"This
benefit will ease a financial burden for veterans who have no other health insurance to
fall back on," said VA Secretary A. J. Principi.
"However, it is strictly for emergency care." This new benefit applies to cases and situations
in which a delay in getting immediate medical attention would be hazardous to a veteran's
health or life. Also, the veteran must be
unable to reach a VA facility.
When the
aforementioned conditions are met, the veteran pays nothing. VA will pay 70 percent of the applicable Medicare
rate and VA payment is considered payment in full. VA
will pay for private-sector emergency care only until the veteran can be safely
transported to a VA facility.
This emergency
care benefit program is retroactive for eligible veterans who have been treated since May
29, 2000, but the VA did not have the legal authority to pay private emergency rooms or
reimburse veterans for non-VA emergency care until recently. VA soon will begin processing past claims.
Under these
new regulations, civilian hospitals should report to the VA within 48 hours of treating a
veteran who has no other means of payment. Usually,
the facility will file for reimbursement. If
the non-VA facility bills the veteran directly, the veteran should contact his or her
local VA health care facility and a VA representative will assist the veteran in resolving
the issue.
VA will
reimburse health care providers for all medical services necessary to stabilize the
veteran's condition so the patient can be transferred to an approved VA facility. If the veteran chooses to stay at a non-VA
facility beyond that point, the patient will be responsible for payment of costs
associated with the additional treatment. Veterans
will be able to appeal a claim if VA denies payment for any reason.
This rule does
not affect veterans who are already covered for non-VA emergency services; e.g.
service-connected veterans for service-connected disabilities.
"This
benefit is a safety net for enrolled veterans who have no other means of paying an
emergency bill," said VA's Under Secretary for Health, Dr. T. L. Garthwaite. The VA strongly encourages veterans to retain
current health care coverage for numerous reasons. Not
all emergency room care may be considered emergency care.
Also, spouses generally do not qualify for VA care and if insurance is
cancelled, the spouse may lose coverage, too. It
is also important to remember that this program is dependent upon annual Congressional
funding.
For more
information about the emergency care benefit, contact the nearest VA health care facility
or call 1-877-222-VETS (8387). For a copy of
VA documents on this benefit or on how to enroll in the VA health care system, contact
County Veterans Services at (252) 728-8440.
Agent
Orange and Diabetes
If you served
in Vietnam and now suffer from Type II Diabetes you are entitled to VA health care and to
VA compensation based on Agent Orange exposure. VA
has established a toll-free Agent Orange Helpline to answer questions for Vietnam veterans
and their families about Agent Orange exposure, health care and benefits. The helpline toll-free number is 1-800-749-8387. A good local source of information is County
Veterans Services at (252) 728-8440.
VA
Center for Veteran Entrepreneurs
Early this
year the VA marked the expansion of its efforts to assist veterans who own or who would
like to start their own businesses by establishing a Center for Veterans Enterprise. Veterans now have a place where they can call or
email and obtain assistance from a national network of business specialists. Information is available about loans, business
management programs, online training for entrepreneurs, and procurement opportunities with
federal, state and local agencies. To contact
the Center for Veterans Enterprise, call toll-free 1-866-584-2344 or (202) 565-8336. Their website is http://www.vetbiz.gov. For a VA Press Release on the subject and a VA
Fact Sheet on "VA Business Programs for Veterans", contact County Veterans
Services at (252) 728-8440.
Scholarship
Information
The American
Legion publishes a superb and very user-friendly 150-page college scholarship and
financial aid guide called "Need a Lift?" Topics
include the financial aid process; scholarship, grant and loan opportunities; four-year
college and university profiles; both federal and state sources of financial aid; Internet
website listings; and more. It's a bargain at
$3.00. To order, contact The American Legion,
National Emblem Sales, Box 1050, Indianapolis, Indiana 46206, or call toll-free
1-888-453-4466. They also can be reached on
the Internet at http://www.legion.org.
