Veterans Affairs changes health care eligibility

In a recent press release, The Department of Veterans
Affairs related that it is updating the way VA health care eligibility is   determined. The goal is that more Veterans
will have access to their health care benefits. 
Effective in 2015, VA eliminated the use of net worth as a determining factor
for health care programs and co-payment responsibilities.  This change will make VA health care benefits
more accessible to lower-income Veterans. 
VA will now only consider a Veteran’s gross household income and deductible
expenses from the previous year.  This
change means that certain lower-income, non-service connected Veterans will have
less out of pocket cost.  Over a 5 year
period, it is estimated that 190,000 Veterans will become eligible for reduced
cost of their health care.

     In March 2014, VA
eliminated the annual requirement for updated financial information. VA now
uses information from the IRS and Social Security Administration, which reduces
the burden on the Veteran to keep the information up to date.

     More information
can be obtained from www.va.gov/healthbenefits
or call the VA  @ 1-877-222-8387.