logo
Weather page
GET THE APP
ePaper
google_play
app_store
  • Login
  • E-Edition
  • News
  • Sports
  • Obituaries
  • Opinion
  • Classifieds
    • Place an Ad
    • All Listings
    • Jobs
  • Special Sections
  • Photo Gallery
  • Contests
  • Lifestyle/Entertainment
  • Games
    • News
      • Local News
      • PA State News
      • Nation/World
    • Sports
      • Local
      • College Sports
      • State
      • National
    • Obituaries
    • Opinion
      • News
        • Local News
        • PA State News
        • Nation/World
      • Sports
        • Local
        • College Sports
        • State
        • National
      • Obituaries
      • Opinion
    logo
    • Classifieds
      • Place an Ad
      • All Listings
      • Jobs
    • E-Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Login
      • Classifieds
        • Place an Ad
        • All Listings
        • Jobs
      • E-Edition
      • Subscribe
      • Login
    Home Business Social Security Matters: Must I take Part A even if I have VA or Medicaid coverage?
    Social Security Matters: Must I take Part A even if I have VA or Medicaid coverage?
    Business
    May 9, 2025

    Social Security Matters: Must I take Part A even if I have VA or Medicaid coverage?

    By RUSSELL GLOOR

    DEAR RUSTY: Does everyone need to sign up for Medicare Part A, even if you are ex-military? Or only on Medicaid, regardless of whether you are eligible for Social Security or not? Also is there a cost for just Part A? — Confused Senior DEAR CONFUSED:

    FYI, there is no cost for Medicare Part A (inpatient hospitalization coverage) for those who are also eligible for Social Security benefits. And it is mandatory to enroll in Medicare Part A if you are age 65 or over and are collecting Social Security benefits.

    If you are ex-military and get all your healthcare services from the VA, you must still enroll in Medicare Part A (which is free) to collect Social Security benefits after age 65.

    Enrollment in Medicare Part B (which is healthcare coverage for outpatient services) is always optional because there is a premium associated with Part B. But if you receive all of your healthmatched care services from the VA, you can — if you wish — decline Medicare Part B and, thus, save the monthly Part B premium. Enrolling in Medicare Part B when you get all your healthcare services from the VA is a matter of having the convenience to choose any healthcare provider you wish (versus using only VA healthcare services).

    If you receive Medicaid benefits, and are also eligible for Medicare, you should probably enroll in both Medicare Part A and Part B (Medicare would be primary payor and Medicaid the secondary payor). You would be considered ‘dually eligible’ and likely exempt from most healthcare costs with coverage from both programs.

    That said, it is sometimes not mandatory to enroll in Medicare Part B to get Medicaid benefits, but each state has separate Medicaid eligibility rules. Thus, you should check with your state’s Medicaid office to see if it is mandatory to take Medicare Part B to keep your Medicaid benefits. FYI, in most instances, Medicaid will pay your Medicare Part B costs, so there is little reason not to enroll in Medicare Part B while on Medicaid. Regardless, enrollment in Medicare Part A is required to collect Social Security benefits after age 65.

    I would like to thank you for your service to our country and also assure you that we are always here for you if you have any further questions.

    (Russell Gloor is a national Social Security advisor at the AMAC Foundation, the non-profit arm of the Association of Mature American Citizens. To submit a question, visit amacfoundation.org/programs/ social-secu rity-advisory or email ssadvisor@ amacfoundation.org.)

    Russell Gloor

    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}{"bradford-era-e-edition":"Bradford Era e-Edition", "to-print":"To print"}

    The Bradford Era

    Local & Social
    Latest news for you
    BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Sweet’s Saltwater makes a splash
    Business, Local News
    BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Sweet’s Saltwater makes a splash
    By SAVANNAH BARR s.barr@bradfordera.com 
    July 8, 2025
    Whether you are a longtime aquarium enthusiast or you just learned about planted tanks and want to find out more, there is something for everyone at S...
    Read More...
    {"newsletter-daily-headlines":"Daily Headlines", "newsletters":"Newsletters", "to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    Don’t let strawberries spoil
    Lifestyles
    Don’t let strawberries spoil
    July 8, 2025
    Dear Heloise: We love fresh strawberries at our house, but frequently a few of them spoil in the container before we can use them all. We discovered a...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    Sibling is making elderly mom’s life a living hell
    Lifestyles
    Sibling is making elderly mom’s life a living hell
    July 8, 2025
    DEAR ABBY: I live five hours away from my hometown. My mom is 98 and in assisted living there. In recent years, my younger sister has become cruel to ...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    2025 NY/PA Corporate Cup Soccer Showcase slated for July 27
    Local Sports
    2025 NY/PA Corporate Cup Soccer Showcase slated for July 27
    Jo Wankel 
    July 7, 2025
    Four soccer matches showcasing 175 of the best high school soccer players from Northwestern PA and Southwestern NY will take place on July 27 at Pitt-...
    Read More...
    Harrison Brunicke wants to be in Pittsburgh, but the Penguins say he must earn his place first
    National Sports
    Harrison Brunicke wants to be in Pittsburgh, but the Penguins say he must earn his place first
    Matt Vensel Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 
    July 7, 2025
    (TNS) —This time last summer, Harrison Brunicke was a lesser-known Penguins prospect who arrived at his first development camp eager to learn and get ...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    Brief storm downs tree limb
    Brief storm downs tree limb
    July 7, 2025
    A brief storm Monday afternoon took down a large tree limb, blocking Thompson Avenue at Congress Street. Bradford City Fire Department responded at ab...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    This Week's Ads
    Current e-Edition
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Already a subscriber? Click the image to view the latest e-edition.
    Don't have a subscription? Click here to see our subscription options.
    Mobile App

