Does A Veteran Who Uses VA Healthcare Need Medicare At Age 65?
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Dear Rusty: I’m not yet old enough, but must I enroll in Medicare at Age 65? I am a disabled military veteran with VA benefits, so must I still take Medicare when I turn 65? Signed: Disabled Veteran
Rusty’s answer in brief
A veteran who relies entirely on VA care can decline Medicare Part B at 65, but should enroll if they might ever use doctors outside the VA. VA coverage does not count as “creditable” for Medicare, so signing up for Part B after the initial enrollment window (three months before to three months after the month you turn 65) brings a permanent late-enrollment penalty.
Part A is required for those collecting Social Security after 65; Part B has a monthly premium ($202.90 in 2026). A veteran can have both, but the VA and Medicare do not coordinate benefits, so a Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage plan may be worth considering alongside Part B.
This recording presents the viewpoints of the AMAC Foundation’s Social Security Advisory Staff, trained and accredited under the National Social Security Advisors program of the National Social Security Association, LLC (NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Foundation are not affiliated with or endorsed by the United States Government, the Social Security Administration, or any other state government. To request additional information, contact our Advisory Staff at 888-750-2622, or email us at SSAdvisor@AmacFoundation.org.