thedrifter
03-04-06, 08:06 AM
VA health care available for non-combatant vets
By: MIKE SCHUSTER - For the North County Times
As a Vietnam veteran I always thought that when our government was drafting "veterans--to-be" they did not ask if you were rich or poor, but now, as veterans, if your income is too high you may not qualify for V.A. Health Care benefits.
A few years ago, Congress passed legislation setting monetary limits by which the V.A. must determine a veteran's right to health care benefits.
Visiting the V.A. Web site ---- www.va.gov ---- one sees that all veterans are "potentially eligible." Here are some eligibility facts:
Eligibility for most veterans' health care benefits is based solely on active military service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard or Merchant Marines during WWII, and discharges under other than dishonorable conditions.
Reservists and National Guard members who were called to active duty by a Federal Executive Order may qualify for V.A. health care benefits. Returning service members, including Reservists and National Guard members who served on active duty in a theater of combat operations, have special eligibility for hospital care, medical services and nursing home care for two years following discharge from active duty.
Health Care eligibility is not just for those who served in combat. Veteran's health care is not just for service-connected injuries or medical conditions. Veteran's health care facilities are not a men's club. V.A. offers full-service health care to women veterans.
The V.A. health care system of eligibility is based on eight priority groups:
Priority 1
Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 50 precent or more disabling, or, veterans determined by V.A. to be unemployable due to service-connected conditions.
Priority 2
Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 30 or 40 percent disabling.
Priority 3
Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 10 or 20 percent disabled, former POWs, Purple Heart recipients, veterans whose discharge was for a disability that began in the line of duty and veterans who are disabled because of V.A. treatment or participation in V.A. vocational rehabilitation program.
Priority 4
Veterans who are receiving aid and attendance or housebound benefits (on pension) from V.A. or have been determined by V.A. to be catastrophically disabled.
Priority 5
Veterans receiving V.A. pension benefits, who are eligible for Medicaid programs or with income and assets below V.A. Means Test Thresholds.
Priority 6
Veterans with zero percent service-connected conditions, but receiving V.A. compensation, seeking care only for disorders relating to Ionizing Radiation and Project 112/SHAD, seeking care for Agent Orange Exposure during service in Vietnam, seekiing care for Gulf War Illness or for conditions related to exposure to Environmental Contaminants during service in the Persian Gulf.
Priority 7
Veterans who agree to pay specified co-pay with income and/or net worth above V.A. Income Threshold and income below the Geographic Means Test Threshold. There are subpriorities in this group that a counselor can explain.
Priority 8
Veterans who agree to pay specified co-pay with income and/or net worst above V.A. Means Test threshold and the Geographic Means Test Threshold. There are also subpriorities in this group that a counselor can explain.
As health care in general is skyrocketing, V.A. health care can provide relief for those that qualify ($15/$50 co-pay, $8 prescriptions). So send for your Service Medical Records and go see your veteran's advocate.
North County veterans can call George and Johnny with enrollment questions or to sign up at: (760) 643-2050.
San Diego County Veterans Services Representative Mike Schuster can be reached at: (760) 643-2049 or mgs@cts.com.
Ellie
By: MIKE SCHUSTER - For the North County Times
As a Vietnam veteran I always thought that when our government was drafting "veterans--to-be" they did not ask if you were rich or poor, but now, as veterans, if your income is too high you may not qualify for V.A. Health Care benefits.
A few years ago, Congress passed legislation setting monetary limits by which the V.A. must determine a veteran's right to health care benefits.
Visiting the V.A. Web site ---- www.va.gov ---- one sees that all veterans are "potentially eligible." Here are some eligibility facts:
Eligibility for most veterans' health care benefits is based solely on active military service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard or Merchant Marines during WWII, and discharges under other than dishonorable conditions.
Reservists and National Guard members who were called to active duty by a Federal Executive Order may qualify for V.A. health care benefits. Returning service members, including Reservists and National Guard members who served on active duty in a theater of combat operations, have special eligibility for hospital care, medical services and nursing home care for two years following discharge from active duty.
Health Care eligibility is not just for those who served in combat. Veteran's health care is not just for service-connected injuries or medical conditions. Veteran's health care facilities are not a men's club. V.A. offers full-service health care to women veterans.
The V.A. health care system of eligibility is based on eight priority groups:
Priority 1
Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 50 precent or more disabling, or, veterans determined by V.A. to be unemployable due to service-connected conditions.
Priority 2
Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 30 or 40 percent disabling.
Priority 3
Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 10 or 20 percent disabled, former POWs, Purple Heart recipients, veterans whose discharge was for a disability that began in the line of duty and veterans who are disabled because of V.A. treatment or participation in V.A. vocational rehabilitation program.
Priority 4
Veterans who are receiving aid and attendance or housebound benefits (on pension) from V.A. or have been determined by V.A. to be catastrophically disabled.
Priority 5
Veterans receiving V.A. pension benefits, who are eligible for Medicaid programs or with income and assets below V.A. Means Test Thresholds.
Priority 6
Veterans with zero percent service-connected conditions, but receiving V.A. compensation, seeking care only for disorders relating to Ionizing Radiation and Project 112/SHAD, seeking care for Agent Orange Exposure during service in Vietnam, seekiing care for Gulf War Illness or for conditions related to exposure to Environmental Contaminants during service in the Persian Gulf.
Priority 7
Veterans who agree to pay specified co-pay with income and/or net worth above V.A. Income Threshold and income below the Geographic Means Test Threshold. There are subpriorities in this group that a counselor can explain.
Priority 8
Veterans who agree to pay specified co-pay with income and/or net worst above V.A. Means Test threshold and the Geographic Means Test Threshold. There are also subpriorities in this group that a counselor can explain.
As health care in general is skyrocketing, V.A. health care can provide relief for those that qualify ($15/$50 co-pay, $8 prescriptions). So send for your Service Medical Records and go see your veteran's advocate.
North County veterans can call George and Johnny with enrollment questions or to sign up at: (760) 643-2050.
San Diego County Veterans Services Representative Mike Schuster can be reached at: (760) 643-2049 or mgs@cts.com.
Ellie