8 year veteran, can't get health coverage

PO2 Rick Overbey — Sun, 04 May 2014 09:47:22 -0400

Tried to sign up after 2003 to find out it's based on income now.
Anyway to get around this?

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2014 9:28 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 31 May 2014 09:28:58 -0400

PO2 Overbey
Have you spoken to a Service Officer from any of many Veterans Service Organizations such as the VFW, DAV, etc? The Service Officer can provide you with information and possibly help you file the appropriate paperwork. By the way, you do NOT have to be a member of that organization to get assistance.

Additionally, while VA healthcare level is based on income for those that are not found to be disabled in some way (zero percent disability or non-service connected) the health care provided meets the requirements to meet the standards of care per the ACA (Obamacare). While you may have to pay co-pays (if your care is not at least partially service connected) the co-pays are fairly reasonable. Additionally, you no longer have to provide income data - the VA will do an automatic pull from the IRS for determination of what level (7 or 8) you will be assigned. Avoiding going to the VA just because you make too much money (or think you do) should not be a reason to avoid health care.

Have you actually applied for service-connected disability? Any number of things can be found to be service connected. Since I don't know your specifics I can't give you specific guidance. Many discover that within their medical records there are reasons for being determined as service connected - hearing loss/ringing in the ears for instance is a common one. Currently, one can pull up the electronic medical records from the Navy within minutes. I use my electronic medical files to assist me in my appeals.

Let me know if there are specific questions - I don't know all the answers - but I sure as hell know where to go in order to get the answers.

Response by 1SG Henry Yates made May 31 at 2014 10:50 AM

1SG Henry Yates — Sat, 31 May 2014 10:50:22 -0400

You have some good responses below. If you need help navigating some of these, that's my job. Register with the VA if you haven't. They also have CHAMPVA, that covers Family members if you qualify. In some cases, commercial programs are OK as well. Let me know.
http://evans.amedd.army.mil/wtu/WTU_Ombudsman.htm
I'm the number ending in 4914.

Response by SSgt Patricia Bandy made May 11 at 2019 1:46 PM

SSgt Patricia Bandy — Sat, 11 May 2019 13:46:35 -0400

Retirement and service connection are your other options. Were you ever injured while serving?