Veteran benefits: what to look into
Benefits you earned, help that is free to apply for, and one decision about Medicare that is worth getting right before you make it.
Before you pay anyone to help with a claim
Accredited Veterans Service Organizations and county Veteran Service Officers help with VA claims at no cost. Only VA-accredited representatives may assist with a claim, and there are firms charging veterans substantial fees for work that is available free.
American Senior Choices is not VA-accredited and cannot help with a VA claim. We will point you at the people who can. Check anybody's accreditation before paying them anything.
The one to read first
If you use VA care and have Medicare, or are deciding about Medicare, start here. It is the decision with the most expensive downside if it goes wrong.
What is worth asking about
- VA health care. Eligibility rules have changed more than once in recent years. A decision from a while back may not reflect where things stand now.
- Veterans Pension. A needs-based monthly benefit for certain wartime veterans. It is not an income-only test — service, age or disability, income and net worth all matter.
- Aid and Attendance, and Housebound. Additions to a Veterans Pension for people who need help with daily activities or are largely confined to home. More on Aid and Attendance.
- Caregiver support. The VA runs programmes for family caregivers, and they are under-used.
- Everything on the civilian side too. VA benefits do not disqualify you from Apple Health, a Medicare Savings Program or Extra Help. Those are separate determinations and worth applying for on their own.
VA Pension (and Aid and Attendance)
Wartime veterans and surviving spouses with limited income who meet the service and other requirements.
What it can help with
- A monthly needs-based payment
- Aid and Attendance can add to that payment for those who need help with daily activities
- Housebound benefits for those substantially confined to home
- This is not an income-only test. Service dates, age or disability, income and net worth all matter.
- Aid and Attendance is an addition to VA Pension, not a separate cheque, and it requires a care need.
- For help filing a claim, use the VA or an accredited Veterans Service Organization. American Senior Choices is not accredited to represent VA claims and cannot file one for you.
- Receiving a Veterans or Survivors Pension can also make you eligible for the Lifeline phone and internet discount.
Official source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · Last reviewed 2026-08-30
Medicare and VA Coverage Together
Veterans who use VA health care and also have, or are deciding about, Medicare.
What it can help with
- Understanding what each system does and does not cover
- Why keeping Medicare can matter for care outside the VA
- Medicare and VA health benefits are separate systems. VA care generally does not cover you at non-VA providers.
- Do not drop Medicare because you use the VA without understanding what that means for emergencies and non-VA care.
Official source: Medicare.gov · Last reviewed 2026-08-30
Lifeline Phone and Internet Discount
Households with limited income, or on certain benefit programs.
What it can help with
- A monthly discount toward qualifying phone or broadband service
Eligibility limits change periodically. Please verify the current limits with the program before applying.
- Baseline from resource-center brief, 2026-08-30. Not yet verified.
- You can also qualify through Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, or a Veterans or Survivors Pension.
- Lifeline is not the Affordable Connectivity Program, which ended. They are different.
- Voice service and Tribal benefits follow different rules.
Official source: USAC Lifeline Support · Last reviewed 2026-08-30
Where to get free help filing
- Your county Veteran Service Officer. Every Washington county has one. They know the local landscape and they do not charge.
- An accredited Veterans Service Organization — the VA maintains a searchable list of accredited representatives.
- The Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs for state-level benefits and programmes.
Questions people actually ask
Should I pay someone to help with my VA claim?
Be very careful here. Accredited Veterans Service Organizations help with claims for free, and county Veteran Service Officers do too. Only VA-accredited representatives may assist with claims, and there are firms charging veterans large fees for help that is available at no cost. Check accreditation before paying anybody anything.
I use the VA for everything. Do I still need Medicare?
Think hard before dropping any part of Medicare. VA care generally covers you at VA facilities — not at a community hospital in an emergency, and not at a private specialist. Dropping Part B and re-enrolling later can also mean a permanent penalty. There is a full page on this.
Can I get VA benefits and Medicaid?
They are separate determinations. Receiving something from the VA does not disqualify you from Apple Health, a Medicare Savings Program or Extra Help, and being turned down for one says nothing about the others. Apply for each on its own merits.
I was told I'm not eligible for VA health care. Is that final?
Eligibility rules have changed more than once in recent years, and a decision from years ago may not reflect where things stand now. If it has been a while, it is worth asking again.
Does a Veterans Pension help with anything else?
Yes, and this gets missed. Receiving a Veterans or Survivors Pension is a qualifying route into the Lifeline phone and internet discount.
Official sources
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- VA — Veterans Pension
- Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs
Related
- Medicare and VA coverage together
- VA Aid and Attendance
- Lifeline phone and internet discount
- What help should I check?
Sorting out Medicare alongside VA care
This is the part we can actually help with. Tim can review the plans he represents against how you use the VA, your non-VA doctors, your prescriptions and where you would want to be treated in an emergency.
Talk With Tim About Medicare: (360) 472-4261This line is recorded, as Medicare requires for plan conversations.
Last reviewed September 2026. American Senior Choices is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, is not VA-accredited, and cannot represent anyone on a VA claim. Eligibility for VA benefits is determined by the VA.
Disclaimer: American Senior Choices is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 5 organizations which offer 33 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.