Doctor talking to man

Veterans, thank you for your commitment and service so a grateful country may enjoy the freedoms we have come to value each day. That being said, you are encouraged to review this information because it may make a world of difference for you and your health care options.

An emergency room visit comes with hefty fees, but sometimes, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) denies the claim. In other cases, the VA’s answers may be different from what you were told a few days earlier. As a Navy veteran, I have experienced similar instances where an answer from one person at the VA may be the opposite or intangible compared to the answer given by another person.

Consider the veteran that has received emergency care from St. Charles Health System in Bend and is now being billed because the VA denied his claim. He (or the hospital) failed to contact the VA within the allotted 48-hour time frame, or a VA representative determined no compensation was necessary.

This would have warranted a trip to Roseburg or Portland for medical treatment. And, while filing appeal after appeal, the veteran starts receiving calls from collection agencies. The result? His credit is negatively impacted.

Or consider the family of a veteran who chose to have his care done at a local hospital, assuming it would be paid for by the VA. He had just recently disenrolled from Medicare Part B thinking that his health care expenses would be taken care of. In the end, the VA determined the situation was not as serious as originally thought, and the veteran and his family are stuck with the hefty bill.

Now, consider the possibility that both of the above veterans were enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B. With Medicare Part B in hand, the veteran can seek medical services from a local clinic or hospital and not try to make a difficult drive in bad weather to get to the VA facilities. He would also feel secure about how his care would be paid for.

Many veterans find themselves on a fixed monthly income that leaves little left after the necessities are paid. They assume they cannot afford Medicare Part B’s monthly premium of $105. But did you know Oregon could pay your Part B premium if your monthly income falls below a specific amount? It is known as the Medicare Savings Plan. Depending on your income level, household size and assets, you could get Part B paid, as well as possibly the coinsurance and deductibles.

The agency that provides the applications for this program is the local senior and disability services office for your county.

If it is not a life-threatening emergency, in most cases the VA will not pay your claim at non-VA facilities. Furthermore, if you do not have good transportation or someone to help you day and night for a trip to the nearest VA hospital, it is often difficult to get the care needed in a time of crisis.

A benefit of having Medicare Part B is building a relationship with a doctor in your local area in addition to saving you the cost of making the trip to the VA clinic.

The Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) program can help decipher all the ins and outs of Medicare Part B and its benefits. We take the time to answer all your questions, inform you of what options would best serve your specific need(s), and how to get started. Our service is free, and our ultimate goal is to help you save money — and alleviate any worries — in the future.

Give us a call at 1-800-722-4134. We will stay on the phone for as long as it takes to address what is important to you.

After all, having all the information to make an informed decision is good sound strategy.