Those of you whose spouses are in the VA system, what are the requirements to being eligible for VA benefits? Is it like Medicaid, you have to be nearly penniless before you can go into a VA facility? What about using VA hospitals for doctors?
Your best bet for finding out what is available to you and your spouse is to contact your local VFW or call the VA and ask who the VSO (Veteran Service Officer) is in your area. The VSO is a great contact in helping you get the help you need and/or sending you in the right direction. Also, you can call 1-800-827-1000 this is the phone number on one of the notices I have and the letter is signed by the National Call Center.
I do believe you can go to the nearest VA medical office and they are located in all areas of the country and get medical care such as seeing a doctor and if you have medicare and/or other insurance they will accept that and if you don't have that I don't know what they charge if anything. My dh use to get his physicals there and got all his meds. free through the VA. They mail the meds to you. I don't know about the hospitals and or homes that the VA contracts with for care if your dh is a Vet without any service connected disability. I do believe Coco husband got care through the VA without any service connected disability. In fact I think Coco's husband was placed in a VA hospital when she took respite and she got all types of supplies for him through the VA. It is very good to find out what they can offer to you.
My dh was 100% service connected disability and got everything free plus a pension which I now get a part of that pension.
DH does not have a service connected disability, and we had just a little too many assets to qualify for Aid and Attendance,but I did get him enrolled in their health care. He goes once every 6 months for blood work and checkup. They don't do anything else for us - but at least he is enrolled in case our $$$ situation changes.
There are several services avail. some of them are based on income. If you make too much you would have to pay for some services but not much. They also have a program that will give you a small stipend as a caregiver if you fall within the income guidelines. He or She does not have to retired from the armed forces, just have served in any branch. Please contact your local VA rep, the number is in the phone book or you can do some research online. Everyone's award is based on all the individual criteria. They also have housing ( or old soldier homes) that are long term care facilities. The air force has a widows village on the gulf that has housing for couples when demetia is involved. There are numerous services avail, just make the inquiry and they will be glad to give you the information you need.
Call the VA to find out what paperwork you need, then fill out the application. Lots of the Veteran's out in Montana use the VA system. Just the savings on medication might be worth filling out the forms. Go try...
mothert, please check on this link and it lists the Groups, scroll down a bit. My husband is Category 5 , non service connected, spent two years in Vietnam. We qualified, after scrutiny, for 10 hours a week in home respite care along with his regular medical, and free depends and some medical equipment. We pay $8 per prescription which is sent in the mail.
He did not qualify for long term care however, and because of our income we qualified him for Medicaid for that.
My husband is a Viet Nam vet and goes to the VA for his healthcare. We get all his meds from them. We used to pay $8 for each med and a co-pay of about $15 to see a doctor. Now we don't pay anything because I had asked the VA if they could classify him as "catastrophically disabled". His primary care filled out the forms and he was approved very quickly. Now I have no co-pays. He has no service-connected health problems. The only reason I knew to ask about this classification was from a booklet they sent him regarding his health care. The pcp had no idea what it was...the social worker did.
Call your local VA Hospital and ask to speak with a social worker. Mine is very helpful. She also arranged for adult day care for my husband that the VA pays for. I know each state handles things differently. I'm in Illinois.
You can get the guidelines at the online link Coco posted. If not retired or have service connected disability, they have to have served one day in a war zone. My husband served on a ship off the coast of Vietnam, so qualified. there are also financial requirements and you will find that on the website.
Also...if your spouse was in Vietnam...check out all the conditions that aren now associated with exposure to Agent Orange while serving in Nam...My dh had a heart condition that qualified him for 100% VA disability from the exposure to Agent Orange.
Go to Military.com web site and check out the various conditions.
In addition to diapers, DH alsol received gloves and disposal bed pads. Key is you must go for the annual medical check up and ask the phsian to perscribe these.