    Download Now

    The Bradford Era mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the Bradford Era on your mobile device just as it appears in print.

    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store

    Help Our Community

    Please help local businesses by taking an online survey to help us navigate through these unprecedented times. None of the responses will be shared or used for any other purpose except to better serve our community. The survey is at: www.pulsepoll.com $1,000 is being awarded. Everyone completing the survey will be able to enter a contest to Win as our way of saying, "Thank You" for your time. Thank You!

    Get in touch with The Bradford Era
    Submit Content
    • Submit News
    • Letter to the Editor
    • Place Wedding Announcement
      • Submit News
      • Letter to the Editor
      • Place Wedding Announcement
    Advertise
    • Place Birth Announcement
    • Place Anniversary Announcement
    • Place Obituary Call (814) 368-3173
      • Place Birth Announcement
      • Place Anniversary Announcement
      • Place Obituary Call (814) 368-3173
    Subscribe
    • Start a Subscription
    • e-Edition
    • Contact Us
      • Start a Subscription
      • e-Edition
      • Contact Us
    CMG | Community Media Group
    Illinois
    • Hancock Journal-Pilot
    • Iroquois Times-Republic
    • Journal-Republican
    • The News-Gazette
      • Hancock Journal-Pilot
      • Iroquois Times-Republic
      • Journal-Republican
      • The News-Gazette
    Indiana
    • Fountain Co. Neighbor
    • Herald Journal
    • KV Post News
    • Newton Co. Enterprise
    • Rensselaer Republican
    • Review-Republican
      • Fountain Co. Neighbor
      • Herald Journal
      • KV Post News
      • Newton Co. Enterprise
      • Rensselaer Republican
      • Review-Republican
    Iowa
    • Atlantic News Telegraph
    • Audubon Advocate-Journal
    • Barr’s Post Card News
    • Burlington Hawk Eye
    • Collector’s Journal
    • Fayette County Union
    • Ft. Madison Daily Democrat
    • Independence Bulletin-Journal
    • Keokuk Daily Gate City
    • Oelwein Daily Register
    • Vinton Newspapers
    • Waverly Newspapers
      • Atlantic News Telegraph
      • Audubon Advocate-Journal
      • Barr’s Post Card News
      • Burlington Hawk Eye
      • Collector’s Journal
      • Fayette County Union
      • Ft. Madison Daily Democrat
      • Independence Bulletin-Journal
      • Keokuk Daily Gate City
      • Oelwein Daily Register
      • Vinton Newspapers
      • Waverly Newspapers
    Michigan
    • Iosco County News-Herald
    • Ludington Daily News
    • Oceana’s Herald-Journal
    • Oscoda Press
    • White Lake Beacon
      • Iosco County News-Herald
      • Ludington Daily News
      • Oceana’s Herald-Journal
      • Oscoda Press
      • White Lake Beacon
    New York
    • Finger Lakes Times
    • Olean Times Herald
    • Salamanca Press
      • Finger Lakes Times
      • Olean Times Herald
      • Salamanca Press
    Pennsylvania
    • Bradford Era
    • Clearfield Progress
    • Courier Express
    • Free Press Courier
    • Jeffersonian Democrat
    • Leader Vindicator
    • Potter Leader-Enterprise
    • The Wellsboro Gazette
      • Bradford Era
      • Clearfield Progress
      • Courier Express
      • Free Press Courier
      • Jeffersonian Democrat
      • Leader Vindicator
      • Potter Leader-Enterprise
      • The Wellsboro Gazette
    © Copyright The Bradford Era 43 Main St, Bradford, PA  | Terms of Use  | Privacy Policy
    Powered by TECNAVIA