Question: I have Medicare Part A & B and I was just notified I qualify for CHAMPVA. My husband was a veteran and is 100% disabled. What should I do now?

Answer: Thank Your husband for his service! His military service gives him the title of veteran and that is something to be proud of. His service also means you can now get your health insurance from Medicare and CHAMPVA.

Not all veterans sign up for additional benefits upon discharge. When you are a veteran, you could be eligible for medical care through the VA clinics and hospitals or eligible for a veteran pension. As the spouse of a veteran who has retired from the military or has 100% disability due to his service, you qualify for CHAMPVA.

Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties both have Veteran Service Agencies as part of the county government which helps veterans sign up for benefits, medical and financial. Chautauqua County Veteran Service Agency can be reached at 716-661-8255. Cattaraugus County Veteran Service Agency can be reached at 716-701-3298. These agencies provide assistance to veterans who want to apply for medical benefits, pension benefits or disability benefits. The staff is also available to answer questions related to VA programs available in our region.

Getting back to your question, being a veteran does not mean you have applied for veterans benefits. If you haven’t applied for medical coverage, reach out to the Veteran Service Agencies and ask them to help you through the application process to determine your eligibility.

The VA Healthcare system provides you with medical care at their facilities and prescription drug coverage that is considered creditable coverage.

Your Medicare Part A & B coverage allows you to use almost any hospital or provider within the United States. You would have deductibles and copays for medical care as you access the Medicare system. Your VA Healthcare system may or may not have co-pays (depending on your status) for care. Your VA mail order medications may cost no more than $9 per month or $27 for the 90-day supply.

The VA Healthcare System and the Medicare system rarely cross over to work together. We recommend you have and use both.

The exceptions to this rule are TriCare for Life and CHAMPVA.

If you are a veteran who is eligible for TriCare for Life with Medicare Part A & B, you have all the coverage you need (including prescription drugs) and you are NOT required to sign up for additional coverage of any type.

If you are a veteran or family of a veteran with CHAMPVA, and you sign up for Medicare A & B you have all the coverage you need (including prescription drugs) and does NOT require you sign up for additional coverage of any type.

To pull back to your question, now that you have CHAMPVA along with your original Medicare A & B benefits you have primary coverage and secondary coverage. Medicare being the primary and CHAMPVA being your secondary coverage and your prescription drug coverage. No additional coverage necessary.

So if you have other insurance right now, like a Medicare Supplement Plan and a Prescription Drug plan, or you have a Medicare Advantage plan. You can cancel those plans.

To cancel the Medicare Supplement Plan, you call the customer service number on your insurance card. Inform them of your eligibility for CHAMPVA and cancel the coverage. For the Medicare Advantage Plan and the Prescription Drug Plan, I recommend calling 1-800-medicare to cancel those plans.

I recommend calling 1-800-medicare because sometimes the plans won’t allow you to cancel the coverage, saying you must have it. When you call Medicare, you inform them that you are now eligible for CHAMPVA, and that gives you the right to cancel the coverage you currently have. The Medicare customer service will also register that coverage in your records.

Your Medicare and CHAMPVA or TriCare for Life give you all the coverage you need. I know this can be somewhat intimidating to change your insurance that drastically, but I believe you will be very happy with the coverage.

I also recommend reaching out to the VA Services Agency of your county to get more information about CHAMPVA and TriCare for Life. They can talk to you about this coverage to make you more comfortable with the change.

I also recommend reaching out to other veterans and their families who have this coverage. They will also help you learn about the coverage and how it works.

I again, thank you and your spouse for their service to our country. We would not be where we are today without their dedication and time served.

Janell Sluga is a Geriatric Care Manager helping seniors in our community access services and insurance. To reach her, please email editorial@post-journal.com.

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