Posted on 06/01/2014 4:46:03 PM PDT by yetidog
Whose is eligible for VA health benefits and why would anyone who is want them?
Interesting responses that run contrary to public (most of whom are not vets) perception regarding military service. I suspect most think every veteran saw and suffered combat, is eligible for benefits that are being screwed up when the real problem is a big incompetent federal agency (most if not all, are) is trying to provide health services to a somewhat selective population. God save us from Obmamacare.
Many who are eligible don’t have company retirement medical plans. If they didn’t put in their 20 years in the military, then they are not eligible for TriCare. So that leaves those that are not eligible for Medicaid or Medicare without any other options.
Now that has been changed to 24 months.
National Guard and Reserve Duty don't count unless you serve the min number of months on active duty.
This is why you see some Tours of Duty that are only 179 days, after day 180 you get more benefits.
The VA uses a classification system to determine how much you pay. Service connected, and Ex-POW are at the top. Since I don't have any disability and a good job, I am down at the bottom.
The higher up the system you are doesn't mean you get to go first. At just means you have may not have to pay as much.
The percentage of Service Connections gives you different beneifits.
I asked about eligibility, not a review of individual care at a VA hospital, bucko.
Thumbnail rundown on eligibility can be found here:
http://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/apply/veterans.asp
If you are eligible, the VA places you into one of 8 priority groups based on the nature of your service and income level.That list can be found here:
http://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/resources/priority_groups.asp
Those who are in a high priority group and who have no other options or options that are minimal may find that the VA provides good care. The highest priority groups generally get excellent care, but quality varies for the lower priority groups. The coverage is only for the veteran, so if you have a family, you have to find other coverage for them.
I am retired from the Army and had Tricare with a supplement until I became eligible for Medicare and Tricare for Life. I have never used the VA health care system, but who knows what might happen down the road.
If you served more than 180 days you should be able to apply for benefits. I served 3 active and 17 reserve, I have no service connections. I can go to the VA for my care.
I’m technically a vet due to a post 9-11 deployment. I was between jobs at one point and got shingles. I used the VA to diagnose and prescribe antivirals. It was a slow and depressing process, but it worked.
As a Non-Service Connected Vet I have gotten quite a few Benefits from the VA, Eye, Audiology, Podiatry, Colonoscopy, etc.
Yes you do have benefits. They are lying to you.
There are a lot like your son and they should be at the top of the list with 100% priority.
There are a lot playing the system and eating up resources needlessly, including pill seekers, wear them out for disability, etc.
For many years the big VA hospitals sought out vets with Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare eligibility because of the declining number of vets from WWII and Korea (they were dying off). These vets were encouraged to use the system because they would be re-reimbursed and could keep the budget and staff.
Additionally, periodically the services (depending who was in charge) would change large number of discharges from dishonorable, bad conduct, etc. to general/administrative which would make them possibly eligible. They encouraged, processed and approved a significant number of these claims in the 10 - 30% range which swelled the numbers of clients.
With the Mid-East wars and the explosion of real vets with real medical requirements the system was overburdened especially in the mental health area.
In many areas, VA is the only choice that is economically practical for many vets.
What should be frightening is that they used VA as an example of what they would like the nationalized health system to look like.
Not really.
I make a good wage but went to the Long Beach VA hospital for an emergency and was in patient for 5-days (they almost killed me. Posted that saga on a thread a while back).
Former serving, honorably discharged qualify, as far as I can recall.
I am guessing that you are not eligible due to a “means (income) test.” My point is that the politicians talk about the VA in the context of a “debt owed” to “all those who wore the uniform.” are unloading a bag of crap..it is a service provided to a narrow group of “eligible” veterans, irrespective of the nature of the service that was provided..since -— if you happen, as a vet, to reach a particular financial plateau that exceeds what the government thinks is more that what it should be in order to get subsidized medical care.. well TS Mr.Vet. I don’t have a problem with any of this, I just think that this circumstance should be a part of the story that is now being sold to us by the MSM.
I think he was asking asking about VA medical care, or I may be wrong. You qualify immediately for VA care the day you leave service honorably. . .as far as I recall.
Service-connected injuries qualify you for VA payments as well as hospital coverage.
If you retire from service you can receive military retirement pay—reduced by the amount the VA assesses for your service-connected injury and that VA amount is paid (non-taxable) to you. If you are 50% or more rated, then you can receive concurrently your full military retirement AND the VA payment (non-taxable). This is the process that is taking sooooo long. . .getting your VA disability rating. Takes years.
My father in his 90s gets lower cost heart medication through the VA system. He has to reapply annually. Being on medicare doesn’t mean you can’t use other health insurance or other govt health benefits.
About ten years ago I learned a friend was a patient in the VA hospital. I went to visit her and told her I had not known she was a veteran She told me she was not, but that her husband was 100% service connected disabled and that made her eligible for care there.
I don’t know if that is still true or not.
My husband had private insurance and medicare but preferred the care at the VA. It actually cost him more to see the VA doctors than private, but he got good care and he liked going there. That was the Charlie Norwood VAMC Downtown Division in Augusta, GA.
If you have a “service connected” medical condition determined by the VA you are eligible. If you don’t have a “service connected” condition, you must meet low income guidelines established by Congress. Treatment for service connected conditions is free to the veteran. Treatment for a non-service connected condition involves a relatively small copay.
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