What Medicare covers
Medicare doesn't have special rules for Camp Lejeune exposure. Part A and Part B cover medically necessary hospital, doctor and outpatient care for cancer and the other covered illnesses as they would for anyone, and Part D or other drug coverage helps with prescriptions. Your usual Medicare costs apply, such as the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026) and 20% coinsurance, unless other coverage pays them.
Medicare.gov says that if you have both Medicare and VA benefits, you can get care under either program, but Medicare and VA can't pay for the same service. Each time you get care, you choose which to use.
VA care for veterans
VA says that if you served at Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River in Onslow County for at least 30 days total between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, you may enroll in VA health care. You pay no VA copay for care of these 15 conditions:
- Bladder, breast, esophageal, kidney and lung cancer
- Leukemia, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
- Female infertility, miscarriage, hepatic steatosis, renal toxicity, scleroderma and neurobehavioral effects
VA care for other conditions may have a copay. Separately, VA pays disability compensation on a presumptive basis for 8 conditions, including Parkinson's disease.
The Camp Lejeune Family Member Program
Family members (spouses, children and other legal dependents) who lived at Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River for at least 30 days in that period can get reimbursed for care of the same 15 conditions. VA says the program is always the last payer, and its fact sheet says VA pays after your other health plan, Medicare, Medicaid or TRICARE has paid.
- Apply. File VA Form 10-10068 with proof of your relationship to the veteran, proof you lived on base and medical records showing a covered condition.
- Let Medicare pay first. Your provider bills Medicare and any supplemental coverage as usual.
- Send VA the claim. For each claim, use VA Form 10-10068a and include the Explanation of Benefits from your other coverage.
- Keep your coverage. VA strongly urges family members not to change or cancel their insurance, because the program doesn't cover anything outside the 15 conditions.
VA's Family Member Program customer service: 866-372-1144. VA's Camp Lejeune page also warns about commercials from law firms that claim they can help you get Camp Lejeune benefits.
Your Medicare choices
Because the family program pays last, your Medicare coverage shapes your costs first. Compare options in Medigap in North Carolina and Medicare Advantage in North Carolina. More for veterans in our guide to military retirees, veterans and TRICARE in North Carolina. If you'd like help comparing plans from the companies they work with, you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent.
Related questions
Do I need Medicare if I have VA care?
Why VA says to sign up at 65.
Can veterans have Medicare Advantage and VA care?
How the two fit together.
Does TRICARE For Life work with Medicare?
For military retirees.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — Camp Lejeune water contamination health issues
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — Camp Lejeune Family Member Program
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — Fact Sheet 07-01, Camp Lejeune Family Member Program
- Medicare.gov — Who pays first? (Veterans' benefits)
More questions in this guide
- Can military retirees on Medicare use the Fort Bragg pharmacy?
- Can veterans have Medicare Advantage and VA care in North Carolina?
- Do I need Medicare if I have VA health care in North Carolina?
- Do I need Medicare Part B with TRICARE For Life?
- Does TRICARE For Life work with Medicare in North Carolina?
- What happens to TRICARE Prime at 65 in North Carolina?
Part of the guide: Military retirees, veterans and TRICARE in North Carolina: how Medicare fits · All questions
Frequently asked questions
Who qualifies for Camp Lejeune benefits?
VA says veterans who served at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River for at least 30 days total between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, may qualify. Family members who lived there at least 30 days in that period, or were in utero, can apply to the Family Member Program.
Should I drop Medicare or other insurance if VA covers my condition?
No. VA's Family Member Program covers only the 15 listed conditions and pays last, and VA urges family members not to change or cancel their insurance. Veterans' VA care for the covered conditions is separate from Medicare, which still covers other care.
Does a Camp Lejeune lawsuit affect my VA benefits?
VA says filing under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 doesn't affect your eligibility for VA disability or health care, but a court award is reduced by related VA benefits you received.
Medicare in your North Carolina county
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