VA healthcare and Medicare

[skippy13]

OK, so today I get a packet in the mail from Medicare (not medicaid) telling me that they have ever so generously signed me up for Medicare part A and B coverage effective June 2009.

This is the very first I have heard from them, and I have not filled out any Medicare applications or paperwork previously. I have only been approved for SSDI since October of 2007. (I thought you had to be on SSDI for 24 months before you qualify for Medicare?)

Anyway, I was just wondering how this affects my VA healthcare. I am in category One. Does the VA bill medicare for any costs that they can recover? (that would be good) Is this a cluster-flock just waiting to happen, or are these two agencies used to this interaction if there is any? How does this work?

Where can I get help deciding which coverages and plans to sign up for? I look at the paperwork and the web-site for medicare and my eyeballs just roll back in my head. I seriously can't deal with complicated paperwork and stuff like this since I had a couple of TIA's a few years back. My sons help me with my bills and financial stuff, but in this I fear, I am on my own. Help, please!

Amy

[SCI-Nurse]

If you are on SSDI, they sign you up for Medicare after 24 months during an open enrollment period, but you do have to fill out the application, and pay the premiums. I strongly recommend it even for SC veterans in category 1, as it will pay for some things (like some home care nursing, PT, or OT, or outpatient therapy or hospitalization at non-VA facilities) that are not covered by the VA. This is true for both Part A and Part B. You can defer Part D if you want. Medicare will require documentation that you have another source for medication payment in order to get out of signing up for Part D, and the VA can provide you with this document. Since you are category A, I assume most if not all of your medications are directly related to your SC condition, so you don't have a co-pay with the VA???

While the VA can bill private insurances, it is currently prohibited from billing either Medicare or Medicaid. This could change in the future, but would require legislative changes.

Your VA SCI Coordinator/Social Worker should help you make some of these decisions and help you with the paperwork.

(KLD)

[skippy13]

You are correct. All of my medications are covered and there is no co-pay with the VA. So Medicare would be like a back-up plan?

It is possible to sign up for an advantage plan where I live, would this be a good choice? It seems to be more similar and comprehensive like the PPO I had when I was working. I have cataracts and will need to plan for the time I have to deal with them.

I will see about getting my social worker on this to help me. I get so confused with all o this information. It is hard to sort out and making the right decisions are so very important.