Military vets and the ACA

[Spartana]

Also a heads up to other military veterans here: I received a letter from the VA saying the they are changing their policies in order to be in-line with the ACA. Now ALL military veterans who served a certain length of time and had an honorable discharge can apply to use the VA hospitals and that will cover the mandated medical insurance coverage required by the ACA. You no longer need to have a service-connected disability or belong to any of the other groups (former POWs. returning combat veterens, etc...) in order to use the VA. You can use the VA even if you have private health insurance - either employer funded or self funded -or use Medicaid or Medicare. However you can not use both the VA system AND recieve ACA subsidies. It's one or the other.

The cost to use the VA for non-service connected vets is dependant on your income and assets, and you must declare both each year. However there are no monthly premiums so it's only co-pays. The system is based on priority groups of eight. With priority group one being for 100% service-connected vets and group 8 being for higher income non-service connected vets. I have no idea how that effects your ability to get care (or even if it does) as I am in Priority group 2 and have never had a problem. Also I can not say how good (or bad) care is at VA hospitals as I have only used them for my service-connected stuff and an annual physical. However I have been treated much better there then I ever had at a private medical facility. You can go online at www.VA.gov (may be currently closed down due to the shutdown though) to find more info. Feel free to pm me with questions

[Spartana]

Also VA healthcare is portable. You receive a photo ID card and can use it at any of the approx 1700 VA facilities nationwide. Maybe the VA should be a model for a public healthcare system for all rather than the ACA or even a single payer universal system. Do away with medicaid, medicare and the VA and ha e public hospitals for all. The wealthier amongst us can aways topt to buy a private plan just like they do when they opt to pay for private schools. Compete with private business rather then regulate them.

[Spartana]

Also, if you need to do the annual financial assessment to use the VA, you also need to include your spouses and children's income and assets too. No more hiding your wealth in little Timmy's college fund :-) .

[Spartana]

Some more info for any of you military vets who are thinking of using the VA healthcare system instead of buying your own private health insurance - or want to use the VA in conjunction with your private insurance.

I received a letter from the VA yesterday stating that a vet who is signed up with the VA hospital system can use a private hospital emergency room if needed for an emergency, and the VA will reimburse the hospital for all costs you incur while there until you can be transferred to a VA facility. If you have private insurance as well as the VA then that will be the primary payer and the VA may cover any out of pocket costs you incur that your private insurer doesn't. More info at WWW.VA.gov

Happy Veterans Day too! And thanks for your service.