8 Ways Veterans Can Maximize VA and Medicare Dual Coverage

Combine these federal benefits for better care, lower costs and greater flexibility

AARP

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Published September 24, 2025

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AARP (Stocksy; Getty Images)

Key takeaways

Medicare open enrollment season is Oct. 15 to Dec. 7.
VA pharmacies are cheaper. Get care anywhere in emergencies.
When traveling, services Medicare covers are more available.
Use VA primary care doctors and specialists when possible.
Don’t fall for marketing. Be aware of changes for next year.

Nearly 6 million veterans are enrolled in both Veterans Affairs (VA) health care and Medicare, but many aren’t sure how to use them together effectively.

Medicare open enrollment season is Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, and understanding how the two systems can work together to reduce costs, improve access and support informed health care decisions is important.

1. Use VA pharmacies first

VA prescription coverage is considered creditable, which means you can delay enrolling in Medicare Part D without penalty.

In most cases, VA pharmacies offer medications with no premiums, copayments or deductibles. Medicare Part D is useful if you need prescriptions unavailable through the VA or live far from a VA health center or hospital and rely on local pharmacies.

2. In an emergency, you can get care anywhere

However, knowing which coverage to use in an emergency can affect access and cost.

If you are thinking about suicide, believe you are at risk of harming yourself or are experiencing a mental health crisis, the Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care and Treatment Act, better known as the VA COMPACT Act, provides free assistance to get you through the emergency. That’s true even for veterans not enrolled in VA health care. Dial 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Help is also available by text message and chat.
For other emergencies, Medicare typically is more accessible unless a VA hospital is nearby. Medicare covers emergency services at nearly all hospitals nationwide. Medicare Part B generally pays for outpatient and physician services during ER visits.

Find out the location of your nearest VA emergency center before you need help. If one isn’t close, Medicare offers broader access for urgent care.

3. When traveling, rely on Medicare if VA care is far away

Medicare provides broader access to hospitals and doctors across the country, which can be useful when on vacation.

If VA health care isn’t nearby, Medicare may offer more convenient options, including emergency coverage in some cases while abroad. If a VA medical center is accessible and can provide the needed care, using it may help you to avoid out-of-network costs.

Medicare generally does not cover care received outside the U.S. But if you choose original Medicare and buy a Medicare supplement policy, better known as Medigap, some will pay for foreign travel health emergencies.

4. One annual checkup covers both VA and Medicare

Veterans don’t need separate yearly wellness visits for VA and Medicare.

A checkup through the VA helps you in both systems. Medicare covers preventive services in full after the deductible, so choosing one provider for your annual visit is sufficient.

5. Primary care: VA offers continuity. Medicare is convenient

VA primary care teams are familiar with veterans’ military medical history and often provide the lowest-cost option for service-connected conditions. Treatment for those conditions is typically free.

For care not connected with your military service, most veterans have no copay for primary care. The lowest priority groups have a $15 copay.

Medicare allows access to civilian providers, helpful if you relocate frequently or face delays in scheduling VA appointments.

6. Specialists: Use VA when possible. Medicare expands options

VA specialists, such as cardiologists or oncologists, are often more affordable than physicians outside the VA system. However, appointments can require travel or involve wait times.

Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans provide faster access to local specialists, especially when VA availability is limited. But you may pay more out of pocket compared to a VA specialist.

The VA’s Community Care program may also cover non-VA specialist visits if certain conditions are met, such as long wait times or lack of available services. As of 2025, some referral requirements have been eased to improve patient access.

7. Medicare Advantage plans can be tempting, but watch out

Some Medicare Advantage (MA) plans marketed to veterans offer rebates or no additional premiums. Dental, hearing and vision coverage or allowances for over-the-counter medications also may be part of the pitch.

Many use branding terms such as “Honor,” “Patriot” or “Courage” to appeal to veterans.

These plans may be useful if you regularly use Medicare-covered services. However, if most of your care comes through the VA, enrolling in an MA plan can result in duplicate spending.

The government pays the MA plan a monthly rate even if the VA provides the actual care. This doesn’t affect your personal costs but does increase overall federal spending.

8. Stay ahead of Medicare changes in 2026

Several updates to Medicare are scheduled for 2026 that may affect how veterans use VA and Medicare together:

Part D payment plan. If you enrolled in Medicare’s prescription payment plan, which spreads drug costs over the year, you’ll be re-enrolled automatically in 2026.
Prescription annual cap. The out-of-pocket limit for Part D will increase to $2,100 in 2026, up from $2,000 in 2025. This amount will adjust annually with inflation.
Medicare Advantage extras. If you have an MA plan, rules are tightening around benefits not related to health, such as life insurance. These changes aim to focus supplemental benefits on health-related services. Review updates to your plan before Dec. 7. The benefit mix that drew you initially to a plan may shift enough that you’ll want to explore options.
AI-assisted prior authorization pilot. Original Medicare will begin testing artificial intelligence (AI)-supported prior authorization in six states: Arizona, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Washington. A human reviewer will make final decisions.