  I also have Tricare being medically retired and have to pay for Medicare.  If I did not have to I still would, GBArmy gives a fine reason but I believe there is another and that is that at some time in the future you may come to a place where you want to be served on the private market instead of the VA.  My situation changed when I had a bad neurologist.  At this time I stopped going to VA neurologists.  No Medicare and you do not have this option.

[GeekySquid]

The four posters before me all have good points, but Broncovet is dead on about a reason most people don't think about concerning Part B.

If you opt out, the cost to opt back in is ridiculously huge.

That 135 now is peanuts compared to what you might have to pay if your VA care becomes harder to get to, or limited.

Bronco is right. Our benefits can change at any time. Political will is a joke when it comes to helping vets, and I mean from the Oval Office to the janitor at your local VAMC and everyone in between.

 

[paulstrgn]

I am also retired military and have Tricare. When I turn 65 I am required to signup for Tricare for Life (Medicare Part B). I need to do this to renew my military ID if nothing else, not that I want to pay more money out of pocket. I am like Richard above, I have all my medical checks done on a military base so it is free. I do get referred sometimes to a civilian doctor and then I pay a co-pay of $30 a visit. I don't ever want to use the VA and I hope I never have too. For me I may not want to pay the $135 a month but it is worth it to me.

As mentioned above it is a personal choice as to whether or not you sign up for Medicare, but before you make that decision way all the pros and cons of which way to go.