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Serving Philadelphia, Delaware County, Montgomery County, Bucks County and Chester County since 1996.
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Issue 5, August, 2007
FEATURE ARTICLE - Family Care Agreements, A Golden Opportunity
HEALTHLINE - Preventing Falls In The Elderly
LEGALLINE - Veterans Benefits - What You Might Not Know (Part 2)
CAREGIVER HELPLINE - Caring For Someone With Dementia (Part 3)
Veterans Benefits - What You Might Not Know (Part 2)
The Veterans Administration (VA) provides health care benefits to veterans. The plan covers a number of health care services, including preventative services, diagnostic and treatment services, and
hospitalization. It may also cover nursing home and other long-term care options.
There are no costs for certain veterans and low-income veterans. The following veterans are eligible to receive cost-free health
care benefits automatically:
A service-connected veteran receiving VA conpensation benefits.
A veteran seeking care for a specific service-connected disability.
Former POWs.
Purple Heart recipients.
A veteran with conditions related to exposure to herbicides during the Vietnam-era, ionizing radiation during atmospheric testing, or
ionizing radiation during the occupation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
A veteran who sustained a service-related condition while serving in the Gulf War, or during a period of hostility after November 11, 1998.
A veteran with military sexual trauma.
A veteran with cancer of the head or neck caused by nose or throat radium treatments given while in the military.
a veteran who is participating in a VA approved research project.
If you don't fit into one of those catagories, the VA will ask you to provide your household income and net worth from the previous year.
If your income is below certain thresholds, you will not have to make a co-payment. Unlike the Medicaid program, there is no penalty for transferring assets before applying for veterans benefits, including long-term care. Remember, however, that if you do transfer assets
it may affect your eligibility for Medicaid.
Even if your income is above the threshold, you do not have to make co-payments for the following services:
Special registry examinations offered by the VA to evaluate possible health risks associated with military services.
Counseling and care for sexual trauma.
Compensation and pension examination requested by the Veterans Benefit Administration.
Care that is part of a VA-approved research project.
Outpatient dental care.
Readjustment counseling and related mental health services for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Emergency treatment at other than VA facilities.
Care for cancer of the head or neck caused from nose or throat radium treatments given while in the military.
Publically announced VA public health initiatives -- i.e., health fairs.
Care related to service for veterans who served in combat or against a hostile force during a period of hostilities after November 11, 1998.
Laboratory services such as flat film radiology services and electrocardiograms.
Outpatient Co-Payments. The following are the outpatient co-payments for non-service-related conditions:
Services provided by a primary care clinician are set at $15 (in 2007) for each visit
Services provided by a clinical specialist are $50 (in 2007) for each visit
Inpatient Co-Payments. The inpatient co-payment is calculated by adding:
$10 per day of hospitalization (in 2007), and
$992 for the first 90 days of hospitalization and $496 for each additional 90 days (in 2007).
Preventative care services (such as screenings and immunizations) are free. There is a reduced co-payment rate (20 percent of the full inpatient rate)
for certain individuals whose income is above the VA thresholds, but below the Geographic Means Threshold (GMT).
Prescription co-payments. Prescription co-payments are charged only for outpatient treatment. The following veterans do not have to pay anything for medications:
A veteran who is 50 percent disabled or more with a service-connected disability
A veteran who has been determined by the VA as unemployable due to his service-connected condition
A veteran who needs medication to treat a specific service-connected disability
Former POWs
A veteran whose income is below the maximum annual rate for a VA pension
A veteran who needs medication to treat conditions related to a veteran's exposure to herbicides during the Vietnam-era, ionizing radiation during atmospheric testing,
or ionizing radiation during the occupation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
A veteran who served in the Gulf War, in combat after the Gulf War, or during a period of hostility after November 11, 1998, and who needs medication to treat a service-related condition.
A veteran who needs medication to treat a military sexual trauma
A veteran with cancer of the head or neck caused by nose or throat radium treatments given while in the military
A veteran participating in a VA approved research project
If you don't fit into one of these catagories, you must pay $8 (in 2007) for each 30-day or less supply of medication. If you are in one of the Priority Groups 2 through 6, there is
an annual limit on the amount you have to pay for prescriptions. You will not be charged more than $960 during the calendar year. If you are in Priority groups 7 and 8, you will have to pay the full co-payment amount, with no annual limit.
To enroll for health benefits provided by the Vetarans Administration call 1-877-222-VETS (8387).
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Call Us: (610) 446-9626
Fax Us: (610) 446-9985 |
Visit our offices:
17 Mifflin Ave. Suite 202
Havertown, PA 19083 |
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