Medicare for the Record Podcast

Can veterans have Medicare Advantage plans with VA benefits?

November 10, 2026

If you're a veteran approaching Medicare eligibility, you may wonder whether you can keep your VA health benefits and still enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. The answer is yes—and adding Medicare Advantage could expand your access to care, give you benefits like dental, vision, and hearing coverage, and even put money back in your Social Security check.

What you’ll learn:

In this episode of “Medicare for the Record,” Stacy Smith and Patrice King Brown are joined by Joe Lepez, UPMC for Life Benefits Advisor, who explains how VA benefits, TRICARE For Life, and CHAMPVA work alongside Medicare. He covers two plans built specifically for veterans—the UPMC for Life PPO Salute and HMO NoRx—and breaks down what a Medicare Part B premium buyback means for your monthly costs.

Related to this Episode:

"Medicare for the Record Podcast" is available wherever you enjoy podcasts.

Guest Speaker

Joe Lepez

UPMC for Life Benefits Advisor

Joe Lepez is a UPMC for Life Benefits Advisor with more than 10 years of experience at UPMC Health Plan. He began his career at UPMC as a concierge in Medicare customer service before becoming a licensed Medicare Advisor. Before joining UPMC, Joe served as a member of the U.S. Air Force for 10 years. During his military career, he worked as an avionics technician supporting Special Operations AC-130 aircraft. He was stationed in Europe, Panama, and Florida, and was deployed to the Middle East several times. Joe brings his military experience and extensive Medicare knowledge to his work, helping members understand their coverage options. His firsthand experience as a veteran also gives him a unique perspective when discussing Medicare options for veterans. 

More Episodes

You are leaving our site
You are leaving the UPMC for Life Medicare Advantage Plan website.