Do we need to keep paying for supplemental insurance?

[Blue-Mockingbird]

My husband is 100% VA disabled with complete medical and prescription coverage. Does anyone know if we need to continue to pay for Medicare supplement or prescription insurance or can we drop it?

TIA

[jwrhn]

I get all my care through the VA. I'm out in the sticks and need to drive about 400 miles every three months to the VA medical center that has been treating me for 20 years.

I signed up for medicare when I turned 65 thinking that if I needed something right away I could get it up here instead of going to the nearest VA clinic. After a couple of years I decided to drop it as I never used it and really could not afford it.

I think it depends on your husband and if the VA is treating his PCa effectively in his opinion. In my experience some VA facilities are very good and others not so much. Some guys like me are satisfied with the VA and others want to have a choice of doctors and treatment options that the VA may not offer.

It's a personal choice but I would think long and hard before dropping it and going with the VA as your only source of care if it is not much of a financial burden.

[Blue-Mockingbird in reply to jwrhn]

Thanks for your quick reply. I’ll talk it over with the hubs to see what he thinks. He’s very happy with the care he’s receiving at VA Portland (Oregon). We also have a VA Clinic in the small town where we live and they’ve told him that if he ever needs emergency care he can go to the local hospital rather than drive the 70 miles into Portland.

[maley2711 in reply to Blue-Mockingbird]

Are the VA Docs mostly the same available for OHSU PCa patients??

[Blue-Mockingbird in reply to maley2711]

Yes, they’re mostly shared between hospitals. He also has the option to go to VA hospital/doctors in Vancouver, WA

[maley2711 in reply to Blue-Mockingbird]

I know OHSU has at least one well-kmown PCa MO up there.....name escapes me right now...would need to check their faculty list to recall. Probably you're OK IMHO.

It's very easy to blame a Doc if we have bad results with our treatment. Human nature to blame isn't it.

Best of luck !!

[Blue-Mockingbird in reply to maley2711]

He has a new oncologist. Was seeing Dr Beers, now sees Dr Grass (I kid you not). Dr Beers retired

[spouse21]

Hi there, Blue Mockingbird. My husband decided to keep the supplement and drug coverage, after someone at the nearby VA said it was a good idea since VA policies can change. He gets all his care privately outside of our local VA via its Community Care program when he sees our local private oncologist and get his shots, infusions, etc. at local private hospital.

Here's a link that describes Community Care: va.gov/communitycare/

When my husband is treated locally by his private oncologist, VA is first payer then Medicare then Medicare supplement and Medicare drug plan. He also receives and will likely receive some future care at some point out of Community Care range when we go to Boston or NY. In that case Medicare and private supplement pay first and VA only kicks in a small amount. We're "rather be safe than sorry," so we pay up.

Have you, as a spouse, signed up for Champ VA health insurance? Even though Champ VA will cover everything Medicare will cover, I also stayed in traditional Medicare and pay for supplemental and drug coverage. It's redundant and costs a chunk of change but, again, rather be safe than sorry. Champ VA kicks in for anything Medicare doesn't cover. I haven't really had any medical issues, so I'm not sure how it all works in practice.

[Blue-Mockingbird in reply to spouse21]

Excellent info, thank you.

No, I haven’t signed up for Champ VA yet but have been meaning to. I need to get on that!

[spouse21]

When you do get on Champ VA, and it takes awhile, make sure to give your card to all your providers so they bill Champ VA along with Medicare and supplement if you keep those. I made the mistake of not giving a provider the Champ VA card to copy then tried to submit the claim afterwards. It takes forever if you accidentally do it that way. If every provider has a copy of your card along with your other insurance, claims go straight through from the provider's office and you don't see a thing.

[Blue-Mockingbird in reply to spouse21]

👍🏽 This will be on my To-Do list

[Biobro]

My late hubby kept him Medicare and Supplemental so that he could see any doctor anywhere. I always figured that VA care was backup if necessary. I was self employed in my working life and always paid for the absolutely best coverage I could afford -- when you need good health insurance, you REALLY need it. Seen too many people take the cheaper option and find themselves without choices when something serious hits. So, if you can possibly afford it, I would pay for Medicare as well

[Blue-Mockingbird in reply to Biobro]

Thanks, Biobro.

My husband is covered 100% by VA, medical, dental, vision, and prescriptions. But yes, we’ve decided it’s best to keep paying for his Medicare coverage as a backup. I will be applying for ChampVA which would be the backup to Medicare for me.

Please accept my sincere condolences on your husband’s passing.