How VA and Medicare Advantage enrollment affects Veterans' care and health

Impact of Dual Enrollment in the VA and Medicare Advantage on Care and Outcomes for Veterans

NIH-funded research Veterans Admin Palo Alto Health Care Sys · NIH-11282606

This project finds out how being enrolled in both VA care and a Medicare Advantage plan changes the care Veterans receive and their health outcomes.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionVeterans Admin Palo Alto Health Care Sys NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Palo Alto, United States)
Project IDNIH-11282606 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Researchers will link VA medical records with Medicare Advantage data to see where Veterans get care and how much they rely on VA services. They will compare patterns of use and health outcomes across groups defined by race, income, and location. The team will analyze existing administrative and claims records, so Veterans would not need to undergo new tests or visits to take part. Results aim to inform how the VA and Medicare Advantage plans coordinate services and address disparities.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Veterans who are enrolled in both VA health benefits and a Medicare Advantage plan are the primary focus of this work.

Not a fit: Veterans who are not enrolled in Medicare Advantage (for example those only in VA or only in traditional Medicare) or people seeking experimental treatments would not directly benefit from this records-based project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Could help VA and Medicare Advantage plans improve care coordination, access, and equity so Veterans receive more continuous and appropriate care.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has described dual use between VA and traditional Medicare, but applying these analyses to Medicare Advantage is newer and less well documented.

Where this research is happening

Palo Alto, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.