Veterans - question:

[proud2BlibKansan]

Do all vets have health insurance through the VA?

[Submariner]

1. They get one of the following depending on eligibility

http://www.tricare.osd.mil/

http://www.usfamilyhealthplan.org/portal/default.asp

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. I have a friend who is a vet,

he is unemployed and has cancer. VA told him they couldn't treat him.

I thought your ailment had to be combat or service related to be eligible for VA health care. Shows how little I know.

Thanks for the links.

[Spinzonner]

3. You have to be a retiree (from the military) have been

disabled from military-service-related causes. (The latter might be subject to interpretation).

Merely having served some number of hitches is not sufficient.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. That is what my hubby said

He's a vet and he doesn't think he can use the VA for health care since he wasn't injured when he was in the service.

I can see this is a complicated issue.

[Elwood P Dowd]

4. When and how long did your friend serve?

I served two years during Vietnam, and I'm eligible for VA benefits. Haven't use them in a few years but now that I no longer have health insurance, that's my only alternative.

If your friend served in the active duty military (not NG or reserve) for the minimum amount of time, then he should be eligible. All he needs is his DD214.

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. I'm not sure exactly when

During Vietnam War. For at least a couple years. It was active duty. He is so sick right now I told him I would post the question here and DUers would know the answer. Thanks.

[TahitiNut]

5. Only retired members of the military ... and some others.

While I have 42 months of total DD-214 service time, including a tour of duty in Viet Nam, I'm not eligible for health care as far as I know.

[cynatnite]

6. Most vets are eligible if they register

http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/home/hecmain.asp

l Veterans are Potentially Eligible
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 WW II), and discharged under other than dishonorable conditions.

Reservists and National Guard members who were called to active duty by a Federal Executive Order may qualify for VA 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.
Other groups may be eligible for some health benefits.

Veteran’s health care is not just for service-connected injuries or medical conditions.

Veteran’s health care facilities are not just for men only. VA offers full-service health care to women veterans.

http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/eligibility/determining_eligibility.asp

Requirement
You do not have to meet the 24 continuous months of active duty service requirement if you:

Were a reservist who was called to Active Duty and who completed the term for which you were called, and who was granted an other than dishonorable discharge, or

Were a National Guard member who was called to Active Duty by federal executive order, and who completed the term for which you were called, and who was granted an other than dishonorable discharge, or

Only request a benefit for or in connection with:
a service-connected condition or disability; or
treatment and/or counseling of sexual trauma that occurred while on active military service; or
treatment of conditions related to ionizing radiation; or
head or neck cancer related to nose or throat radium treatment while in the military.

Were discharged or released from active duty for a hardship , or

Were discharged with an “early out”; or

Were discharged or released from active duty for a disability that began in the service or got worse because of the service; or

Have been determined by VA to have compensable service-connected conditions; or

Were discharged for a reason other than disability, but you had a medical condition at the time that

Was disabling, and
In the opinion of a doctor, would have justified a discharge for disability (in this last case, the disability must be documented in service records)

Step 2. Enrollment in VA Health Care System
Generally, you must be enrolled in VA health care system to receive benefits offered in the Medical Benefits Package.

Certain veterans do not need to be enrolled to receive medical care benefits.

You do not have to be enrolled if you:

Have been determined by VA to be 50% or more disabled from service-connected (SC) conditions

Are seeking care for a VA rated service-connected disability only

It is less than one year since you were discharged for a disability that the military determined was incurred or aggravated by your service, but that VA has not yet rated

However, enrolling will assist VA in planning and budgeting resources.

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. Great info

thanks

[tyedyeto]

7. If you served during a combat period...

you have to give them a 'means' test every year to determine eligibility.

[cynatnite]

8. That is not true

The yearly test, yes, but it doesn't mean that a person has to be in combat. The VA bases much of their elibility requirements on income and need.

[tyedyeto]

9. That is how it looks from our end of things...

my S/O called in his refills to the VA (he's a 2 tour Vietnam vet) and they had cancelled him. No warning, no 'means' test, nada. I know vets in this area who have very healthy retirement benefits who haven't bee cancelled by the VA.

[cynatnite]

10. bush's damn budget cuts caused that

they did quit filling certain meds and vets have to go outside the system which means the money comes from their pockets.

They also changed the requirements for care and the co-pays have gone up because of budget cuts as well.

We still have our benefits, but are paying more for my husband's meds.

[tyedyeto]

11. So true.....support our troops of today and yesterday

but make them pay for it. :sarcasm:

Get the word out as much as you can.

[Elwood P Dowd]

12. Now you guys are making me worry

I haven't used the VA in years, but now I no longer have health insurance. I called and made sure I was in the system a couple of years ago. I have their letter tacked to my DD214, so what problems might I encounter should I need the service?

[cynatnite]

13. Don't wait for the need

That's my first piece of advice. Go to the VA and make sure you're in the system. You might have to register again or update your information. They will need information regarding your income since that's how care is gaged.

They don't offer as much services as they used to, but there is still quite a bit of help there, but I certainly wouldn't wait.

Try to get in with a regular doctor. There is a waiting list for most unless there is a pressing medical condition. My hubby's blood pressure got to dangerous levels and that's what got him in.