You can use VA healthcare, as well as other plans like TRICARE, alongside Medicare. Medicare will generally pay first, while your other plan will supplement coverage.

If you’re a veteran, it’s important to have all the services you’re eligible for working together to meet all your healthcare needs. However, the world of veteran benefits can be confusing, and it can be difficult to know how much coverage you have or need, especially if you’re also eligible for Medicare.

This article reviews what you need to know about Medicare if you’re a veteran, and how Medicare and your VA medical benefits can work together to broaden your coverage.

2026 Medicare changes

We’re currently updating this article to reflect 2026 costs and other changes.

Read about what’s changing: Open Enrollment for Medicare: Key Changes to Know About Your Plan

If you’re a veteran, you can enroll in Medicare if you’re eligible under the standard criteria for Medicare eligibility. These are:

You have the option to enroll in Medicare and a healthcare plan from the VA simultaneously. You can also have Medicare alongside a private insurance plan, Medicaid, or TRICARE.

When you have another health insurance plan in addition to Medicare, Medicare will usually pay for healthcare first, making it the “primary payer.”

When you have VA healthcare coverage specifically, the VA generally pays for doctor visits, prescriptions from VA providers, and visits to a VA facility. Medicare will then pay for any services and prescriptions from non-VA healthcare professionals and facilities.

At certain times, both the VA and Medicare will pay. This may happen if you go to a non-VA hospital for a VA-approved service or treatment, but you need additional procedures that aren’t covered by the VA healthcare plan. Medicare will pick up some of those additional costs.

A similar principle applies if you have Medicare with another plan like TRICARE. In most cases, your Medicare plan will be billed first for any medical services you receive. After Medicare pays, the other plan will pay the rest if it covers those services.

VA healthcare vs TRICARE

TRICARE is another health program from the Department of Defense that covers active-duty service members, retirees, and their families.

You can have both VA healthcare and TRICARE coverage, though the systems are separate and don’t coordinate services.

In addition, you can also have Medicare. After you retire from military service and reach age 65, you will be eligible for a special TRICARE plan called TRICARE for Life if you’re enrolled in Original Medicare.

In this case, TRICARE will enhance your Medicare benefits. With TRICARE for Life, you do not need to enroll in Medicare Part D or a Medicare supplement plan (Medigap), as TRICARE will provide equivalent coverage.

That said, your standard Medicare plan will still usually pay first, before TRICARE’s plan coverage kicks in. If you also have a VA plan, TRICARE will pay last.

If you’re a veteran and enrolled in Original Medicare (parts A and B), you’ll have to pay the same premiums as any Medicare beneficiary. Most people don’t pay a premium for Part A (hospital insurance), but you’ll need to meet a deductible before coverage begins.

You do have a premium and deductible for Part B (medical insurance), which are standard throughout the United States but change from year to year. In addition, with Part B, you typically have to pay a 20% coinsurance for most services.

Once you’re enrolled in Original Medicare, you have the option of switching to a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan, which offers the same coverage, along with some additional benefits in many cases, like vision or dental insurance.

Private insurers manage Part C plans, offering different premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance. In addition, to remain enrolled in a Part C plan, you still have to pay the Part B premium. That said, some insurers may offer Part C plans specifically for veteran beneficiaries that reimburse all or some of this cost.

Some Part C plans also include prescription drug coverage, which is called Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plans. But, if you enroll in a Part C plan without drug coverage, if you aren’t yet eligible for TRICARE for Life, or if you choose not to enroll in prescription drug coverage through the VA, you can get drug coverage under Medicare Part D. The costs for Part D also vary by plan.

When in doubt, you can always contact the VA and Medicare for any specific coverage or cost questions.

Since Medicare is not mandatory, you may consider whether to delay or decline coverage and rely only on your VA benefits.

The VA generally recommends against cancelling any other medical insurance you may have, including Medicare. Keeping your insurance may be a good idea for these reasons:

  • If you cancel Medicare Part B, you can’t re-enroll until January of the next year, and you may also face a penalty to restore your coverage.
  • VA healthcare usually doesn’t cover Veterans’ family members, so dropping private insurance could leave them without coverage.
  • Future funding for VA healthcare is uncertain. If you are in a lower priority group, you could lose your VA benefits, leaving you uninsured without private coverage.
  • If you decline Medicare, you’ll have to withdraw from your Social Security benefits and pay back any Social Security payments you have already received.

That said, if you’re thinking about declining or deferring Medicare, it’s best to discuss the pros and cons with a VA representative. It’s important to know how or whether your current plan will work with Medicare so you can choose the most comprehensive overage possible.

How do you enroll in a Medicare plan?

You can easily enroll in Original Medicare online. There are just a few things to remember:

  • If you are approaching age 65, you may enroll during the initial enrollment period. Enrollment in Medicare parts A and B begins 3 months before you turn age 65, continues during the month of your birthday, and ends 3 months after you turn 65 years old.
  • If you are not enrolled, want to make changes to an existing Medicare Part A or B, or are over age 65 but still looking to enroll, you can use the following enrollment periods:
    • Medicare open enrollment period: October 15 to December 7 every year
    • Medicare Advantage open enrollment period: January 1 to March 31 every year

To get started with enrollment, visit Medicare’s enrollment page and follow the prompts.

In addition, you may enroll in Tricare for Life during TRICARE’s open enrollment season, which begins in November. You may also enroll outside of the open season if you have a qualifying life event, such as retirement from active duty, marriage, or the death of a family member. You have 90 days after a qualifying life event to change your coverage or enrollment.

VA healthcare isn’t necessarily free. You may qualify for free healthcare when living with conditions not related to your service if you qualify through your VA disability rating, pension, or other special circumstances, such as receiving the Medal of Honor. Otherwise, you may qualify based on income.

Generally speaking, supplementing your veteran’s healthcare coverage with a Medicare plan may be a good idea, especially because U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare coverage can vary drastically from person to person and over time. That said, whether you enroll in Original Medicare, Part C, or Part D depends on your specific healthcare needs.

If you are a veteran with VA healthcare coverage and are over 65 years old, enrolling in a Medicare plan can provide more well-rounded coverage.

VA and TRICARE plans can be supplemented with Medicare plans. Additional supplemental plans are available through Medicare, and you can choose one that meets your specific cost and benefits needs.

You have many options to help you create a more balanced healthcare program after you turn 65 years old.