Introduction
You’ve navigated complex military systems throughout your career. You understand regulations, procedures, and the importance of getting things right the first time. But Medicare feels different, and for good reason: the stakes are your healthcare and financial security for the rest of your life.
The frustration multiplies when everyone seems to have different advice. The person at the VA tells you one thing. Your buddy at the VFW swears by something completely different. Even well-meaning doctors at the VA give out bad advice because they are doctors, not experts with Medicare. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking on enrollment deadlines, and the specter of lifetime penalties hangs over your head.
Miss a critical step, and you could face Medicare Part B late enrollment penalties that increase your premiums by 10% for each 12-month period you were eligible but didn’t enroll. These penalties last for as long as you have Medicare Part B (Source: Medicare.gov, https://www.medicare.gov/basics/costs/medicare-costs/avoid-penalties). You could also forfeit Medicare Part B premium refunds that Medicare Advantage plans provide and that we regularly help veterans claim. My dad Wallace Duncan, a Vietnam-era veteran, receives $175 monthly back from his Medicare Advantage plan, and our average client gets $110 monthly in Part B premium refunds through their Medicare Advantage plans.
Even the VA itself encourages veterans to sign up for Medicare, warning that “funding for VA health care could change in the future” and emphasizing the need for backup coverage options (Source: VA.gov, https://www.va.gov/health-care/about-va-health-benefits/va-health-care-and-other-insurance/).
The Problem with “One-Size-Fits-All” Medicare Advice
Most Medicare advisors have never worked exclusively with veterans, and that creates a dangerous knowledge gap. They don’t understand when Medicare works together with military benefits and when it doesn’t. For example, VA healthcare doesn’t count as creditable coverage for Medicare Part B, which means delaying Medicare Part B enrollment while relying only on VA benefits can result in lifetime penalties (Source: VA.gov, https://www.va.gov/health-care/about-va-health-benefits/va-health-care-and-other-insurance/). These advisors also don’t understand VA priority groups, TRICARE integration, or service-connected disabilities.
Consider the parallel. You wouldn’t ask a Navy SEAL to plan an Air Force mission, just like you wouldn’t ask an Air Force strategist to lead underwater demolition. Both are elite military professionals, but their expertise is mission-specific. So why would you go to a Medicare advisor who doesn’t specialize in veteran issues when you need someone who understands your unique situation?
Who I Am and Why I Wrote This Field Guide
I’m Christopher Duncan, a Certified Medicare Insurance Planner™ and Retirement Income Certified Professional® with nearly 20 years of Medicare experience. Our specialists work exclusively with veterans, which is why I trademarked the phrase We Speak Veteran™. This isn’t just marketing; it’s the foundation of everything we do. While other Medicare advisors try to serve everyone, we’ve spent years learning exactly how Medicare works with VA benefits, TRICARE for Life, and the unique situations veterans face.
Our Promise to Every Veteran
Here’s something we’ve never put in writing before, but it guides every recommendation we make. We treat each veteran as if they were our own parents. We don’t make any recommendations that we wouldn’t put our own parents in if they lived in your ZIP code.
This isn’t just a business philosophy. It’s personal. My dad Wallace is one of our clients. Richard Fochtman, one of my best friends and a 100% disabled Vietnam veteran (read more about him in the acknowledgments), trusts us with his Medicare decisions too. Along with thousands of veterans, they rely on us because they know one thing. Every day, I apply the same standards to your Medicare decisions that I use for the people closest to me. When Jeff, Dana, and I analyze plans, we ask ourselves one question: “Would we recommend this to our own family?”
This commitment runs deep because we’ve all experienced the weight of these healthcare decisions with people we love. We’ve seen what happens when Medicare advice goes wrong, and we’ve witnessed the relief that comes from getting it right. That’s why we sometimes tell veterans things they don’t want to hear. If a plan isn’t right for you, we’ll say so, even if it means losing a potential enrollment. If Original Medicare makes more sense for your specific situation, that’s what we’ll recommend. Your trust matters more than any single transaction.
This confusion you’re experiencing, this overwhelming sense of “I should know this, but I don’t,” is exactly why I felt compelled to write this field guide. Over the past five years alone, we have guided thousands of veterans through Medicare decisions, and I’ve seen the same dangerous misconceptions repeated over and over again.
