Just my thoughts here as the same kind of Vet with no service connected disabilities but has the same hip and teeth problems......I’d imagine that since you’re already covered under your wife’s insurance, you’re likely not gonna get what you think you will.
Good luck. I know nothing about the VA, but if you are facing a hip replacement, get your dental work done first. Once you have orthopedic replacement surgery, you will have to have a round of antibiotics before any dental work — even a cleaning.
Take the DD-214 and your driver’s license, SS card and a utility bill to verify your address. Better to have more info then get there and find out they need something. Good Luck. We have had pretty good luck with care. Claims on the other hand, well that’s mixed.
Agree with Gaffer, and oh8eleven. A claim will be filed against your wife’s insurance, and Mediscare....why not go to the best healthcare facility available?
DD-214, Social Security Card, Drivers License, comfy seat cushion, good book.
Good afternoon.
I’m a Nam era Vet, service connected. No dental care. Depending on % service connected/disabled will determine what is/isn’t covered. Plus ins. and means testing.
Just a heads up, it is triage.
5.56mm
Dental I think is covered up to a year after you left service. The hip if it was caused by your military service may be covered. My brother in law flew in C130s during the 50s and lost most of his hearing a few years ago. It took awhile but he was able to get a service connected disability from it. He had to apply several times. Good luck
If you are a career vet (lifer) what may be available to you may be different than what is available to me.
As a Vet who was not a lifer, in my case I can only get Dental for emergency dental work which means if I am in great pain due to a dental issue, and then there is a minimum co-pay, for me, of about $348 (if memory serves me right).
For a non-lifer with a non-service related issue there are co-pays which may depend on income level & whether or not the person has any health insurance coverage, independently or as a spouse &/or currently with Medicare - I think.
The VA does not cover dental except for vets with service connected disabilities at a relatively high percentage of disability(Not sure exactly what it is but mine is 30% and I do not get dental) or a Purple Heart.
Bring whatever service dental records you have. Otherwise don’t expect any help there.
Since you have a computer I can only assume you have a phone........call them
To all who replied, Thanks. I was just looking for constructive advice and info. Not a flame war on my service as a U.S. Marine during the Vietnam War.
Bring any and all paperwork you have. Any records. Any insurance. You can be expected to produce anything so it’s better to have it and get it done now.
They have all your infomration anyway so it’s not like you are giving anything up they don’t know and you will slow the process if you don’t have what you need.
The people are cordial and respectful for the most part.
God bless!
Having just read the above, why are you using the VA if you already have coverage?
I will predict this, due to your current coverage and your attempt to utilize the VA's, you are going to encounter problems regarding coordination of benefits between the VA, your current coverage and medicare...........
sometimes having access to too much results in too many problems........
BTW , if you do have a service related issue, you will need and advocate. VFW, American Legion and DAV are three that I know of. VA is means tested, but I have no idea what the criteria is for that. We pay for all meds that are not service related. But the rate on those is really good.
At some point you will end up in front of the person doing the means testing. That person is going to look at all the documentation.
Have them scan and enter those documents into your file.
When I renewed my drivers license here in maine I needed to prove place of birth for the first time. I did not have a certified copy of my birth certificate. It was going to take 10 days and about 25 bucks to get it.
Since my DD-214 has my place of birth on it (some do, others do not) I just had to get a certified copy from my VA office about 5 miles from the DMV.