How Veterans Can Get More with Medicare Advantage Plans

Get more from your healthcare benefits. Learn how a Medicare Advantage plan can work with your VA coverage to save you money and offer extras like dental, vision, and more.

By Clover Health

If you served our country, you deserve the best healthcare possible. But figuring out your benefits can be tough. You might wonder if you need extra coverage or if there’s a way to save on costs. That’s where Medicare Advantage plans can help.

Why the VA Encourages Veterans to Sign Up for Medicare as Soon as You Can

As stated on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website:

“Having Medicare means you’re covered if you need to go to a non-VA hospital or doctor—so you have more options to choose from.

Funding for VA health care could change in the future. We encourage you to sign up for every health care benefit that you’re eligible for so you have options if you need them.
If you delay signing up for Medicare Part B (coverage for doctors and outpatient services) and then need to sign up later because you lose your VA health care benefits or need more choice in care options, you’ll pay a penalty. This penalty gets bigger each year you delay signing up—and you’ll pay it every year for the rest of your life.
If you sign up for Medicare Part D (coverage for prescription drugs), you’ll be able to use it to get medicine from non-VA doctors and fill your prescriptions at your local pharmacy instead of through the VA mail-order service. There’s no penalty for delaying Medicare Part D as long as you enroll when you’re first eligible or within 63 days of when you no longer have VA health care or other creditable prescription drug coverage. Learn more about how to avoid the Part D penalty on the Medicare website.

Why Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage (MA) plans are Medicare health insurance plans offered by private companies. They include all the benefits of Original Medicare (Part A and B) but often come with additional benefits beyond Original Medicare.

Many veterans often choose between two types of plans:

MA-Only (Medicare Advantage plan without prescription drug coverage) – Ideal for those who get prescription drug coverage through the VA or TRICARE.
MAPD (Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage) – A great option if you want more flexibility with where you fill your prescriptions.

With Medicare Advantage plans, you can get added benefits like dental, vision, hearing, over-the-counter allowances, fitness memberships, and even money back on your Part B premium.

Some Medicare Advantage plans, like those offered by Clover Health, have plans designed with veterans in mind. Read more about the advantages of Medicare Advantage plans in our Benefits of Medicare Advantage Plans blog. Anyone on Medicare can enroll in the plan. You do not need to be a Veteran.

How Medicare Advantage Helps Veterans

Even if you get care through the VA, adding a Medicare Advantage plan can offer extra benefits you might be missing out on. Here’s how:

Lower Out-of-Pocket Costs - Many Medicare Advantage plans, like those offered by Clover Health, have plans with low or no monthly plan premiums. Some plans even include a Part B giveback to help you save money each month. This can make them a budget-friendly way to get more coverage.

More Choices – VA care is great, but you may want access to non-VA doctors and specialists. With both VA benefits and a Medicare Advantage plan, you can choose between a VA hospital or a non-VA facility. This can be helpful if you live far from a VA hospital or want to have access to non-VA providers for more options.

Extra Benefits – Many Medicare Advantage plans offer extras that VA healthcare doesn’t, like routine dental, eyeglasses and contact allowance, hearing aid allowance, OTC allowance, and more. These could save you money and provide extra benefits to help with your health and well-being.

Emergency Coverage - If you travel, a Medicare Advantage plan can give you coverage outside the VA network. This can give you peace of mind while traveling to places that aren’t near a VA facility.

How These Plans Work Together

It’s important to understand that VA benefits and Medicare Advantage plans are two separate systems. You can have and utilize both at the same time and get what you want and need from each. However, since they are two separate systems, they do not coordinate with each other.

Before signing up for a plan, we recommend you talk to a licensed agent (like one of our licensed agents you can reach at the number below) and have a needs analysis done. This will help make sure that the Medicare Advantage plan is a good fit for you.

Get the Most Out of Your Benefits

Make sure you’re getting the healthcare you earned by serving your country. Each Medicare Advantage (MA) plan is different and can offer a variety of extra benefits that suit your needs and lifestyle. When it comes to MA plans, you have options. Talk to a licensed agent and find a plan that works best with your VA benefits and fits your lifestyle.

You can talk to a Clover Health Licensed Agent by calling 800-836-6890.
See what a Clover Health Medicare Advantage Plan in New Jersey, Georgia, Texas, South Carolina, and Pennsylvania has to offer. Click here to learn more.

Looking for more Medicare tips? Explore our latest blogs for practical tips to make healthier choices and get the most from your Medicare benefits.

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If you still have questions, here are some resources for veteran assistance that can help:

Veteran service officers- VSO: Assist veterans and their families with applying for their benefits