Find Out if You Are Eligible for VA Health Benefits
By Debbie Gregory.
The VA Mission Statement is: To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise “To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan” by serving and honoring the men and women who are America’s veterans. Veterans have served this country with steadfast allegiance and deserve the benefits they have earned.
The very first step in obtaining access to VA Health Benefits is to apply. The Veterans Administration then begins the verification process to determine a Veterans’ eligibility. Once a Veteran is enrolled, that Veteran remains enrolled in the VA health care system and maintains access to certain VA health benefits.
VA Health Benefits include all the necessary inpatient hospital care and outpatient services to promote, preserve or restore your health. VHA medical facilities provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy.
In addition, most VA medical facilities offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
Health benefits also include preventive care services:
- Periodic medical exams (including gender-specific exams)
- Health education, including nutritional education
- Immunization against infectious disease
- Counseling on inheritance of genetically determined disease
Health benefits vary for each Veteran. Enrolled Veterans enjoy access to the VA’s comprehensive medical benefits package. Certain benefits, such as dental care, may vary from individual to individual, depending on eligibility status.
The Veterans Health Benefits Guide contains general benefits information and is designed to provide Veterans and their families with the information they need to understand VA’s health care system—eligibility requirements, the enrollment process, enrollment priority groups and copayments.
Veterans can expect the VA’s highly qualified and dedicated health care professionals to meet their needs, regardless of the treatment program, and regardless of the location. New locations continue to be added to the VA system, with the current number of treatment sites now standing at more than 1,400 nationwide. To see the guide online, click here.
