What happens if a veteran needs medical care on vacation?
I am a disabled veteran, enrolled in both parts of Medicare. I plan to visit my children in California. What happens if I need medical care while on vacation?
As a veteran, if you need emergency care, you can go to either a Veteran Affair’s (VA) facility or a Medicare hospital.
For routine or non-emergency care, the VA facility would be the better option, but you would be subject to VA prioritization requirements. Because you have Medicare, Parts A and B, you could also go to a Medicare-certified hospital or clinic. However, you would be responsible for 20% of the outpatient or physician bills and, for hospitalizations, the deductible (which is $1,600 in 2023).
Last updated: 12-06-2022