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Types of coverage
TRICARE for Life
If you have this coverage, you are hypothetically receiving a Medicare Supplement plan with drug coverage. There are many civilians paying a lot of money to have coverage like this. This is your highest level of healthcare freedom in the world of Medicare. You can see any doctor in the country who accepts Original Medicare without a referral, as long as it is not a policy of the office you are trying to be seen at.
The phrase "freedom isn't free" can be compared to this type of coverage. You will continue to pay your Part B premium in full while you are on this plan. Additionally, you will usually need to obtain your own bells and whistles to go along with it as only Part A, Part B, and Part D services are covered.
Some choose to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan—for the bells and whistles. If you choose to do this, your medical care will be under the carrier you choose and not under Original Medicare as it was with TRICARE. You may or may not have limited access to doctors and be required to have referrals for any you may want to see, depending which plan you choose.
If you choose to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, you are able to submit the copayments from your plan to TRICARE for reimbursement, or your doctor office may submit them for you.
CHAMPVA
If you have this coverage, you are hypothetically receiving a Medicare Supplement plan with drug coverage and an annual maximum out of pocket limit. This is the most you could spend in copayments, deductibles, or coinsurance from Jan 1 - Dec 31. That being said, you hypothetically have a Medicare Supplement that may or may not cost you the amount of your maximum out of pocket costs for the year.
There are many civilians paying a lot of money to be on a plan like this. This is your highest level of healthcare freedom in the world of Medicare. You can see any doctor in the country who accepts Original Medicare without a referral, as long as it is not a policy of the office you are trying to be seen at.
The phrase "freedom isn't free" can be compared to this type of coverage. You will continue to pay your Part B premium in full while you are on this plan. Additionally, you will usually need to obtain your own bells and whistles to go along with it as only Part A, Part B, and Part D services are covered.
Some choose to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan—for the bells and whistles. If you choose to do this, your medical care will be under the carrier you choose and not under Original Medicare as it was with CHAMPVA. You may have limited access to doctors and be required to have referrals for any you may want to see, depending on which plan you choose.
If you choose to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, you are able to submit the copayments from your plan to CHAMPVA for reimbursement, or your doctor office may submit them for you.
VA
If you have this coverage, you are receiving your healthcare through the VA healthcare system. The VA and Medicare DO NOT work together. You are able to utilize the VA as well as an outside provider if you have Medicare. This is especially helpful if you need to be seen right away or would like a second opinion.
Many people choose to utilize the VA for 100% of their healthcare needs. If you are doing this and are paying for Medicare, there are options you may choose from to have access to the bells and whistles while you continue to use the VA. Please give us a call to inquire about some extra benefits you could be receiving (that the VA does not provide) if: you are paying for Medicare, only being seen at the VA, and are not enrolled into a Medicare Advantage plan or supplement.
If you are using the VA and are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan or Part D, please give us a call anyways just to review your coverage. The least we can do is double check for you!