Medicare
Your guide to Medicare plan options that support veterans military benefits.
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What’s Inside
Today’s veterans
VA Healthcare
TRICARE for Life
Understanding Medicare
Cigna Healthcare Medicare plans
Contact and resources
Thank you for your service.
Now let’s make your health coverage as strong as it can be.
Cigna Healthcare Medicare Advantage plans are designed to complement the earned health coverage you may have as a veteran. Not replace it. And, if you don’t get veteran benefits, we can help with that too. Because when it comes to coverage and care, we’ve got your six.
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"2021 Survey of Veteran Enrollees' Health and Use of Health care." Table 3-1, % of enrollees reporting each type of coverage. VA.gov
You’re one of ~8.9 million Medicare-eligible U.S. veterans.
Are you getting the health care benefits you need?
Let’s look at what your fellow veterans are getting – or not getting – in the way of military benefits and Medicare coverage.
are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans
million+
~1.5
are eligible for Original Medicare
100%
don’t get VA Healthcare or TRICARE for Life
~65%
are enrolled in TRICARE for Life
~2.3
are enrolled in VA Healthcare
~3.2
Medicare Advantage plans offer all the coverage of Original Medicare plus benefits that may include prescription drug coverage.
Original Medicare covers Part A hospital costs and Part B medical costs. Need a refresher on Medicare basics?
Many veterans do not have TRICARE for Life, or are not enrolled in or don't use VA Healthcare.
TRICARE for Life is Medicare wrap-around coverage that includes medical and prescription benefits.
The largest health network for U.S. veterans. Coverage is based on priority group rank related to eligibility, service-connected conditions and income.
HOME
VA Healthcare is the largest health network for U.S. veterans.
Here’s what you should know:
VA Healthcare serves the needs of many veterans, but not all qualify - and services can be limited. If you're not enrolled in the VA, please enroll. The VA is funded by enrollees, and by enrolling you can increase funds and benefits for fellow veterans and their families.
Special Needs Plans
Added benefits at no added cost
$0 copays on many drugs
Part B Giveback program
$0 and low-cost options
Our Dual Special Needs Plans cover Medicare and Medicaid benefits in one plan, and you may qualify for Extra Help with your out-of-pocket drug costs.
Get home-delivered meals, caregiver support and allowances toward healthy groceries, fitness programs and over-the-counter items.
Our extensive drug list offers $0 copays on many Tier 1 and Tier 2 medications.
copays on many drugs
$0
Many plans offer a credit toward your monthly Part B premium by reducing the premium amount deducted from your Social Security check.
Giveback program
Part B
Many plans offer $0 or low plan premiums, $0 copays on many services and a low Maximum Out-of-Pocket (MOOP).
and low-cost options
Fewer surprises
More options
Added drug options
More coverage
$0 cost benefits
Coverage is set for the plan year, while VA Healthcare benefits vary based on federal funding and priority groups.
More choice of providers and health care facilities outside VA-covered providers and facilities.
Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan coverage may provide added options, compared to VA drug coverage.
Get all the coverage of Original Medicare plus added benefits that help close gaps in VA Healthcare.
Medicare Advantage plans have $0 plan premiums and $0 copay options while VA Healthcare costs vary based on priority group and service-connected conditions.
How do I enroll?
Do I need Medicare too?
How much does it cost?
What are priority groups?
Who’s eligible?
Learn more at the enrollment page of the Veterans Administration website.
Medicare Part A is needed. Part B is recommended by the VA. It is important to enroll for Medicare Part B as soon as you're eligible to avoid Part B late fees.
Costs are based on priority group and may vary based on service-related conditions, or income level that may qualify you for care at reduced or no cost.
Priority groups are based on eligibility, service-connected conditions and income. Group 1 is the highest and 8 is the lowest. Visit VA Priority Groups | Veterans Affairs to learn more.
Veterans who served at least 24 continuous months and reservists who completed full active duty are eligible. Exceptions apply due to early discharge, disability or hardship.
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Adding a Medicare Advantage plan to VA Healthcare makes coverage stronger.
Here’s how:
Medicare Advantage plans can help you get care and services that VA Healthcare doesn’t always offer. And you’ll have access to doctors and facilities beyond VA Healthcare providers.
