Elder Angle
VA Health Care Benefits
In honor of Veteran's Day, this month's Elder Angle will focus on a question posed to one of Elder Options' I&R specialists:Question: I am a 77-year-old Korean War Veteran. My neighbor was telling me I should "register" for VA health care benefits, but I was only in the Army for four years and do not have any service-connected disability. I thought that VA health care benefits were only available to career military or those who have been injured while in the service. Can you help with this?
Answer: After the Vietnam War and prior to the 1990s, veterans who were not career military and/or who did not have a service-connected disability were eligible for only a few VA benefits (e.g., burial in a VA cemetery, VA home loans). The eligibility requirements, however, have changed. Now, as long as you were a full-time member of any branch of the military (including the Coast Guard) and were discharged under other than dishonorable conditions, you may be eligible to receive VA health care benefits. This would include retired military veterans, veterans with service-connected disabilities and veterans with non-service-connected disabilities.
To determine eligibility, you will need to contact your nearest VA Medical Center or your county Veterans Service Office. You will be required to bring in certain documentation, such as your military discharge papers (DD214), your Social Security and Medicare cards, income estimate, and previous year's medical expenses. If you are determined eligible for VA health care benefits, you will be given a "priority score" from 1-7. The priority score you receive will determine the co-payments you will have to make at a VA Medical Center or Clinic for health care services, medical equipment, prescriptions, eyeglasses, etc. Additionally, if VA funds are available, you may also be eligible for certain in-home assistance such as homemaking, respite care, home health aide; or long-term care such as nursing facilities, assisted living and limited adult day care.
To obtain the phone number and address of your nearest VA Medical Center or county Veterans Service Office to get the registration process started, contact the Elder Helpline at 800-963-5337. §
