The Medicare Advantage Freedom Blue PPO Valor Plan with greater choice

As a Veteran, you've earned access to health care through Veterans Affairs (VA) or TRICARE. However, did you realize you can also improve your coverage with a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan?

Having a Medicare Advantage plan supplements your current coverage with TRICARE by giving you more options, such as dental, vision and hearing. Our Medicare Advantage Freedom Blue PPO Valor plan can help pay for services not completely covered through your existing Veterans Affairs (VA) health benefits and/or TRICARE benefits, filling the gaps in your coverage.

Learn how Veterans Affairs, TRICARE for Life and Medicare Advantage Plans work together. Get information about coverage that comes with our Blue Valor PPO, and find out what to do if you need additional drug coverage and how to enroll.

Watch our Medicare Advantage educational video*  to learn more about Medicare Advantage plans for veterans.

Download our brochure  to learn how your existing VA coverage works with Medicare Advantage plans.

What you need to know about eligibility

As a veteran, your coverage under TRICARE ends once you become eligible for Medicare. TRICARE is health insurance for active and retired military personnel and their families. TRICARE for Life  is offered through the VA, but is supplemental to Medicare coverage. When you enroll in Original Medicare (Part A and B), TRICARE will automatically switch to TRICARE For Life (TFL).

That means Medicare is your primary insurance and covers what’s owed on your bill first. Meanwhile, TFL reduces or eliminates out-of-pocket costs for deductibles, coinsurance and copayments.

Confirm your eligibility for VA benefits and Tricare for Life at the Veterans Affairs eBenefits website..

Why choose a Medicare Advantage plan

Medicare Advantage plans typically offer extra benefits for veterans, not included in Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and B). Medicare Advantage plans for veterans replace Original Medicare benefits. Medicare Part C is more commonly referred to as Medicare Advantage. When you purchase one of these Medicare Advantage plans, they replace your Original Medicare plan and offer additional coverage.

The VA encourages veterans  to sign up for Medicare to supplement their VA and TRICARE benefits for many reasons including:

• - With Medicare, you're covered for non-VA hospital or doctor visits giving you a larger network to choose from.
• - The VA encourages you to get a health care plan so you have more options for coverage.

How VA benefits and TRICARE work with Medicare Advantage Plans

Blue Valor and TRICARE for Life give you more coverage, with greater options and flexibility, than just VA health benefits alone. You can be enrolled in benefits through VA and Medicare at the same time. Once you have Medicare Parts A and B (also called Original Medicare), TRICARE for Life coverage becomes automatic. It works and combines with Blue Valor to give you more coverage options.

If TRICARE for Life doesn't cover the services you need, a Medicare Advantage Plan can provide additional coverage and pay those remaining costs, filling in any coverage gaps.

When you have Medicare Advantage and TRICARE for Life, you can visit any in-network provider. Here’s how the two can work together to pay your health care costs:

• - The provider (for example, a doctor, specialist or hospital) will file your claim(s) with Medicare Advantage.
• - Medicare Advantage will then pay a portion and send the remaining claim to TRICARE for Life to process.

What's covered with Blue Valor

Blue Valor adds extra coverage for services that TRICARE for Life and/or the VA may not cover, including:

• - Local and nationwide access to a large network of doctors and hospitals.
• - Routine and extensive dental, vision and hearing services.
• - Low copays for specialists and mental health services.
• - $0 premiums for in-network primary care visits.
• - Money back each month in your Social Security check.
• - Over-the-counter (OTC) allowances for generic and brand-name items.  
• - Access to fitness benefits.

You'll also get the benefit of local customer service, talking to someone in your area when you have questions or need help.

Which Highmark Medicare Advantage plan is right for you?

For veterans who require access to affordable drug coverage outside of their TRICARE or VA coverage, Highmark offers a wide range of Medicare Advantage plans with Part D coverage, too. Plus, Highmark Medicare Advantage plans include coverage for things VA and TRICARE For Life may not cover, like hearing, vision, and allowances for over-the-counter health care items.

Depending on your needs, you may want a Medicare Advantage plan that provides prescription drug coverage. Highmark offers $0 Medicare Advantage plans (Part D) that offer additional benefits, including:

• - A large network of retail pharmacies.
• - The nation's largest network of doctors and hospitals.
• - More savings on your drug costs.

To learn more about Medicare Advantage plans and other products we offer, talk to a Licensed Medicare Advisor..

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