Five Years of VA Health Care for Combat Veterans

Suicide Article

Beneficiary Travel Benefits

Combat Veteran Eligibility

Outpatient Dental Treatment

WASHINGTON (February 26, 2008) - Military veterans who served in
combat since Nov. 11, 1998, including veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan,
are now eligible for five years of free medical care for most conditions
from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This measure increases a
two-year limit that has been in effect nearly a decade.

"By their service and their sacrifice, America's newest combat
veterans have earned this special eligibility period for VA's
world-class health care," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James
B. Peake.

The five-year deadline has no effect upon veterans with medical
conditions related to their military service. Veterans may apply at any
time after their discharge from the military -- even decades later --
for medical care for service-connected health problems.

The new provision, part of the National Defense Authorization
Act of 2008 signed by President Bush on Jan. 28, 2008, applies to care
in a VA hospital, outpatient clinic or nursing home. It also extends VA
dental benefits -- previously limited to 90 days after discharge for
most veterans -- to 180 days.

Combat veterans who were discharged between Nov. 11, 1998 and
Jan. 16, 2003, and who never took advantage of VA's health care system,
have until Jan. 27, 2011 to qualify for free VA health care.

The five-year window is also open to activated Reservists and
members of the National Guard, if they served in a theater of combat
operations after Nov. 11, 1998 and were discharged under other than
dishonorable conditions.

Veterans who take advantage of this five-year window to receive
VA health care can continue to receive care after five years, although
they may have to pay copayments for medical problems unrelated to their
military service. Copayments range from $8 for a 30-day supply of
prescription medicine to $1,024 for the first 90 days of inpatient care
each year.

SUICIDE ARTICLE

Suicide is the 11th most frequent cause of death in the United States, accounting for approximately 30,000 deaths annually.  It’s estimated that someone dies from suicide every 16 minutes.  To ensure that veterans who may be contemplating suicide, and concerned family and friends, have immediate access to a trained person who can help, the Department of Veterans (VA) has established a 24-hour national suicide prevention hotline number: 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

The hotline is based at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center in upstate New York.  It’s staffed by mental health professionals who know how to assess and respond to crisis situations for veterans at risk of suicide, and incorporates the best practices and research findings in suicide prevention and intervention with the goal of reducing suicides among veterans nationwide.

“This is another significant step to ensure that veterans, particularly the newest generation of combat vets returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, receive accessible and compassionate care for their mental health concerns,” Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson said recently.

VA’s hotline is part of the National Suicide Prevention Initiative—a collaborative effort led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).  The phone number is the same as SAMHSA’s National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a network of local crisis centers located in communities across the Nation that are committed to suicide prevention. 

Callers to the hotline will be asked to press 1 if they are a veteran or are concerned about the well-being of a veteran, and will be immediately referred to trained staff at Canandaigua.  If all counselors at the facility are busy, callers will be transferred elsewhere—so that they never receive a busy signal or are placed on hold.
Here are some warning signs that can indicate a person is contemplating suicide:

• Talking about wanting to hurt or kill himself or herself.
• Trying to get pills, guns or other items that can harm or kill someone.
• Talking or writing about death, dying or suicide.
• A general feeling of hopelessness.
• Exhibiting behaviors that indicate rage, uncontrolled anger, or a need to seek revenge on someone or something.
• Acting in a reckless or risky way.
• Feeling trapped, as if there is no way out.
• Saying or feeling there’s no reason for living.

 

Veterans who have such feelings, or family members who have observed any or all of these behaviors, are welcomed to call 1-800-273-TALK—the only national suicide prevention and intervention telephone resource funded by the federal government.  In addition to the national hotline, the Department has established a website, at http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov to provide information on suicide prevention awareness.

