Veterans Corner
HEAR NEWS ABOUT VETS FROM VETS. IT’S THE VETERANS CORNER: Monday, Jan. 31 2022
Story courtesy: Jerry Volger, The McLean County VA
America committed themselves to caring for Veteran’s health through a publicly funded system, about 100 years ago, when the Federal Government established the first iteration of what has evolved into the national Veterans health care system. While rules for eligibility including the number of days of military service, necessary to qualify for VA Health Care has been increased over the years, until 2003, basically all Veterans of the Federal Military were eligible for VA Care if they applied for it and met the “days of active duty” requirement.
In 2003, Congress imposed an “income means test” that required a Veteran who applied for VA health care to have annual household income below the means test amount. Last Thursday, The House passed a bill that would require the VA to automatically enroll Veterans who meet existing eligibility criteria for VA health care, when they left military service.
Veterans would be enrolled unless they opted out in writing. Generally, the “means test” would no longer apply for Veterans who are automatically enrolled at time of military separation.
The House vote was 265-163. The Ensuring Veterans’ Transition bill or EVEST ACT has similar legislation in the Senate. If this legislation becomes law, approximately 58,000 Veterans who otherwise might not enroll in VA health care, will automatically be enrolled, according to Congressional Budget Office, or CBO.
DID YOU KNOW?
Tens of thousands of Honorably discharged Veterans have and are being denied VA Health Care access since 2003 because the Veteran’s income level exceeded a government-imposed “income means test?” Most Veterans misunderstand the difference between being DENIED VA health care and being denied ACCESS to VA health care.
If you have never applied for VA health care you have not been DENIED? However, if you have applied for VA health care and told that you do not have access to VA healthcare due to your income being above the income means test, you have probably been assigned to the VA healthcare Priority Group 8, which means you are enrolled, but do not have access to the actual VA health care.
Do not listen to your fellow Vet buddies who might tell you not to apply since they applied but were denied because of income. If you apply and are placed in Priority Group 8, the VA will be aware of your desire for VA health care, and if eligibility rules change that would give Priority 8 enrollees access to VA health care, you will be contacted by the VA to update your enrollment and provide access.
VA HOME-BASED PRIMARY CARE EXPANDING.
VA Office of Geriatrics and Extended Care is expanding Home-Based Primary Care, Medical Foster Home and Veteran-Directed Care programs at VA Medical Centers (VAMC’s) with completion at all Medical Centers by the end of 2026.
VA will add 58 Medical foster homes and 70 Veteran-directed care programs and add 75 home-based primary care teams to areas with the highest needs. These programs have been shown to allow Veterans to age-in-place, avoid or delay nursing home placement and choose the most appropriate care environment to aligns most with each Veteran’s needs. Browse Home-based Primary Care on your computer for more detail.
DON’T FORGET THE FOUR CHAPLAINS MEMORIAL CEREMONY AT 11:00 AM, FEB. 3 INSIDE MCLEAN COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM!
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