If I have Tricare or BCBS and pay my copay, should the VA also bill my insurance?

The scenario involves understanding how billing works when a veteran has multiple health insurance options like Tricare or Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) in conjunction with Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare. When individuals have other insurance coverage, the VA is typically required to bill the other insurance for services rendered before considering any payment or covering costs themselves. This process ensures that the healthcare system moves towards utilizing all available resources, which may help reduce costs for the VA and potentially for the veteran as well.

By billing the insurance provider, the VA can receive payment for the services rendered, which can then be used to help fund future healthcare needs for veterans. This is aligned with the policy regarding coordination of benefits, which mandates that other health insurance companies are billed if a patient has coverage, even if a copay has been paid by the veteran.

The stipulations or preferences of some other options would suggest limited or conditional billing practices, which does not represent the standard protocol in situations where additional health insurance is present. This further emphasizes why billing the primary or secondary insurance is the expected process when applicable.