Best Medicare Plans for Veterans
AARP/UnitedHealthcare sells the best Medicare Supplement plan for veterans, while Humana has the best Medicare Advantage plan.
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Best Medicare for veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and TRICARE offer good health insurance coverage to veterans. But the VA recommends that veterans also apply for and keep Medicare coverage. Having Medicare lets you get care from more doctors and hospitals. Medicare also provides coverage if you lose your VA benefits for any reason.
Best Medicare options for veterans
AARP/UnitedHealthcare, Humana and Wellcare sell the best Medicare options for veterans.
Veterans often have government-funded health insurance options through the VA or TRICARE. Having Medicare in addition to those coverages can provide other benefits, including access to more doctors and hospitals.
3 options for Medicare coverage
Medicare Supplement: A Medicare Supplement plan, also called a Medigap plan, gives you an added layer of coverage on top of your Original Medicare. Medigap plans cover most of the medical costs that Original Medicare doesn't.
Medicare Part D: Part D pays for prescription medications. Getting Part D and Medigap on top of Original Medicare helps you keep your medical bills low. You can only get a Part D plan if you have Original Medicare; you can't pair Part D with Medicare Advantage plans.
Medicare Advantage: A Medicare Advantage plan rolls your Original Medicare into one plan with added benefits, like hearing and vision coverage. Most plans also cover prescription medications. Medicare Advantage plans are popular, but they limit the doctors you can see.
Best Medicare Supplement plan for veterans: AARP/UnitedHealthcare
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Editor rating
- Average monthly rate: $177
Plan G from AARP gives you good coverage and extra perks.
Pros
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Cheaper-than-average rates
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Long list of extra perks
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Drasically reduces your medical bills
Cons
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AARP membership required
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Average customer satisfaction
AARP/UnitedHealthcare offers a Medicare Supplement Plan G with benefits that make it a good choice for veterans. Plan G is the best Medicare Supplement plan for veterans and most people in general because of its good coverage. AARP/UnitedHealthcare's Plan G + Wellness Extras is a good choice to keep your health care expenses low.
You can buy a Medicare Supplement plan, also called a Medigap plan, along with Original Medicare (Parts A and B). Medigap coverage can drastically reduce what you pay for health care. Buying Original Medicare and a Medicare Supplement plan is usually a better option if you have expensive or frequent health care needs, or you want the peace of mind that you have good coverage if you deal with health issues in the future. Remember to compare Medigap's cost versus coverage to find the best deal for your situation.
Medigap Plan G covers the costs for skilled nursing facilities and Medicare Part A hospice care, which can be important insurance for veterans as they age. On average, Plan G from AARP/UnitedHealthcare costs $177 per month.
AARP/UnitedHealthcare takes the coverage further by adding the Wellness Extras package. You'll get the same Part G coverage as well as discounts on vision, dental and hearing care. The plan includes coverage for a gym membership, too.
Best Medicare Part D for veterans: Wellcare
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Editor rating:
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Average monthly rate: $8
Average rate is for a Medicare Part D plan from Wellcare.
Wellcare Part D plans are cheap and come with great service.
Pros
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Cheap rates
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Good coverage and service
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Available everywhere
Cons
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High deductibles
If you want a separate Part D plan to pay for your prescriptions, Wellcare is a good option. Its plans are cheap everywhere in the country, and the company has good coverage and service, too.
Wellcare sells two Part D plans:
- Wellcare Value Script: This is the cheapest Part D plan from Wellcare. It costs an average of $7 per month. It's a good option for veterans who don't take many prescriptions but still want drug coverage.
- Wellcare Classic: The Classic plan costs an average of $9 per month. If you qualify for Extra Help, you might not have any monthly rate for a Wellcare Classic plan.
Wellcare previously offered a third Part D plan, called Wellcare Medicare Rx Value Plus: This plan is being discontinued as of Jan. 1, 2026. Anyone in the Rx Value Plus plan will be moved to the Value Script plan, unless they choose the Classic option by Dec. 7, 2025.
