Patrick Riley
Retired Army Lt. Colonel · 20+ years of service
Medicare and TRICARE For Life advisor
Read Patrick’s storyVeterans helping Veterans
Medicare, TRICARE For Life & VA benefits that finally work together.
Free, unhurried guidance for Veterans, military retirees, spouses, and caregivers approaching or over 65 — from Disabled Veterans who spent their careers inside military healthcare. We explain how your benefits fit together. You decide what to do about it.
- Free, with nothing to sign
- Veteran-owned
- Education before enrollment
- Veterans served
- 100+Veterans served
- Years healthcare experience
- 30+Years healthcare experience
- Response from a real person
- 1 dayResponse from a real person
- Consultations & briefings
- FreeConsultations & briefings
Veterans helping Veterans
Guidance from people who understand the decisions ahead
Patrick Riley and John Moore are Disabled Veterans who help fellow Veterans coordinate Medicare, TRICARE For Life, and VA benefits without pressure.
John Moore
Disabled Veteran · 7 years of service
Medicare and retirement planning advisor
Read John’s storyOrganizations we've worked with
Why Veterans trust us
Integration, not sales
Veterans often have several sources of health coverage. We explain how Medicare, TRICARE For Life, and VA benefits may coordinate — including the costs, limits, and coverage gaps to check before making a decision.
Integration, not sales
Clear, accurate, up-to-date guidance on how TRICARE For Life, Medicare, and VA health benefits fit together. We coordinate the benefits you already earned rather than pushing new products.
Understanding your out-of-pocket costs
Some Medicare Plans may help reduce your Part B cost, and for those eligible, TRICARE For Life picks up much of what Medicare leaves behind. We show you how it works out in your situation rather than promising a number.
Fast, human response
Leave a message or voicemail and a real person will respond within 24 hours.
Veteran-owned
Led by a Disabled Veteran and retired Army Lt. Colonel with deep roots in the San Antonio military community.
Our process
Three steps for Veterans turning 65
- 01
Listen & map
We review your TRICARE For Life, Medicare, and VA eligibility together, so nothing falls through a gap in coverage.
- 02
Build your pathway
We show you, in plain language, how a Medicare Plan, TRICARE For Life, and the VA can work together for your situation.
- 03
You decide
No pressure and no obligation. You choose what to do with what you have learned — appointments are only set when you ask for one.
Ready for your next step?
Talk to a fellow Veteran at no cost, or choose the specific help you need.
Call (210) 287-6976The three pieces
How Medicare, TRICARE For Life & VA benefits work together
Each one covers something the others don't. Coordinated properly, they close nearly every gap.
- 01
VA Healthcare
Service-connected and specialty care through your VA benefits, including at-home personal care services for Veterans who need assistance.
- 02
TRICARE For Life
Coordinates with Medicare for covered services. What you pay depends on the service, provider status, and the rules that apply to your care.
- 03
Medicare Plan
Access civilian doctors and hospitals through your primary care group and in-network specialists. You choose your primary care physician.
Real example
How proper integration saves you money
- TRICARE For Life covers most Medicare co-pays and deductibles.
- The VA covers service-connected care and at-home personal care services for eligible Veterans, in most cases at no cost.
- Prescription coverage typically comes through TRICARE For Life or the VA at little or no cost to Veterans.
- Many of the Medicare Plans available to Veterans carry no additional monthly premium beyond the Medicare Part B premium, which applies to everyone enrolled.
An example we see every week
Retired Army Veteran — Turning 65 with military benefits
Maria is approaching 65 and wants to keep using both civilian doctors and the military benefits she earned.
- She confirms when to enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B.
- She reviews how TRICARE For Life becomes secondary to Medicare.
- She compares her civilian care and prescription options before choosing a plan.
A clear path before enrollment
Instead of making separate Medicare, TRICARE For Life, and VA decisions without seeing how they affect one another.
An illustration of a situation we see often — not individualized advice or a guarantee of coverage. Your options depend on your eligibility, location, and the plans available to you.
Medicare Part B carries a premium, which applies to everyone enrolled. Some Medicare Plans may help reduce that cost, and for those eligible, TRICARE For Life can pick up much of what Medicare leaves. What you actually pay depends on your eligibility, the plan you choose, and the care you receive. Nothing here is a quote or a guarantee of coverage.
What we help with
Where Veterans usually need a hand
All of it free, all of it education first. Each one has a page explaining what's involved.
Medicare enrollment guidance
Getting Part A and Part B right the first time
Learn more →TRICARE For Life consulting
Understanding the benefit that fills your gaps
Learn more →VA benefits coordination
Making your VA care work with everything else
Learn more →Guidance for spouses and caregivers
Your spouse's coverage matters too
Learn more →
“Patrick and Veteran Medicare Solutions truly understand what Veterans go through. Transitioning my healthcare felt overwhelming, but their guidance made everything clear and stress-free.”
Common questions
Veteran Medicare questions we hear every week
Do I need Medicare Part B for TRICARE For Life?
Yes. If you are TRICARE-eligible, you need Medicare Parts A and B for TRICARE For Life. Medicare Advantage also requires both Parts A and B; a stand-alone Part D drug plan requires either Part A or Part B. Confirm any exceptions and enrollment timing with TRICARE before delaying Part B.
Can I use Medicare and VA benefits together?
Yes. You can use Medicare and VA benefits together — that includes seeing civilian doctors for your care while still using the VA. VA prescriptions are often available at little or no cost, though what you pay depends on your eligibility and priority group. We'll go through your own situation with you.
Do I need Medicare Part D if I use the VA pharmacy?
Generally no. If you get your prescriptions through the VA pharmacy or TRICARE For Life, both are considered creditable prescription drug coverage, so a separate Part D plan is usually unnecessary. We will walk through your specific prescriptions with you before you decide.
How quickly will you respond to my message?
A real person will respond within 24 hours after you leave a message or voicemail.
Ready to understand your options?
A free, no-obligation conversation with a fellow Veteran. No pressure, nothing to sign — just straight answers about the benefits you've earned.
Or call us directly — (210) 287-6976
Licensed insurance agent. Veteran Medicare Solutions is a private company. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the U.S. government, the federal Medicare program, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or the Department of Defense.