Minnesota WorkForce Center - Willmar
IMPORTANT HEALTHCARE INFORMATION FOR ALL MILITARY VETERANS
Eligibility Reform
In October 1996, Congress passed Public Law 104-262, the Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996. This legislation led the way for the creation of a Uniform Benefits Package - a standard health benefit plan available to all veterans. The package not only opens up services to veterans , but simplifies the process by which veterans can receive the services.
For the first time, VA can offer enrolled veterans a Uniform Benefits Package that emphasizes preventive medicine and primary care, and that provides a comprehensive healthcare benefit plan including inpatient and outpatient treatment.
The law has simplified the rules for providing healthcare to veterans. It has also streamlined the process by which veterans present themselves for care - the enrollment process. These changes will make it easier for veterans to receive care than ever before.
VETERANS WITH SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITIES
This information is of critical importance to those military veterans who have a service connected disability rating from 0% to 100%.
The Veterans Affairs (VA) recently changed it's practice regarding eligibility for HEARING AIDS and EYEGLASSES. Under the new policy VISN 13 the VA now specifies that they will provide HEARING AIDS and EYEGLASSES at no charge to the following veterans.
- Those with a 10% or greater service connected disability of any kind
- Former POW's
- Those receiving 38 U.S.C. 1151 benefits (individuals disabled by treatment in a VA facility or Voc. Rehab).
- Those receiving VA pension with Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits
- Those with hearing loss which resulted from the existence of another medical condition for which the veteran is receiving VA care, or which resulted from treatment of that medical condition.
- Those who are service connected for hearing loss, tinnitus, even if the service connection is 0%.
- Those with a service connected disability for an eye condition, 0% or greater.
- Those with vision loss resulting in legal blindness.
- Those with vision change or loss resulting from a medical condition for which the veteran is receiving VA care or resulting from treatment for the medical condition by VA care, e.g. diabetes, stroke, multiple sclerosis, vascular disease, glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, cataract surgery, or other eye surgeries etc. Eyeglasses are not provided to these veterans for normally occurring myopia, hyperopia or presbyopia, but only in those cases where the medical condition results in vision change or loss.
- Those who are severely visually impaired to the degree that the provision of specialized corrective devices is necessary to permit active participation in their won medical treatment / care, e.g. hearing loss veteran who needs eyeglasses to read lips; stroke victim who needs vision correction to use communication board etc.
The above eligibility criteria for eyeglasses shall in no way affect a veteran's access to VA for evaluation of an eye condition / vision change. Veterans will be encouraged to seek VA care fro their eye care needs. Veterans not eligible for eyeglasses will receive a copy of their eyeglass prescription which may be used to purchase eyeglasses from a private source at the veteran's own expense.
For complete information access the VA Website at: http://www.va.gov/elig
Directory of VA Facilities in MN: http://www.va.gov/sta/guide/state.asp?divisionid=1&STATE=MN
or
For further information contact your local County Veterans Service Officer to have them set up an appointment with the nearest VA Hospital for a wellness physical, new VA Identification Card and evaluation for Health Care Benefits available to you. Don't Delay, DO IT TODAY.
VETERANS HELPING VETERANS
MN WorkForce Center
2200 23rd Street NE, Suite 2040
Willmar, MN 56201
320.231.5174 or TOLL FREE 1.888.GET.JOBS
Fax: 320.231.6054 TTY: 320.231.5174