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Opinion Columnists Guest Columnist How does one qualify for VA health care?
How does one qualify for VA health care?
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Veterans, this week let’s discuss VA health care and how to enroll. As a basic rule of thumb to be eligible for enrollment you have to meet the basic discharge requirement of other than dishonorable, etc. and either be service-connected (which we’ll discuss later) or you financially fall under the VA National Income Threshold. That amount currently is $32,342 for a single veteran and $38,812 for a veteran with one dependent. You also may have to prove that you have assets of less than $80,000 (not counting the home that you live in). If you meet the above criteria you will be enrolled in Group 8. (Group 8: Veterans with income and/or net-worth above the VA national income threshold and income above the geographic income threshold who agree to pay co-pays.) New regulations went into effect June 15, 2009, that relaxed the Group 8 income restrictions. Thus, veterans previously denied enrollment based on their income may now be eligible and are encouraged to re-apply. If your income is less than $29,500 as a single veteran or $33,700 as a veteran with one dependent you may be enrolled as a Group 7. (Group 7: Veterans with income and/or net worth above the VA national income threshold and income below the geographic income threshold who agree to pay co-pays.) If your income is less than $11,830 as a single veteran or $15,493 as a veteran with one dependent you may be enrolled as a Group 5. (Group 5: Veterans receiving VA pension benefits (NSC Pension) or are eligible for Medicaid, and nonservice-connected veterans and non-compensable, 0 percent service-connected veterans whose gross annual household income and net worth are below the established VA Means Test Thresholds.) If you are service connected you will fall into the below groups. Group 1: Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 50 percent or more and/or veterans rated unemployable (I.U.) or permanent & total (P&T). Group 2: Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 30 percent or 40 percent. Group 3: Veterans rated at 10 percent or 20 percent; former POWs; Purple Heart recipients; veterans awarded special eligibility for disabilities incurred in treatment or participation in a VA voc-rehab program; and veterans whose discharge was for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty. Group 4: Veterans receiving aid and attendance or housebound benefits and/or veterans determined by VA to be catastrophically disabled (not service related). Group 6: Veterans seeking care solely for certain conditions associated with exposure to radiation during atmospheric testing or during the occupation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki or Veterans with 0 percent service-connected disabilities who are receiving disability compensation benefits. Please remember that the above are a summary of the basic guidelines. Call me for additional information or to set up an appointment, 541-962-8802. I am located at the Center for Human Development, 2301 Cove Ave., La Grande.
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