VA drug coverage is considered creditable coverage [Capital (Annapolis, MD)]

I am an 86-year-old veteran who has used the VA system for my medicines. It is becoming more and more difficult for me to drive to the VA facilities and I am considering enrolling in Part D. I do have Medicare Part A and B and my local doctor told me I could use the local pharmacy if I had Part D. This would be a big help. When and how do I enroll in Part D and will I have a penalty?

First and foremost, thank you for your military service to our county. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) system does a fine job of providing medicines, at a low cost, to our veterans. However, as you state, sometimes the convenience of using a local pharmacy makes a veteran consider enrolling in a Medicare Part D plan. To enroll in Part D, simply call 1-800-Medicare before Dec. 7. Give the customer service representative a list of the medicines you take. The customer service representative will help you find the best drug plan based on your medicines. You may compare the plans yourself if you have a computer. Simply visit www.medicare.gov and click on Compare Health and Drug Plans.

You would not incur a penalty for enrolling in Medicare Part D since the VA drug coverage is considered creditable drug coverage. You will need to contact your local VA office and request a letter that states the date of your enrollment into the VA health care benefit's program. You will need to provide this letter to the Part D drug plan you select in order to avoid a late-enrollment penalty.

My mother lives in Florida and has a Medicare Advantage Plan. She will be visiting us for the holidays (Thanksgiving through the New Year). Will she have health insurance while she is here in Maryland?

Medicare Advantage Plans have service areas. Service areas are the geographical area where a plan operates. A person enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan can receive routine care, emergency care, and urgent care from contracted providers within their service area.

When a person travels outside their service area, they are covered for emergency and urgent care but not necessarily for routine care. Your mother would be advised to contact her Medicare Advantage Plan to discuss the particulars of her coverage outside of her plan's service area. I had a flu shot last year and Medicare paid. Will Medicare cover another flu shot this year?

Medicare Part B will cover an annual flu shot. Information about this service is available on www.medicare.gov. Or you may call 1- 800-Medicare for more information about this and other preventive services.

Note to readers

Federal law has changed the Medicare Open Enrollment dates. Medicare Part D (drug benefit) and Part C (Medicare Advantage) Open Enrollment runs from Oct. 15 until Dec. 7.

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Amy Rubino is the director of the Senior Health Insurance Assistance Program for the Anne Arundel County. Department of Aging and Disabilities. You can reach SHIP at 410-222-4464 or shipprogram@aacounty.org.