My stepdad doesn't want to sign up for Medicare

[b0rscht]

I really know nothing about VA benefits, but my stepdad has been on them for years and is about to turn 65.
He just told me he's not signing up for Medicare because he doesn't want to "pay twice" for healthcare since the VA already covers him.
This sounds like a recipe for a huge problem, but I don't know for sure.

He also just bought a house with a VA mortgage and zero down, so I'm worried he's setting himself up for some major financial stress.
Anyone here know how this works? Is he making a big mistake with Medicare?

 

[retireearlydreamer]

Okay, so VA and Medicare are separate things. If he doesn't have Medicare, he can only get care at VA places. Not signing up for Medicare could mean he'll have to pay a lot more money later on, plus those late fees.

 

[jujuliannn]

VA benefits are nice but Medicare is like that safety net you didn't know you needed. I totally get the worry about paying for 2 plans, but can you imagine being caught without coverage when you really need it? That's a risk that could end up costing you a lot more in the long run.

 

[Shades]

Relying solely on VA benefits and skipping Medicare is financial Russian roulette, one bureaucratic policy shift or denied claim, and he'll be left exposed with massive bills no VA mortgage can cover

 

[FrugalLyf]

I really know nothing about VA benefits, but my stepdad has been on them for years and is about to turn 65.
He just told me he's not signing up for Medicare because he doesn't want to "pay twice" for healthcare since the VA already covers him.
This sounds like a recipe for a huge problem, but I don't know for sure.

He also just bought a house with a VA mortgage and zero down, so I'm worried he's setting himself up for some major financial stress.
Anyone here know how this works? Is he making a big mistake with Medicare?

I agree with what the others are saying. He could be setting himself up for a major problem here.
Those two are completely separate because the VA only covers care at its own facilities, while Medicare covers care at most civilian doctors and hospitals.
Neither will pay for a service covered by the other.
He's not paying twice because he's getting the flexibility to see a doctor outside the VA system, which is critical in an emergency.
The biggest financial risk I see here is the permanent penalty for late enrollment in Medicare Part B.
This can increase his premiums for the rest of his life.
The VA actually recommends veterans sign up for Medicare because it gives them more options and prevents this exact kind of financial risk.
Try to convince him to at least enroll in premium-free Medicare Part A and seriously consider Part B to avoid a huge, lasting financial hit!