If you don’t get VA Healthcare, you have options.
Cigna Healthcare Medicare Advantage plans are here for you.
Whether you don’t qualify for VA Healthcare or choose not to apply, it’s good to know that you may be able to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan.
“2021 Survey of Veteran Enrollees’ Health and Use of Health Care” – Data Findings Report, Executive Summary, VA.gov
Get all the coverage of Original Medicare plus added benefits such as: emotional health support, dental, vision, hearing, fitness, caregiver support and allowances toward pet care and home safety modification.
Enjoy $0 plan premiums, $0 copays for primary care, emotional health, telehealth and rich dental benefits with most plans. Some plans also include a Part B Giveback program to help reduce your premium payment.
Cigna Healthcare offers Courage Medicare Advantage-only HMO and PPO plans without prescription drug coverage. We also offer Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO plans with prescription drug coverage.
A Cigna Healthcare Courage Medicare Advantage plan pays your out-of-pocket health costs first, up to the amount covered by your specific plan. TRICARE for Life pays second, covering the remaining amounts.
Designed with veterans in mind.
Courage Medicare Advantage plans are made for you.
Strong benefits
Budget-friendly features
Plan options
What is TRICARE?
Adding MA to TRICARE
TRICARE benefit coordination
Cigna Courage plan
Our Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plans coordinate prescription coverage with TFL. Just show your military ID and Cigna Healthcare ID card at the pharmacy.
Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan claims are coordinated for you to give you a smooth, hassle-free experience. Note: TFL members are responsible for submitting medical claims to TFL for reimbursement.
Cigna Healthcare provides personal support to answer your questions about benefits, claims, costs, and help understanding how TFL and Medicare Advantage benefits work together.
Yes, our Medicare Advantage plans do coordinate with TRICARE for Life.
We’ll even handle coordination for you.
Medicare Advantage plans don’t replace TRICARE coverage, but they do pay first (unless you have Medicaid). You’ll never pay more than you would with TRICARE, plus you’ll gain valuable benefits not available through TRICARE.
Personal support
Claims management
Drug benefit coordination
Prescription drug benefits
Benefit coordination
Affordable options
More benefits
Our Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plans offer more ways to save through preferred retail pharmacies and Home Delivery options, including Express Scripts pharmacy.
We support you by filing and managing your pharmacy claims, so that you have a simpler, hassle-free experience.
Benefits may include $0 monthly premiums, $0 copays, and $0 coinsurance. And some plans offer the Part B Giveback program.
Get all the coverage of Original Medicare plus benefits that may include home-delivered meals, caregiver support and allowances toward healthy groceries, fitness programs and over-the-counter items.
Cigna Healthcare offers Medicare Advantage plans with or without prescription drug coverage. Both plan options complement TRICARE for Life coverage.
Add a Medicare Advantage plan to make your overall coverage stronger.
You can get more benefits without losing TRICARE for Life.
Where is it accepted?
What does it cost?
Medicare-eligible retirees of the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, Public Health Service Corps, and Oceanic and Atmospheric Officer Corps.
TFL has a $0 plan premium. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium to keep TFL active. Some drug copays, deductibles and coinsurance may apply.
TFL beneficiaries can seek care from any Medicare provider or military health facility, if space is available.
TRICARE members are auto-enrolled in TFL as soon as they enroll in Medicare Parts A and B.
If you’re TRICARE-eligible and have Medicare Part A and Part B, you’re automatically enrolled in TRICARE for Life (TFL).
Medicare-eligible TRICARE beneficiaries qualify, regardless of age or place of residence.
TRICARE for Life is a Medicare-wraparound program.
Smoother process
We’ll file your benefits and manage your pharmacy claims for you to help ensure a high-speed, low-drag experience.
All you need to do is show your military ID and Medicare Advantage ID card at the pharmacy. We’ll take care of the rest for you.
You’ve got us to run point when you have questions about your benefits, claims and costs.
You’ve got bigger things to do than figuring out how to file a pharmacy claim. That’s why we’ll take charge of managing your Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan with your TRICARE for Life coverage for you. While our Courage plans coordinate your prescription drug claims, you may still have to submit your own medical claims, unless your provider submits them for you.
