What to do about medicare?

[Dulcinea714]

Okay, I'm strange...my rating was raised 100% rating a mere 6 months after attack that made me unable to work. I am lucky in that my DX was only 4 yrs after discharge. My federal civilian job took a year to approve disability retirement, I kept my insurance through work, because I want to make sure my daughter is covered. Letter stating 100% says I am subject to re-evaluation, and I just don't trust the system.
Now, two years later, social security agrees that I cannot work. I am told that in a few months, I can enroll in medicare. I get all my healthcare through the VA; they are good to me and I like that everything is in the computer, so I don't have to recall stuff.
So, the question is, what should I do about medicare? What are my fellow vets doing about medicare? I am confused. Thanks

[Scooter24]

I am only at 60% now and the VA hospital is only about 20 miles away so I have declined medicare, no need to have it and VA can't bill them for anything. Why donate $1300 a year.

Just a note if you are going to decline it and your social security office is near to you, hand carry the paperwork to the office and make someone sign and date a copy of the form where you are declining it. I mailed mine in the day I got it and they still took 3 months of it out of my SS check before I got it stopped and it took a few weeks after that to get it back from them. A guy who works at the SS office told me that something like that needs to be hand carried rather than mailed.

Some people will tell you if you ever do want it it will cost you more as you declined it previously that is false as they consider VA the same as other insurance and there is no difference if you should want it later.

If you have Tri Care and decline medicare you will loose your tri care, and besides if you do both you will basically have zero out of pocket, thats how its been for me.... Just saying what works for me, i would call tri care and ssdi and get the scoop from them

[Scooter24]

I have no insurance at all even if I did I would drop it as the little bit of copays I have are nothing, usually about 30-40 p month for a few different dugs and would be much less than any insurance premium.

[Dulcinea714]

Thanks for the info, I will stop by the VA enrollment desk or visit the patient advocate and inquire at my next appointment. I am not eligible for tri-care, because I am a gray area retiree, meaning I am a retired reservist and do not get full retiree benefits until age 60. Not complaining, I new it when I left active duty and joined the reserves. Thanks again for your input.

[Bob698]

For MS, the VA works pretty well.
I give them the edge on Neuro issues and other stuff like Phys Rehab services based on their over-all experience.
The GP stuff is OK but I think it would be the same in any large hospital.
I gotta give them the edge on RX's and co-pays.

[randys438]

I get all my treatment through the VA. When I got the letter to sign up for Medicare, I declined it. I am not s/c, but due to my income (SSDI only), I have no dr. co-pays and only pay the $8/mo. per prescription. I saw no reason to have them take more money out of my check for a benefit I probably won't use.