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Take charge of your health with VA Health Care

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Monday, May 4, 2015 5:28 PM

Veterans Affairs constantly is evolving to better serve veterans; it has recently dropped the net worth/assets limits as a determining factor for both health-care programs and copayment responsibilities. If you have been denied for VA health care in the past because of your net worth and assets, you may now qualify for VAHC.

Now is the time to reapply. Call for an appointment today.

The VA provides world-class health care to eligible veterans. The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health-care system with more than 1,700 sites of care, and it consistently is ranked among the nation’s top health-care providers.

Many veterans may be eligible for VA health care. Enrollment in VA health care satisfies your Affordable Care Act health coverage requirement – no add-on insurance plan is needed. The VA encourages you to explore your health-care benefits, including these services:

All enrolled veterans have access to the VA’s comprehensive medical-benefits package, including preventive, primary and specialty care; prescriptions; mental-health care; home health care; geriatrics and extended care; medical equipment and prosthetics; and more.

Most veterans qualify for cost-free health-care services, although some veterans must pay modest copays for health care or prescriptions.

Female veterans can receive primary care, breast- and cervical-cancer screenings, prenatal care, maternity-care coverage and other gender-specific services.

Veterans who have served in combat zones – and their family members – may visit the VA’s many community-based vet centers, which provide no-cost counseling, outreach and referral services to help the whole family adjust to life after deployment.

Combat veterans who were discharged or released from active service on or after Jan. 28, 2003, are eligible to enroll in the VA health-care system for five years from the date of their discharge or release, regardless of their disability-claim status. Combat veterans who enroll with the VA under this enhanced combat-veteran authority will continue to be enrolled after their enhanced eligibility period ends, although their enrollment priority group may change. Many combat veterans applying after their five-year special enrollment period ends are eligible for enrollment and are encouraged to learn more about these and other health-care benefits on the VA’s health-benefits page at explore.va.gov/health-care.

Richard Schleeter is the veterans service officer for the La Plata County Veterans Service Office. He can be reached at 759-0117 or schleeterrs@ co.laplata.co.us.

For more information

The La Plata County Veterans Service Office provides information and assis­tance to veterans and their families. For more information, visit the county website at www.co.laplata.co.us and type “veterans services” in the search window. The Veterans Service Office and the Durango VA Clinic are located at 1970 East Third Ave.
The office phone number is 759-0117. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays except holidays. Appointments are encouraged. To schedule an appoint­ment, call 382-6150. For clinic appointments, call 247-2214.
Help for vets:
The Veterans Crisis Line offers free, confidential support to veterans, family and friends. Call (800) 273-8255 and press 1. You also can text professional responders at 838255 or chat online at www.VeteransCrisisLine.net.

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