“While people who are thinking about suicide may think they have problems that can’t be fixed, they are wrong,” said Dr. Michael J. Kussman, VA’s Under Secretary for Health.  “We can help, and we want to help.  Please don’t wait—call now!”
VA provides mental health services at each of its 153 medical centers, more than 900 outpatient clinics and 207 vet centers.  Among the areas the Department specializes in are addiction and substance abuse; depression; homelessness; schizophrenia; post-traumatic stress disorder; readjustment counseling, and vocational rehabilitation.

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Beneficiary Travel Benefits

Benefit Description: If you meet the criteria below, you may be eligible for VA beneficiary travel benefits associated with obtaining VA health care services. In most cases, travel benefits are subject to a deductible. Deductibles do not apply for compensation and pension examinations and for travel by an ambulance or a specially equipped van.

1.

you have a service-connected (SC) rating of 30 percent or more, or

2.

you are traveling for treatment of a SC condition, or

3.

you receive a VA pension, or

4.

your income does not exceed the maximum annual VA pension rate, or

5.

you are traveling for a scheduled compensation or pension examination

1.

your medical condition requires an ambulance or a specially equipped van, and

2.

you meet one of the eligibility criteria in 1 through 4 above, and

3.

the travel is pre-authorized (authorization is not required for emergencies if a delay would be hazardous to life or health)

Note: OEF/OIF Combat Veterans must meet one of the qualifying eligibilities or conditions noted above.

General Travel ............................................................$ 0.285 (28.5 cents) per mile

Scheduled appointments qualify for round-trip mileage. Unscheduled visits may be limited to return mileage only.

Deductible: ……………………………………$7.77 one-way ($15.54 round trip)

•

Deductible requirement is subject to a monthly cap of $46.62. Upon reaching $46.62 in deductibles, travel payments made for the balance of that particular month will be free of deductible charges.

•

Veterans whose projected income in the year of application will not exceed the applicable VA pension rate may request a waiver from the deductible requirement.

Enhanced Eligibility for Health Care Benefits: On January 28, 2008, “Public Law 110-181” titled the “National Defense Authorization Act of 2008” was signed into law. Section 1707 amended Title 38, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 1710(e)(3), extending the period of eligibility for health care for veterans who served in a theater of combat operations after November 11, 1998, (commonly referred to as combat veterans or OEF/OIF veterans).

Under the “Combat Veteran” authority, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides cost-free health care services and nursing home care for conditions possibly related to military service and enrollment in Priority Group 6, unless eligible for enrollment in a higher priority to:

•

Currently enrolled veterans and new enrollees who were discharged from active dutyon or after January 28, 2003, are eligible for the enhanced benefits, for 5 years post discharge.

•

Veterans discharged from active duty before January 28, 2003, who apply for enrollment on or after January 28, 2008, are eligible for the enhanced benefit until January 27, 2011.

Combat veterans, while not required to disclose their income information, may do so to determine their eligibility for a higher priority status, beneficiary travel benefits and exemption of copays for care unrelated to their military service.

Who’s eligible: Veterans, including activated Reservists and members of the National Guard, are eligible if they served on active duty in a theater of combat operations after November 11, 1998, and have been discharged under other than dishonorable conditions.

•

Military service documentation that reflects service in a combat theater, or

•

receipt of combat service medals and/or,

•

receipt of imminent danger or hostile fire pay or tax benefits.

•

Cost-free care and medications provided for conditions potentially related to combat service.

•

Enrollment in Priority Group 6 unless eligible for enrollment in a higher priority group.

•

Full access to VA’s Medical Benefits Package.

What happens after the enhanced eligibility period expires: Veterans who enroll with VA under this authority will continue to be enrolled even after their enhanced eligibility period ends. At the end of their enhanced eligibility period, veterans enrolled in Priority Group 6 may be shifted to Priority Group 7 or 8, depending on their income level, and required to make applicable copays.

What about combat veterans who do not enroll during their enhanced authority period: For those veterans who do not enroll during their enhanced eligibility period, eligibility for enrollment and subsequent care is based on other factors such as: a compensable service-connected disability, VA pension status, catastrophic disability determination, or the veteran’s financial circumstances. For this reason, combat veterans are strongly encouraged to apply for enrollment within their enhanced eligibility period, even if no medical care is currently needed.

