Maybe you can or someone else here answer a question for me: I am 51 and use the Veterans Affairs medical system. When I turn 65, do I have to start using Medicare, or can I keep using VA?
I have a brother-in-law who is retired military and when he turned 65 I think he was given the normal choices, he could continue to use retirement Tricare (primary) as his first choice with Medicare as secondary. He and my sister chose Tricare as Primary. (they say Tricare is continuously raising cost etc.)
As I understand it, if not retired military and currently depend on the VA for healthcare, you will still have to enter into Medicare for Part A (hospitalization) which you have already paid for. You can choose to forego Part B and not have the monthly SS deduction (payment) and still use VA to cover for doctors, tests etc. (have a neighbor who does this, but take note of below, for he once really had to pay through the nose for such)
But, if you have an emergency, have to see a doctor or other outpatient services and no VA hospital is immediately available, you will be stuck with the full charges for treatment.
You might want to Google any questions may have for more accurate and up to date answers.