Remember you can't get a Part D plan if you choose Medicare Advantage. If you want the best coverage, buy a Medigap plan and pair it with a Part D plan for your prescriptions.
Best Medicare Advantage plan for veterans: Humana
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Editor rating:
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Average monthly rate: $22
Average rate is for a Humana Medicare Advantage plan.
Humana sells Medicare Advantage plans built for veterans, called "Honor" plans.
Pros
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Can see VA or civilian doctors
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Includes mental health coverage
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May lower your Part B rate
Cons
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High out-of-pocket maximum
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Honor plans are only available in 9 states
The Humana Honor Giveback with Rx plan combines the different Medicare parts into one policy and is the best Medicare Advantage plan for veterans. It gives you the flexibility to choose between VA and civilian health care providers and has a $0 monthly rate. The plan can also help you save on the cost of your Medicare Part B coverage.
Anyone who is eligible for Medicare can sign up for Humana's Medicare Advantage Honor plan, but veterans may find its features especially appealing. All of the Humana Honor plans are recommended by USAA, but the two companies partnered to design the Honor Giveback with Rx plan for 2023.
The plan includes free visits to your primary care doctor as long as they're inside the plan's network. If you go to a primary care doctor outside the plan's network, you'll pay 30% of the total cost of the visit. You'll pay a $45 copay for specialists, although you'll pay part of the total cost if you go out of the plan's network.
You won't pay anything for preferred generic drugs, also called Tier 1 drugs, and generic drugs, called Tier 2, because the plan has a $0 copay for both. In some states, Tier 3 medications also have a $0 copay. You'll usually pay the full price for brand name or specialty drugs until you reach the drug deductible, which averages about $350.
The VA also provides prescription drug coverage. Veterans with the most pressing health care needs or those who have a Medal of Honor are in "Priority group 1" and generally do not pay for prescription drugs. If you're in Priority group 2 through 8, you'll pay a medication copay for non-service-related conditions. If you need medication based on a service-related issue, your medication may be free.
You'll also have access to annual vision, dental and hearing care (although you may pay for more involved services), SilverSneakers and a meal delivery service. The Honor with Rx plan also includes good mental health benefits, which can be important for veterans. The plan includes coverage for therapy both in a hospital and in a more traditional therapy office.
However, what you pay for your health care with the Honor with Rx plan can be high. Depending on where you live, you could pay up to $9,150 of your medical bills each year.
And you can only get the Humana Honor with Rx plan in 9 states. Humana's regular Honor Medicare Advantage plans are more widely available, but they don't include coverage for prescriptions. The only Honor plan with drug coverage is the Honor Giveback with Rx.
Compare Medicare Plans in Your Area
VA benefits vs. Original Medicare
Even if you have VA benefits, having Medicare is a good idea.
The VA encourages veterans to apply for Medicare coverage when they first become eligible to avoid late enrollment fees. Having both VA and Medicare coverage has benefits.
Allows you to get care at VA and non-VA facilities
Provides backup coverage if you lose VA benefits for any reason
Can lower your out-of-pocket health costs
But the VA does not work with Medicare. You have to decide which coverage to use when you get care. Your VA benefits can only be used at VA doctors and hospitals. Original Medicare is widely accepted at non-VA health care offices, but it doesn't hurt to confirm before you go to a doctor.
You'll also be responsible for paying monthly Medicare rates, which depend on the type of coverage you choose. In 2026, most people pay $202.90 per month for Medicare Part B, and the fee is typically deducted from Social Security benefits. If you buy a Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement or Medicare Part D policy, you'll also pay the monthly rate for that plan.
TRICARE for Life and Medicare
TRICARE is a health care program for certain military personnel and their families.
There are several coverage types available, but TRICARE for Life is coverage that works with Medicare Parts A and B.
If you have Medicare Parts A and B and are also eligible for TRICARE, you're automatically enrolled in TRICARE for Life. Unlike Medicare and VA benefits, which work separately, TRICARE for Life works with your Medicare benefits. If you need health care, your provider will file a claim with Medicare. For any costs that Medicare doesn't pay, a claim will be filed with TRICARE for Life.
