Can I See Any Doctor With Va Health Care?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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For specialty care,

they can see private doctors at VA expense if they have to wait longer than 28 days or drive more than an hour to see a VA provider

. Previously, who had to drive more than 40 miles or wait longer than 30 days could choose to see a private doctor paid for by the VA.

Can VA fill prescriptions from non VA doctors?

Need Viewer Software? WASHINGTON –

Some veterans waiting to see Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) physicians for the first time may be eligible to receive medications from VA mail-out pharmacies that were prescribed by private doctors

, under a new policy announced today.

Is VA health care good enough?

The VA maintains a quality advantage in outpatient care, but its inpatient advantage has narrowed over recent years, and there is evidence that VA surgical care has worse outcomes than private sector surgical care.

Can the VA refuse to treat a veteran?


You can agree to or refuse any treatment

. You will be told what is likely to happen to you if you refuse a treatment. Refusing a treatment will not affect your rights to future care but you take responsibility for the impact this decision may have on your health.

Do veterans get free healthcare?


We're committed to providing free health care for conditions related to military service and for Veterans with catastrophic disabilities and disability ratings of at least 50%

, as well as for those who can't afford to pay for care. Learn more about how we'll determine if you'll need to pay for any part of your care.

Will the VA pay for my ER visit?

In general,

VA can pay for emergency medical care at a local ER for a Veteran's service-connected condition, or if the care is related to a Veteran's service-connected condition

. VA can also pay for emergency medical care for a Veteran's non-service connected condition.

Can I lose my VA health benefits?


If you're in one of the lower priority groups, you could lose your VA health care benefits in the future

. If you don't keep your private insurance, this would leave you without .

Do all Veterans get benefits?


All Veterans receive coverage for most care and services, but only some will qualify for added benefits like dental care

. The full list of your covered benefits depends on: Your priority group, and.

Does VA pay secondary to Medicare?


VA benefits aren't secondary insurance to Medicare

, as they cover care at different types of facilities. Yet, if you are eligible for both, enrolling in both can round out your health care.

Do veterans have to pay for prescriptions?


Typically, VA drug coverage has no premiums and no or limited copayments for prescriptions

—but you must use VA pharmacies and facilities. You may want Part D coverage if you: Live far from a VA pharmacy or facility, or do not want to use a VA provider to get prescriptions.

Do veterans pay for prescriptions?


The VA pharmacy service provides prescription benefits to veterans enrolled in the VA health care system

.

Can a veteran get prescriptions through the VA?


If found to be catastrophically disabled, the Veteran will be enrolled and receive cost-free VA medical care and medications

; however, Veterans in this category may be subject to copayments for extended care (long-term care).

How the VA has illegally denied health care to thousands of veterans?

An estimated 400,000 former service members are at risk of wrongly being denied VA healthcare and other benefits, according to a 2020 study by OutVets, a group of LGBTQ+ military veterans. It showed that

gay and lesbian veterans and victims of military sexual assault are disproportionately at risk.

Do veterans like the VA?

The survey, which asked Veterans about their experience with VA health care since the MISSION Act was implemented, found that

more than 80% were satisfied with their VA health care

. Nearly 75% of Veteran respondents reported improvements at their local VA, and more than 90% would recommend VA care to fellow Veterans.

Are veterans happy with the VA?

This graph shows the percentage of U.S. Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who gave select ratings to their overall experience with VA health care services as of 2020. According to the data,

38 percent of respondents had rated their experience as “good”

.

Who gets VA benefits after death?

To be eligible for this benefit,

the claimant must be the eligible surviving spouse and/or child(ren) of a deceased wartime Veteran, who meets specific income and net worth requirements

. Children may be eligible if they are any of the following: Under the age of 18.

Can I add my family to my VA health insurance?

If I have a VA health plan, can my family sign up for insurance through Covered California? ​Yes. Even though you are covered by your VA health care enrollment,

your family members who are not eligible for a VA health care program may be able to receive health care coverage through Covered California

.

What are the income limits for VA health care 2020?

Veteran with: VA National Income Threshold VA Pension with Aid and Attendance Threshold
0 dependents


$34,171 or less


$22,939
1 dependents $41,005 or less $27,195 2 dependents $43,356 or less $29,546 3 dependents $45,707 or less $31,897

Will the VA pay for my ambulance?


VA can pay for emergency transportation provided by a community provider for a Veteran's service-connected condition and nonservice-connected condition

, but there are specific requirements that must be met before VA can reimburse these costs*.

Do VA benefits affect Social Security?

If you receive VA compensation, this

will not affect your Social Security benefits

.

Do you need Medicare Part B if you have VA benefits?

If you have VA benefits,

you do not have to enroll in Medicare in order to keep your VA benefits

. That being said, the Veterans Administration actually recommends veterans enroll in Medicare when they become eligible.

Can you make too much money for VA benefits?


VA disability compensation is not income-based

. Thus, the amount of money a veteran makes in a given year has no effect on his or her compensation.

How long do you have to be in the military to be considered a veteran?

To be considered a veteran, any military personnel must be on active-duty service for

at least 180 days

. The only exception is if the member sustained a service-related injury and was discharged under honorable conditions.

Why would a veteran not be eligible for VA benefits?

If you're a current or former member of the Reserves or National Guard, you must have been called to active duty by a federal order and completed the full period for which you were called or ordered to active duty.

If you had or have active-duty status for training purposes only

, you don't qualify for VA health care.

Do all veterans get a monthly check?


The Veterans Pension program provides monthly payments to wartime Veterans who meet certain age or disability requirements, and who have income and net worth within certain limits

.

What am I entitled to as a veteran?

There are many things you may be eligible for including

free medical benefits, discounts on hotel rooms, free fishing licenses

, and more. While no list can cover all the benefits you are entitled to, this page will help you know what you are entitled to, and how to get all you deserve.

What VA benefits do I qualify for with a honorable discharge?

An honorable discharge is by far the most common with over 85 percent of veterans receiving this type of discharge. Veterans with an honorable discharge are entitled to all VA benefits (e.g.,

disability compensation, educational, healthcare, vocational

).

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.