Health Benefits for Veterans

Veterans Administration Information

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides health benefits to many Veterans for service-connected conditions and general health care. When certain qualifying factors are present, many benefits may result in no cost to the Veteran.

 

Veteran Health Benefits:

  • VA Benefits are not Health Insurance
  • VA Benefits do not normally cover a Veterans Family
  • Having or not having Health Insurance does not affect eligibility
  • VA Benefits require use of a VA approved facility or prior authorization to use a non-VA facility
  • Using VA Benefits, Veterans may receive health care for service-connected and non-service-connected conditions
  • VA Benefits will not pay a portion of services charged to Medicare and vice versa

 

Eligibility:

  • The VA will make the final determination of eligibility for VA Benefits
  • A Veteran must meet the minimum length of service requirement of 2 years unless special circumstances exist.
  • The character of a Veterans discharge may affect eligibility

 

Cost:

Many Veterans can receive cost-free health care services and prescription based on the following:

  1. Income:
  • Kentucky- A Veteran with one dependent with a total household income up to $51,315.00 may qualify for cost free health care.
  • Illinois- A Veteran with one dependent with a total household income up to $57,915.00 may qualify for cost-free health care.
  • Indiana- A Veteran with one dependent with a total household income up to $50,160.00 may qualify for cost-free health care.
  • Ohio- A Veteran with one dependent with a total household income up to $57,530.00 may qualify for cost-free health care.
  • Pennsylvania- A Veteran with one dependent with a total household income up to $57,145.00 may qualify for cost-free health care.
  • Virginia- A Veteran with one dependent with a total household income up to $59,840.00 may qualify for cost-free health care.
  • West Virginia- A Veteran with one dependent with a total household income up to $56,760.00 may qualify for cost-free health care.
  1. POW Status
  2. VA Deemed “catastrophically disabled” Veterans
  3. Treatment for conditions considered more than 50% service connected.

 

Note: 

  • In order to qualify for cost-free health services, the VA may, by law, require income verification.
  • In the event that a Veteran does not qualify for cost-free health care, he/she may be expected to pay a portion of covered VA health services provided.

 

Some of the services upon which the VA allows a copay include:

      1. Primary Care Services
      2. Specialty Care Services
      3. Prescriptions
      4. Inpatient Care Services
      5. Geriatric and Extended Care Services

Some of the services on which the VA does not charge a copay include:

    1. Readjustment Counseling
    2. Smoking Cessation
    3. Lab Work
    4. Electrocardiograms
    5. Hospice Care

There are Services that are not covered by VA Benefits. Some of them are:

    1. Cosmetic Surgery
    2. In-vitro Fertilization
    3. Drugs and Medical Devices not approved by the FDA

 

Emergency Care:

VA Benefits cover Emergency Services in non-Va health care facilities under the following conditions:

    1. The VA facility cannot finish economical care due to distance from facility.
    2. The VA facility cannot provide the services necessary

 

Locations:

1)  The VA has an extensive network of over 1700 hospitals and clinics. The breakdown of the facilities based on where our UMWA members live is as follows:

Kentucky

    1. 3 Hospitals
    2. 19 Clinics

Illinois

    1. 5 Hospitals
    2. 30 Clinics

Indiana

    1.  3 Hospitals
    2.  16 Clinics

Ohio

    1.  5 Hospitals
    2.  33 Clinics

Pennsylvania

    1.  9 Hospitals
    2.  36 Clinics

Virginia

    1.  3 Hospitals
    2.  19 Clinics

West Virginia

    1.  4 Hospitals
    2.  10 Clinics

If a Veteran lives near a state line, the Veteran may attend a VA facility in neighboring state without any changes in benefits.

 

Coordination:

  • Having health insurance may reduce or eliminate VA copays, if applicable.
  • Veterans may supplement their VA Benefits with private insurance.

 

For more information or to apply for VA Benefits, please use the following:

Phone: (877) 222-8387

Website: www.va.gov

In Person: At Vet Centers and Regional Benefits Offices Nationwide

 

 

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