How the two systems work side by side
| Where you get care | Who pays |
|---|---|
| VA medical center or VA clinic | VA, under your VA benefits and any VA copays |
| Non-VA provider VA authorized in advance (community care) | VA |
| Doctor or hospital you choose that takes Medicare | Medicare, with Medicare costs |
VA says you'll need to choose which benefits to use each time you get care. Medicare helps when you want a provider closer to home, a specialist outside VA, or care if your VA enrollment or priority group changes.
Why VA urges you to keep Part B
VA recommends signing up for Medicare as soon as you can. Its reasons: funding for VA health care could change, you may lose VA eligibility later, and the Part B late penalty gets bigger each year you wait. Part B costs $202.90 a month for most people in 2026. VA coverage doesn't give you a Special Enrollment Period for Part B.
VA health care in Oklahoma
- Oklahoma City VA Health Care System: the main campus at NE 13th Street and Kelley Avenue in Oklahoma City, with community clinics in towns including Ada, Altus, Ardmore, Blackwell, Enid, Norman, Shawnee, Stillwater and Yukon, plus partnership clinics at Fort Sill and Tinker Air Force Base.
- Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System: the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center in Muskogee, with clinics in Muskogee, Tulsa, Idabel, McAlester and Vinita, serving 25 eastern Oklahoma counties.
Using both well
- Sign up for Part A and Part B when you first qualify, even if you use VA today.
- Decide where you'll get most care. If you'll use non-VA doctors often, consider how Medigap, Medicare Advantage or Part D fits.
- Tell each provider which coverage you're using for that visit, and bring both cards.
Read our guide for veterans, TRICARE and military retirees. To compare Medicare options from the companies they work with alongside your VA care, you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent.
Related questions
TFL and Medicare
For military retirees.
Part D with TFL
Drug coverage choices.
Base pharmacies on Medicare
Tinker and Fort Sill.
Sources
- VA — VA health care and other insurance
- TRICARE — TRICARE For Life Handbook (August 2026), Veterans Affairs Providers
- VA Oklahoma City Health Care — History
- VA Eastern Oklahoma Health Care — About us
- 42 CFR §407.20 — Part B special enrollment period (group health plans)
More questions in this guide
- Can military retirees on Medicare use the pharmacy at Tinker AFB or Fort Sill?
- Do I need Medicare Part B to keep TRICARE For Life?
- Do I need Medicare Part D if I have TRICARE For Life?
- Does TRICARE For Life work with Medicare in Oklahoma?
Part of the guide: Veterans, Military Retirees and Medicare in Oklahoma · All questions
Frequently asked questions
Does VA drug coverage count for Part D?
Yes. VA prescription coverage is creditable, so you can delay Part D without a late penalty. If you lose VA coverage, you can join a Part D plan without a penalty within 63 days. A Part D plan lets you fill prescriptions from non-VA doctors at local pharmacies.
Will Medicare pay my VA copays?
No. Medicare doesn't pay for care you get from VA. VA says it doesn't bill Medicare or Medicaid, though it may bill a Medicare supplement policy for covered services.
I have TRICARE For Life too. Who pays at the VA?
For VA care not related to a service-connected condition, TFL pays as the second payer, but only up to 20% of the TRICARE-allowable amount, so you could owe the rest. The TFL Handbook says your lowest-cost option is usually a provider who takes Medicare.
Medicare in your Oklahoma county
Plans, local agents and help, county by county: Oklahoma · Tulsa · Cleveland · Canadian · Comanche · Rogers · Wagoner · Payne · Pottawatomie · Creek · Muskogee · Garfield · Grady · Washington · Logan · Bryan · Le Flore · Carter · Cherokee · McClain · All 77 counties →