Rocky C
11-18-10, 03:07 PM
VA Launching New Personalized Veterans Health Benefits Handbook
WASHINGTON (Nov. 18, 2010) - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is
piloting new, personalized Veterans Health Benefits Handbooks. The
handbooks are tailored to provide enrolled Veterans with the most
relevant health benefits information based on their own specific
eligibility. In essence, each handbook will be written for the
individual Veteran.
"These handbooks will give Veterans everything they need to know and
leave out everything that doesn't apply to them," said Secretary of
Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "Our Veterans will now have a
comprehensive, easy to understand roadmap to the medical benefits they
earned with their service."
In addition to highlighting each Veteran's specific health benefits, the
handbook also provides contact information for the Veteran's preferred
local facility, ways to schedule personal appointments, guidelines for
communicating treatment needs and an explanation of the Veteran's
responsibilities, such as copayments when applicable.
"Enhancing access isn't just about expanding the kinds of services VA
provides. It also includes making sure we do everything we can to ensure
Veterans have a clear understanding of the benefits available to them so
they can make full use of the services they have earned," Shinseki said.
The new handbooks will initially be available only to certain Veterans
in Cleveland and Washington, D.C., areas. Following the pilot phase,
full implementation is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2011 for across
the county.
For additional information, go to www.va.gov/healtheligibility (https://webmail.east.cox.net/do/redirect?url=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.va.gov%252Fhea ltheligibility) or call
VA's toll-free number at 1-877-222-VETS (8387).
WASHINGTON (Nov. 18, 2010) - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is
piloting new, personalized Veterans Health Benefits Handbooks. The
handbooks are tailored to provide enrolled Veterans with the most
relevant health benefits information based on their own specific
eligibility. In essence, each handbook will be written for the
individual Veteran.
"These handbooks will give Veterans everything they need to know and
leave out everything that doesn't apply to them," said Secretary of
Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "Our Veterans will now have a
comprehensive, easy to understand roadmap to the medical benefits they
earned with their service."
In addition to highlighting each Veteran's specific health benefits, the
handbook also provides contact information for the Veteran's preferred
local facility, ways to schedule personal appointments, guidelines for
communicating treatment needs and an explanation of the Veteran's
responsibilities, such as copayments when applicable.
"Enhancing access isn't just about expanding the kinds of services VA
provides. It also includes making sure we do everything we can to ensure
Veterans have a clear understanding of the benefits available to them so
they can make full use of the services they have earned," Shinseki said.
The new handbooks will initially be available only to certain Veterans
in Cleveland and Washington, D.C., areas. Following the pilot phase,
full implementation is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2011 for across
the county.
For additional information, go to www.va.gov/healtheligibility (https://webmail.east.cox.net/do/redirect?url=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.va.gov%252Fhea ltheligibility) or call
VA's toll-free number at 1-877-222-VETS (8387).