I’ve watched accomplished veterans delay Medicare enrollment, thinking their VA coverage was enough, only to get hit with lifetime penalties that cost them tens of thousands of dollars. I’ve seen military retirees unknowingly cancel their TRICARE for Life benefits because they didn’t understand Medicare’s requirements. And I’ve met countless veterans who had never heard that Medicare Advantage plans can provide Medicare Part B premium refunds because their advisor never mentioned they existed.
Take my dad, Wallace Duncan. At 81 years old, this Vietnam-era veteran receives $175 monthly from his Medicare Advantage plan, money that helps cover groceries, gas, and other essentials. Without proper guidance, he would have missed this benefit entirely. This type of benefit is available because nearly one-third (32%) of Medicare Advantage plans now offer some reduction in the Medicare Part B premium in 2025 (Source: KFF.org, https://www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/medicare-advantage-2025-spotlight-a-first-look-at-plan-premiums-and-benefits/).
One thing became crystal clear to me through all these experiences. These weren’t careless mistakes. These are patriots who served their country with honor and dedication. They deserve better than confusing government jargon, complicated regulations, and advice from professionals who don’t understand their unique situation.
Why Independence Matters
There’s another crucial difference between our approach and what you’ll find elsewhere. My team and I are completely independent. We don’t work for the VA, Medicare, or any specific insurance company. We’re not bound by corporate quotas or pressured to recommend particular plans.
This independence gives us the freedom to do one thing: find the absolute best Medicare solution for each veteran’s unique situation. Whether that’s finding Medicare Advantage plans with the highest Part B premium reductions, ensuring Medicare works alongside existing TRICARE or VA healthcare coverage (Source: VA.gov, https://www.va.gov/health-care/about-va-health-benefits/va-health-care-and-other-insurance/), or ensuring Medicare fills gaps left by your military benefits, our only loyalty is to each veteran we serve.
What You’ll Find in This Guide
I’m going to give you straight answers and actionable information. We do help veterans navigate Medicare, but whether you work with us or not, this guide provides the knowledge to help you avoid costly mistakes and maximize your benefits.
You should also know that Medicare rules are structured so that we can provide all of our services completely free to veterans while still making a living helping veterans navigate these complex decisions. This means there’s never any cost to you for our guidance, reviews, or ongoing support. You pay exactly the same for your Medicare coverage whether you work with us or go directly to the insurance companies. The difference is you get expert veteran-focused guidance at no additional cost.
Whether you’re planning to rely mainly on VA care, you have TRICARE for Life, or you’re helping a family member navigate these decisions, this field guide covers:
- Battle-tested strategies for integrating VA, TRICARE, and Medicare into one powerful healthcare system
- Proven methods used by thousands of veterans to avoid lifetime penalties
- Clear instructions for accessing Medicare Part B premium refunds from Medicare Advantage plans
- Key differences between cookie-cutter advice and veteran-specialized guidance
- Essential information for making Medicare decisions that protect both your health and your finances
Who This Field Guide Is For
I wrote this specifically for:
- Veterans who use VA healthcare and want a solid backup plan for civilian medical care
- Military retirees with TRICARE for Life who need to maintain Medicare to keep this valuable benefit
- Spouses, caregivers, and family members who help veterans make important healthcare decisions
- Any veteran who’s tired of getting standard Medicare advice that ignores their military benefits
If any of these descriptions fit you, then you’re exactly who I had in mind. Your hard-earned benefits are on the line, and this field guide will give you the knowledge and tools to understand, protect, and maximize them.
Now let me explain what sets this guide apart from the generic Medicare resources you’ve probably already encountered.
What Makes This Different
This isn’t another Medicare guide with a veteran logo slapped on the cover. Every strategy, every example, and every piece of advice in this field guide has been tested with real veterans facing real Medicare decisions. The case studies you’ll read aren’t hypothetical. They’re based on typical situations my team and I encounter regularly.
You’ll learn not just what to do, but why it works specifically for veterans. You’ll understand how to use your military benefits with Medicare to create coverage that’s often better and usually less expensive than what civilian retirees can access.
Most importantly, you’ll discover veteran-specific opportunities that most Medicare advisors never mention because they don’t specialize in military benefits.
Ready to Take Control?
Let’s get started.
Questions about how Medicare works alongside your VA healthcare, TRICARE for Life, or service-connected benefits? My team and I help veterans navigate these complex decisions every day. Call us at 888-960-8387 (VETS) for personalized guidance, or find educational content on our social media channels. Experience what WE SPEAK VETERAN™ really means.