By Larry Dandridge
Editor’s note: This article is the second in a series of three.
Last week’s article encouraged veterans to use a VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) to help them:
- Determine their eligibility requirements for VA healthcare.
- Enroll in VA healthcare.
- Understand VA healthcare benefits specifically for elderly veterans.
Last week’s The Island News article on veterans’ benefits was also the first of three articles encouraging veterans to do their homework and read the information available at www.va.gov and in past The Island News articles on veterans’ healthcare, elderly veterans’ benefits, and how to apply for them.
As a Vietnam wounded warrior and a combat and 100% service-connected disabled veteran, I cannot emphasize enough how vital it is for all veterans to apply for their VA healthcare benefits, service-connected disability compensation, and other valuable federal (VA) and state veterans’ benefits.
Now is the time to enroll in VA Health Care. I encourage every veteran I meet to watch the VA YouTube video “Introduction to VA Benefits” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9bqZwlfXYY. I am also one of the six million American veterans who have chosen VA healthcare. Yet, more than 11 million more veterans may be eligible for VA healthcare, the best healthcare available anywhere.
With a weakening economy, rising prices, the possible reduction of future Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits, and so many government workers losing their jobs, now is the time for eligible veterans to enroll in VA healthcare.
VA outperforms private health
The VA provides healthcare exclusively to veterans and their families, and one out of every three employees of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is a veteran. No one understands the needs of veterans and veterans’ family members better than the VHA. VA medical facilities and systems outperform private health, Medicaid, and Medicare on key preventive care services such as Cancer screening, Diabetes care, and Cholesterol management.
The five-star Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center and System
Take, for example, the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center and Healthcare System (RHJVAMC&HCS), the only habitually five-star rated hospital and system in S.C. For longer than a decade, the Joint Commission has rated the RHJVAMC in the top 10 percent of all public and private hospitals for quality of care, customer satisfaction, infection prevention, and dozens of other important metrics.
The RHJVAMC is partnered with the Medical University of SC (MUSC), and if you are a veteran enrolled in VA healthcare, any specialty doctor care you receive will likely be from an MUSC doctor. If a veteran has questions about RHJVAMC&HCS, they should call the main number at 843-577-5011 and ask the operator for help, or if the veteran has a question about mental healthcare, they can call 843-577-5011 Extension 2.
Comprehensive VA care
VA gives veterans access to more than 1,200 care sites nationwide and provides care through VA Medical Centers, Community-based Outpatient Clinics, mobile clinics, Vet Centers, and telehealth services. The VA also serves veterans through Patient-Aligned Care Teams (PACT teams), secure messaging, mobile apps, and 24/7 online access to their medical records. VA healthcare enrollment also satisfies the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements. Applying for VA healthcare is easy, and veterans will receive their enrollment status within seven days.
If you have questions about VA health care, call the VA’s Health Eligibility Center at 877-222-8387 (Teletypewriter — TTY: 711). TTY mode is a feature that allows text-based communicationover regular phone calls for people with hearing or speech difficulties.
Eligibility for VA Health Care
Ensure you meet the VA’s healthcare eligibility requirements for enrollment before applying. Veterans may be eligible to enroll in VA health care if all of these statements are true:
- You served in the active military, naval, or air service (including being called up from the National Guard or Reserve by a federal order), and
- You did NOT receive a dishonorable discharge, and
- You meet at least one of the service requirements for enrollment.
You must meet at least one of these service requirements:
- You served at least 24 months in a row without a break (called continuous), or for your full active-duty period, or
- You were discharged for a service-connected disability, or
- You were discharged for a hardship or “early out,” or
- You served before September 7, 1980
Note: Time spent on active-duty status for training purposes only does not count toward the service requirements.
What a veteran needs to apply for VA health care.
- Social Security numbers for the veteran, the veteran’s spouse (if the veteran is married), and any dependents the veteran may have.
- Insurance card information for all health insurance companies that cover the veteran. This includes any coverage that the veteran gets through a spouse or significant other. This also includes Medicare, private insurance, or insurance from your employer.
The veteran can also provide this information:
- The veteran’s military service history information and details about exposure to toxins or hazards.
- A copy of the veteran’s DD214 or other separation documents. If the veteran signs in to apply, the VA may be able to fill in their military service information for them. If the veteran does not sign in to apply, the veteran can upload a copy of their DD214 or other separation documents.
- Income information for the veteran, the veteran’s spouse, or any dependents the veteran may have. This includes income from a job and any other sources.
- Deductible expenses (expenses that the veteran can subtract from their income) for themselves and their spouse. These expenses will lower the amount of money the VA counts as income.
Eligibility for VA Mental Health Services
According to the VA webpage “VA Mental Health Services,” https://bit.ly/3H8KAoE, the VA will help connect veterans with mental health care, no matter what their discharge status, service history, or eligibility is for VA health care. Find out how to access VA mental health services for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychological effects of military sexual trauma (MST), depression, grief, anxiety, and other needs at https://bit.ly/3H8KAoE. You can use some services even if you are not enrolled in VA health care.
Continued next week.
Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded warrior, disabled veteran, ex-Enlisted Infantryman, ex-Warrant Officer Pilot, and retired Lt. Colonel. He is a past Veterans Service Officer, a Patient Adviser at his local VA Hospital, a Fisher House Charleston Good Will Ambassador, and the past VP for Veteran Affairs for his local Association of the US Army (AUSA) and Military Officer Association Chapters. Larry is also the author of the award-winning Blades of Thunder (Book One) and a contributing freelance writer with the Island News. Contact him at LDandridge@earthlink.net or 843-276-7164.
