Families of older Veterans, please take note.

[Paper Roses]

My late husband was a Vet and got his medical care through the VA. We never new this care was available until about 15 years ago. He was in Korea. We always paid our own insurance for years because at the time we were self-employed.

He died 2 years ago of a massive stroke. The ambulance took him to the local hospital after our emergency call. Even though he had care through the VA, he still paid Medicare from his SS check every month. I am so glad he did. I would have been otherwise responsible for ALL his hospital Emergency room care. He died shortly after admission. The bill for the emergency treatment not covered by Medicare was sent to me. I paid it without a thought. I know the Emergency Room Doctors tried but he died as they were placing him in a machine for a scan of some sort.

The gist of the story, I was told a few days ago that, if I had notified the VA, they would have paid the thousands I had to pay post Medicare payment for his emergency treatment. I was never told this by the local VA office even thought I called the day after his death to cancel an appointment he had the following day for a physical. I was recently told that if an emergency arises and no VA facility is available nearby, notify the VA ASAP to cover medical costs.

I am not yet sure if this is true but it is something Vets and their families should look into. It cost me thousands of dollars out of pocket.

I am struggling now and those thousands would not bring him back but they would be a help for me to survive this unbelievable loss in my life.

[Dappleganger]

1. That is good information.

I am sorry for your loss, and thank you for spreading the word. After quite a fight we have finally signed up my father for VA benefits (we fought with HIM, lol). He erroneously believed that if he signed up for them that his old Bell Atlantic (now Verizon) benefits would go away. That's completely untrue. We signed him up because we know he'll need whatever extra he can get when he goes into a full alzheimers unit as they are very expensive (he's not there yet). Dad never though he was a real vet because he didn't set foot in VietNam (stayed on the ship, he was aircraft support for McCain). When my mother passed away I began heavily pushing it because I knew it would take forever for him to agree. Two years until he finally agreed.

[Ferret Annica]

2. I got my dental bridge replaced through the VA

Which was nice, but I also know that it pays to not waste time when you apply for help and submitted a treatment plan from the dentist of my choice the first day they were accepting them.

I was able to go to a private dentist who did an excellent job. Those who were late had to use the VA dentist in Roseburg at the Roseburg, OR VA and got passable treatment.

I fired Roseburg VA for medical as they are too conservative and am enrolled at Portland, OR VA. They don't argue with me about medications like the Conserva Nutzies down south of me will.

[southernyankeebelle]

3. Sorry for your lose. My husband retired from the military after 21 yrs. I

new a WWII vet that got services at the VA hospital because his war experience. I would suggest to call any VA hospital to get a booklet or go to the internet and get any information on your benefits. We have a pretty good socialism medicine from Tricare. We have been extremely happy because my husband and I have major health issues. Neither one of us are 65 yet. I don't feel bad about getting it. My husband earned every penny.

[EFerrari]

4. Kick

[donco]

5. Might want to check again

if you were turned down in the past.

There are plenty of new benefits, as well as changes to the Priority Groups, particularly in priority group 8 from last year. If someone tried last year and didn’t qualify, might be a good idea to try again this year, if only for the chance of coming under the VA drug coverage. Here’s a link.


Relaxation of Priority Group 8 Enrollment Restrictions Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) (VA Health Care Eligibility & Enrollment)

http://www4.va.gov/healtheligibility/Library/FAQs/PG8RelaxationFAQ.asp#amended


On June 15, 2009, VA amended its regulations to expand enrollment of certain Veterans with higher income.

Under this new provision, VA is enrolling Priority Group 8 Veterans whose income does not exceed the new VA National Income Thresholds. This change does not open enrollment to all Priority 8 Veterans.