VA and Medicare are separate
Medicare.gov says that if you have both Medicare and VA benefits, you can get treatment under either program, but each time you get care you choose which one to use. Medicare pays for Medicare-covered services. VA pays for VA-authorized care in a VA facility or a non-VA facility. If VA authorizes a stay in a non-VA hospital but not every service during it, Medicare may pay for the Medicare-covered services VA didn't authorize.
Ohio has VA medical centers in Cleveland, Dayton, Chillicothe and Cincinnati, a large VA ambulatory care center in Columbus, and community clinics across the state.
Why VA says to sign up for Medicare at 65
- More choices. Medicare covers you if you need a non-VA hospital or doctor, for example in an emergency near home.
- VA eligibility can change. VA notes that funding could change and veterans in lower priority groups could lose VA health care in the future.
- Penalties for waiting. If you delay Part B and sign up later, you may pay 10% more for each full 12-month period you went without it, for as long as you have Part B. VA care isn't job-based coverage, so it doesn't let you delay Part B without that penalty.
- Family members. VA generally doesn't cover veterans' spouses, so they need their own coverage.
VA warns that if you cancel Part B, you can't get it back until January of the following year, and you may pay a penalty to reinstate it.
What to do at 65
- Take Part A. It's premium-free for most people with 10 years of Medicare-covered work (yours or a spouse's).
- Decide on Part B in your Initial Enrollment Period. The standard premium is $202.90 a month in 2026. Weigh it against how often you use non-VA care.
- Decide on drug coverage. VA drug coverage is creditable, so Part D can wait without a penalty.
- Consider how you'll pay Medicare's share. Options include Medigap, a Medicare Advantage plan, or help from Ohio's Medicare Premium Assistance Programs if your income is limited.
Military retirees with TRICARE have different rules: Part B is required. See our guide to veterans, TRICARE and Medicare in Ohio. To compare Medicare options from the companies they work with, you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent.
Related questions
Can veterans have Medicare Advantage and VA care?
How the two fit together.
Do I need Part B with TRICARE For Life?
For military retirees.
Does TRICARE For Life work with Medicare?
Who pays first.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — VA health care and other insurance
- Medicare.gov — Who pays first? (Veterans' benefits)
- Medicare.gov — Costs
- Ohio Department of Veterans Services — Benefits Resource Guide 2026
More questions in this guide
- Can military retirees on Medicare use the Wright-Patterson pharmacy?
- Can veterans in Ohio have Medicare Advantage and VA care?
- Do I need Medicare Part B to keep TRICARE For Life?
- Does TRICARE For Life work with Medicare in Ohio?
- What happens to TRICARE Prime when I turn 65?
Part of the guide: Veterans, TRICARE and military retirees in Ohio: how Medicare fits · All questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Part D if I have VA drug coverage?
Not necessarily. VA says its drug coverage is creditable, so you can delay Part D without a late penalty. If you join a Part D plan, you can't use both for the same drug at the same time, and Medicare.gov says you can't use VA's Meds by Mail program for it.
Does Medicare pay for care at a VA hospital?
No. Medicare and VA generally can't pay for the same service, and VA doesn't bill Medicare. VA may bill a Medigap policy for care of conditions not related to your service.
Is premium-free Part A worth taking even with VA care?
Most people who worked 10 years in Medicare-covered jobs, or whose spouse did, pay no Part A premium. Taking Part A gives you hospital coverage outside VA at no premium.
Where can I get help with VA benefits in Ohio?
Your county veterans service office helps with VA claims at no charge. You can also call the Ohio Department of Veterans Services at 1-877-OHIO-VET (1-877-644-6838).
Medicare in your Ohio county
Plans, local agents and help, county by county: Franklin · Cuyahoga · Hamilton · Summit · Montgomery · Lucas · Butler · Stark · Lorain · Warren · Delaware · Lake · Mahoning · Clermont · Trumbull · Licking · Medina · Greene · Fairfield · Portage · All 88 counties →