You’ve got boots on the ground.
With the support of benefit coordination to handle the brass tacks.
Dental, vision and hearing Caregiver support Emotional health support for PTSD, TBI and substance use Allowances toward groceries, utilities, home safety modification and pet care
Added value
– – – –
Affordability
$0 monthly premiums $0 copays $0 deductibles $0 coinsurance Part B Giveback program
– – – – –
Our Courage Medicare Advantage-only plans complement military benefits, and our Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plans provide all-in-one coverage.
With or without prescription drug coverage.
Let’s zero in on plan benefits.
Medicare Supplement policies
Medicare Part D plans
Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plans
Courage Medicare Advantage-only plans
We also offer standalone Medicare Part D plans that add prescription drug coverage to your Original Medicare Part A and B.
Our all-in-one MAPD plans offer all the coverage of Original Medicare Part A and Part B plus prescription drug coverage that takes the place of a Part D plan. MAPD plans also offer additional benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t.
Our Courage plans complement VA Healthcare or TRICARE for Life coverage with benefits such as dental, fitness, emotional health, caregiver support and allowances toward home safety modification and even pet care. Courage plans are MA-only plans meaning they do not have prescription drug benefits.
Our range of Med Supp policies offer coverage that works with Original Medicare to cover health care costs during the coverage gap.
Whether you need coverage that complements VA Healthcare or TRICARE for Life, an all-in-one Medicare Advantage plan, a standalone prescription drug plan or Medicare Supplement policy, we’ve got you covered.
Cigna Healthcare is looking out for you.
Looking for more Medicare plan options?
Supplemental health insurance
Medicare Supplement Insurance
Medicaid coverage
In addition to Part C Medicare Advantage plans and Part D prescription drug plans, Cigna Healthcare offers a range of health plans to fit your life plans.
Know your plan options to make wiser choices.
We’ve got you covered across the board.
Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that provides health coverage to people with limited income, resources and certain disabilities.
These standalone policies help protect people from the out-of-pocket costs related to accidents, critical illnesses, hospital stays, expensive procedures such as dental work and more.
Often called Med Supp or Medigap, these policies help cover many costs that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, especially during the coverage gap. Prescription drug coverage is not included.
Part C
Part D
Part A
One half of Original Medicare, Part A is hospital insurance that covers hospital stays, home care, skilled nursing facility care and more.
Part D is prescription drug coverage offered through standalone plans or integrated in some Medicare Advantage plans offered by private insurers.
The second half of Original Medicare, Part B is medical insurance that covers primary care, lab work, durable medical equipment, specialty care, and more. Apply as soon as you’re eligible to avoid Part B late enrollment fees.
Part C is Medicare Advantage plan coverage offered by private insurers. Part C plans offer all the coverage of Original Medicare and may offer prescription drug coverage plus added benefits.
Medicare is federal health insurance for people aged 65 or older as well as younger people with certain disabilities. Different parts cover different services, and some parts are offered by private companies.
Need a refresher on Medicare basics?
Let’s break it down.
What is Medicare?
Other types of coverage
Legal
Thank you for taking this journey with Cigna Healthcare.
Ready to find the right plan and enroll?
We’re here to get you squared away. Talk with a Cigna Healthcare licensed benefit advisor specially trained in helping veterans or explore all the other ways we help you get the information you need.
CALL 1-855-721-1607 (TTY 711), Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., local time.
REQUEST a callback by providing your phone number here.
DOWNLOAD our free, no-obligation Veterans Brochure.
LEARN MORE about Cigna Healthcare plan options here.
Cigna Healthcare products and services are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of The Cigna Group. The Cigna names, logos, and marks, including THE CIGNA GROUP and CIGNA HEALTHCARE, are owned by Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. Special Supplemental Benefit for Chronically Ill (SSBCI) customers only. You must be diagnosed with a chronic condition, such as, but not limited to, diabetes, heart disease and hypertension to be eligible to receive this benefit. Subsidiaries of The Cigna Group contract with Medicare to offer Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO plans and Part D Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) in select states, and with select State Medicaid programs. Enrollment in a Cigna Healthcare product depends on contract renewal. 973862 © 2023 Cigna Healthcare Y0036_24_1016005_M
