Washington Programs

Veterans, the VA and Medicare in Washington

VA health care and Medicare are separate: VA doesn't bill Medicare for care at a VA facility, and Medicare pays for care from non-VA providers that accept it. VA encourages veterans to enroll in Medicare when they become eligible, because delaying Part B can bring a lifelong late enrollment penalty if you later want care outside the VA.

By the Benefits Life Editorial Team, licensed insurance agents · Reviewed November 9, 2026

VA and Medicare are separate, parallel systems

VA health care is not insurance. It is care provided or authorized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for enrolled veterans. Medicare is federal health insurance. VA doesn't bill Medicare or TRICARE For Life for care you get at a VA facility, though it may bill a Medicare supplement (Medigap) policy for covered services.

That means a veteran with both VA health care and Medicare can use either system, but not both for the same visit. Many veterans who have both choose which system to use for which kind of care.

Washington's VA medical centers

VA Puget Sound Health Care System: Seattle VA Medical Center and American Lake VA Medical Center (Tacoma), plus VA clinics in places such as Auburn, Everett, Mount Vernon, Oak Harbor, Olympia, Puyallup, Renton, Silverdale and the North Olympic Peninsula
VA Spokane Health Care: Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane, with clinics in eastern Washington, northern Idaho and northwest Montana
VA Walla Walla Health Care: Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center in Walla Walla, with clinics including Richland and the Yakima Valley, and others in Idaho and Oregon
Vancouver VA Medical Center: part of the VA Portland Health Care System, serving Clark County

Why many Washington veterans consider Medicare

VA says it encourages veterans to enroll in Medicare as soon as they're eligible, so they have options if their needs or circumstances change. Reasons include:

Care outside the VA. Medicare covers civilian doctors and hospitals that accept Medicare, including emergencies at non-VA hospitals and care while traveling in the U.S.
Community care has limits. VA pays for care from a community provider when your VA health care team gives you an authorized referral, for example when VA care isn't timely or accessible. Without Medicare or other coverage, care you get on your own outside the VA may not be covered.
Priority groups and copays. VA assigns enrolled veterans to one of eight priority groups, which affects whether you pay VA copays for some care.
Part A without a premium. Most people get Part A without a premium because they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years of work.

Decisions about Part B

Part B costs $202.90 a month in 2026 for most people, and more with higher income (IRMAA). Some veterans who get all their care from the VA consider skipping it. But VA health care isn't coverage from current employment, so it doesn't let you delay Part B without a penalty. If you sign up later, your Part B premium goes up 10% for each full 12-month period you could have had Part B but didn't, for as long as you have Part B, and you may have to wait for a General Enrollment Period.

Before you decide, think about how close you are to a VA facility, whether your needs might change, and whether you'd want civilian care in an emergency or while traveling. See Medicare late enrollment penalties.

VA pharmacy and Part D

Federal Part D rules list VA drug coverage as a type of coverage that can count as creditable. If you rely on VA drug coverage and later lose it, VA says you have 63 days to join a Part D plan without a late enrollment penalty.

Some veterans join a Part D plan anyway if:

They fill prescriptions from non-VA doctors
They take medicines that aren't on the VA formulary
They want a pharmacy closer to home, especially in rural counties far from a VA pharmacy

Compare drug plans from the companies a licensed insurance agent with Benefits Life works with: (206) SENIORS (206-736-4677), TTY 711. Or see plans in your ZIP code.

Medicare Advantage and the VA

A Medicare Advantage plan won't pay for care you get at a VA facility, and you still pay the Part B premium and any plan premium even if you use only VA care. A plan can make sense if you also use civilian providers in its network. Check whether your non-VA doctors are in the network before you join.

How VA priority groups affect coordination

VA assigns enrolled veterans to one of eight priority groups based on service-connected disability, income, military service history and other factors. Your group affects how soon you can enroll in VA health care and whether you pay copays for some VA care and prescriptions. Medicare doesn't change your priority group or pay VA copays; it covers care you get outside the VA.

For caregivers and surviving spouses

Some VA programs extend help to families and caregivers:

CHAMPVA: shares the cost of health care for spouses, surviving spouses and children of certain veterans. If you're eligible for Medicare, you must have Part A and Part B (or a Medicare Advantage plan) to get or keep CHAMPVA.
Veteran-Directed Care: lets eligible veterans manage a budget for home and community-based services and hire their own caregivers.
Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits: added monthly pension payments for veterans and survivors who need help with daily activities or are housebound.

Washington Department of Veterans Affairs and state veterans homes

The Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) helps veterans with benefits claims and runs four state veterans homes:

Washington Soldiers Home, Orting
Washington Veterans Home, Port Orchard
Spokane Veterans Home
Walla Walla Veterans Home

Medicare doesn't pay for long-term custodial care in a nursing home. Ask WDVA how a veterans home stay is paid for. See also what Medicare doesn't cover.

Where to get help

VA health benefits hotline: 1-877-222-8387
VA Puget Sound: 1-800-329-8387
Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center (Spokane): 509-434-7000
Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center (Walla Walla): 509-525-5200
Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs: 1-800-562-2308
Medicare: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
Veterans Crisis Line: dial 988, then press 1

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to enroll in Medicare if I have VA benefits?

No, but VA encourages it. Most people get Part A without a premium. Part B has a monthly premium, and VA health care doesn't count as coverage that lets you delay Part B without a penalty, so if you skip it and sign up later you can pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part B.

Is VA drug coverage creditable for Part D?

Federal rules list VA drug coverage as a type of coverage that can be creditable, and VA treats its coverage that way for Part D purposes. If you rely on VA drug coverage and later lose it, you have 63 days to join a Part D plan without a late penalty.

Can I use both Medicare and the VA?

Yes. The systems are separate, and you choose which to use each time you get care. VA doesn't bill Medicare for care at VA facilities, and VA pays for community care only with an authorized referral from your VA health care team; Medicare covers care from non-VA providers that accept it.

Does Medicare cover the VA?

No. VA doesn't bill Medicare for care you get at a VA facility, and a Medicare Advantage plan won't pay for care at a VA facility either. Medicare covers care from civilian providers and hospitals that accept Medicare.

What about CHAMPVA for surviving spouses?

CHAMPVA shares the cost of health care for spouses, surviving spouses and children of certain veterans. If you're eligible for Medicare, you must have Part A and Part B to get or keep CHAMPVA; a Medicare Advantage plan also meets that requirement.

Medicare in your Washington county

Plans, local agents and help, county by county: Adams · Asotin · Benton · Chelan · Clallam · Clark · Columbia · Cowlitz · Douglas · Ferry · Franklin · Garfield · Grant · Grays Harbor · Island · Jefferson · King · Kitsap · Kittitas · Klickitat · Lewis · Lincoln · Mason · Okanogan · Pacific · Pend Oreille · Pierce · San Juan · Skagit · Skamania · Snohomish · Spokane · Stevens · Thurston · Wahkiakum · Walla Walla · Whatcom · Whitman · Yakima

Licensed insurance agents for Washington

These independent insurance agents are licensed in Washington and work with Benefits Life, the publisher of this site. When they enroll you in a plan, the agent and Benefits Life may be paid by the insurance company. Learn more.