Copays: Veterans who qualify under this special eligibility are not subject to copays for conditions potentially related to their combat service. However, unless otherwise exempted, combat veterans must either disclose their prior year gross household income OR decline to provide their financial information and agree to make applicable copays for care or services VA determines are clearly unrelated to their military service.

Dental Care: Eligibility for VA dental benefits is based on very specific guidelines and differs significantly from eligibility requirements for medical care. Combat veterans may be authorized dental treatment as reasonably necessary for the one-time correction of dental conditions if:

•

They served on active duty and were discharged or released from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable from a period of service not less than 90 days and

•

The certificate of discharge or release does not bear a certification that the veteran was provided, within the 90-day period immediately before the date of such discharge or release, a complete dental examination (including dental X-rays) and all appropriate dental service and treatment indicated by the examination to be needed and

•

Application for VA dental treatment is made within 180 days of discharge or release

Additional information: Additional information is available at the nearest VA medical facility. VA facilities listing and telephone numbers can be found on the internet at www.va.gov/directory, or in the local telephone directory under the “U.S. Government” listings. Veterans can also call the Health Benefit Service Center toll free at 1-877-222-VETS (8387) or visit the VA health eligibility website at www.va.gov/healtheligibility.

Outpatient dental benefits are provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs according to
law. In some instances, VA may provide extensive dental care , while in other cases treatment
may be limited. This Fact Sheet describes the outpatient dental eligibility criteria and contains
information veterans should know in order to understand eligibility for VA dental care.

Veterans are eligible for outpatient dental treatment if they are determined by VA to meet one
of the following criteria:

•

Those having a service-connected compensable dental disability or condition are eligible for any needed dental care.

•

Those who were prisoners of war (POWs) and those whose service-connected disabilities have been rated at 100 percent or who are receiving the 100 percent rate by reason of individual unemployability are eligible for any needed dental care.

•

Those who are participating in a VA vocational rehabilitation program under 38 U.S.C. chapter 31 are eligible for dental care necessary to: enter into a rehabilitation program, achieve the goals of the veteran’s vocational rehabilitation program; or prevent interruption of a rehabilitation program; or hasten the return to a rehabilitation program of a veteran in interrupted or leave status; or hasten the return to a rehabilitation program of a veteran placed in discontinued status because of illness, injury or a dental condition; or secure and adjust to employment during the period of employment assistance; or to achieve maximum independence in daily living.

•

Effective January 28, 2008, recently discharged veterans with a service-connected noncompensable dental condition or disability who served on active duty 90 days or more and who apply for VA dental care within 180 days of separation from active duty, may receive one time treatment for dental conditions if the dental condition is shown to have existed at the time of discharge or release and the veteran’s certificate of discharge does not indicate that the veteran received necessary dental care within a 90-day period prior to discharge or release. This includes veterans who reentered active military, naval, or air
service within 90 days after the date of a prior discharge and; veterans whose
disqualifying discharge or release has been corrected by competent authority.

•

Those having a service-connected noncompensable dental condition or disability resulting from combat wounds or service trauma are eligible for repeat care for the serviceconnected condition(s).

•

Those having a dental condition clinically determined by VA to be currently aggravating a service-connected medical condition are eligible for dental care to resolve the problem.

•

Those with nonservice-connected dental conditions or disabilities for which treatment was begun while the veteran was in an inpatient status in a VA medical center, when it is clinically determined to be necessary to complete such dental treatment on an outpatient basis.

•

Those receiving outpatient care or scheduled for inpatient care may receive dental care if the dental condition is clinically determined to be complicating a medical condition currently under treatment.

•

Certain veterans enrolled in a VA Homeless Program for 60 consecutive days or more may receive certain medically necessary outpatient dental services.