Typically, you won't have any costs for services that are covered by both TRICARE for Life and Medicare. For retired and inactive service members within the United States, Medicare will usually pay first and TRICARE for Life will pay the rest. If you're out of the country, where Medicare coverage isn't valid, TRICARE becomes your primary coverage. You'll then be responsible for paying the TRICARE deductible, as well as any copays and coinsurance amounts.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Medicare for veterans?
The best Medicare option for most veterans is to pair a Medicare Supplement Plan G from AARP/UnitedHealthcare with Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and a Part D plan from Wellcare for drug coverage. This option gives you the best coverage and means you'll pay very little for most of your medical care. If you want a bundled plan, a Medicare Advantage plan from Humana — specifically one of the company's Honor plans, which are designed specifically for veterans. However, with a Medicare Advantage plan, you could run into issues with finding doctors in the network, especially if you live in a rural area.
Do I need health insurance if I have VA benefits?
It's a good idea to get health insurance or Medicare if you have VA benefits, although you don't have to. Both private health insurance and Medicare let you to get coverage at non-VA facilities, which helps you get care faster and more conveniently. And if you lose your VA benefits or if VA funding is cut, having either health insurance or Medicare means you still have medical coverage.
Is Medicare and TRICARE for Life enough coverage?
Having both Medicare and TRICARE for Life is usually enough coverage for most people. However, TRICARE for Life only covers Medicare-eligible people and doesn't cover family members or spouses like other TRICARE programs. You may need to find other coverage for dependents.
Can the VA be secondary insurance?
VA benefits and Medicare won't usually pay for the same things, so neither is primary or secondary insurance. VA benefits will pay for medical care at VA-approved locations, while Medicare will pay for services elsewhere.
Methodology and sources
Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D costs for 2026 are from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) public use files (PUFs). Medicare Advantage costs are based on plans that include prescription drug coverage. Our analysis excludes Part B-only plans, employer-sponsored plans, Special Needs Plans (SNPs), PACE plans, sanctioned plans and Health Care Prepayment Plans (HCPPs). Medicare Part D costs exclude sanctioned plans and employer-sponsored plans.
Medicare Supplement rates, which are for a 65-year-old woman who does not smoke, are based on data from private insurance companies. The rates are for a woman who signed up when she was first eligible, when health issues don't count toward monthly costs.
Medicare star ratings are from publicly available CMS files.
Our experts chose the best Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement and Part D plans based on features that meet the needs of veterans, including the ease of getting medical care, the total cost of prescription drugs and the total out-of-pocket cost of health care services. We also reviewed average rates and availability.
Other sources include the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and TRICARE.
About the Author
Insurance Writer
Cate Deventer is a ValuePenguin writer who specializes in health insurance, Medicare, auto and home insurance. She's been a licensed insurance agent since 2011.
She started her insurance career working as a customer service agent for State Farm. She later moved to an independent agency, where she worked with several insurance companies and hundreds of clients. She quoted policies, filed claims and answered insurance questions. In 2021, she pivoted her career and began writing about insurance for Bankrate. She moved to ValuePenguin in 2023 and began writing about health insurance and Medicare.
Cate has a passion for helping readers choose insurance to fit their needs. She enjoys knowing that her research and knowledge help people choose insurance products that make a positive difference in their lives.
How insurance helped Cate
Cate used her health insurance knowledge to navigate a surgery in 2023. Understanding how her policy worked let her focus on recovery instead of worrying about bills.
Expertise
- Health insurance
- Medicare & Medicaid
- Auto insurance
- Home insurance
- Life insurance
Credentials
- Licensed Life, Accident & Health Insurance Agent
- Licensed Property & Casualty Insurance Agent
Referenced by
- CBS
- NBC
- Wall Street Journal
Education
- BA, Theatre, Purdue University
- BA, English, Indiana University
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