SERVING
Those That
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CHAMPVA
Did you know the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) is a program that offers additional healthcare benefits to the eligible spouse, widow, or children of a veteran? The program works with private insurance plans as well as Medicare policies to help reduce healthcare costs.
CHAMPVA covers various health services.
Some services need pre-authorization, which means that the doctor’s office or policyholder will confirm whether or not a service is covered.
A doctor must also accept CHAMPVA’s “allowable amount” for billing, which is the amount that CHAMPVA pays for a particular service. If a doctor accepts this amount, they cannot charge more.
The following are just a few of the services that CHAMPVA covers:
- Ambulatory services
- Durable medical equipment
- Home health care
- Hospice services
- Inpatient services
- Limited dental services
- Mental health services
- Outpatient services
- Pharmacy services
- Skilled nursing facility services
American Legion Services
Did you know American Legion Department Service Officers (DSOs) secured nearly $3.7 billion in benefits for the nation’s veterans during fiscal year 2020? The claim payments amassed for veterans by the American Legion come in the form of dependency and indemnity compensation, death compensation and veteran pensions. Nearly 7,400 new awards were issued during 2020, bringing the total number of claims being paid monthly to more than 880,000. Payments from these claims average nearly $1,400 monthly for these veterans and surviving family members.
Army Discharges Being Reviewed
Did you know the Army is set to review discharges for thousands of veterans affected by post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, military sexual trauma and other behavioral health conditions after a class-action lawsuit? The Army's announcement followed a settlement reached in November 2020 in the nationwide class-action lawsuit Kennedy v. McCarthy, which a federal court approved in late December 2020. The lawsuit became a class-action suit by former soldiers, which argued the Army needed major changes to its policies and procedures for reviewing discharge upgrade applications and to review previous applications that were denied.
About TEAM Act
Did you know the Transparency and Effective Accountability Measures for (TEAM) Veteran Caregivers Act takes a number of steps to improve VA transparency and communication by:
•Ensuring all caregivers are included in the veterans’ medical records. Currently, only certain caregivers participating in the Caregiver Support Program are included in veterans’ medical records. Including all caregivers in medical records strengthens communication between VA and caregivers and recognizes them as part of the clinical team.
•Requiring a minimum standard of information in downgrade notification letters. This bill would require VA to provide an explanation of downgrade or termination decisions. Caregivers have reported that their decision letters are sometimes missing important information that would be necessary to file an appeal.
•Extending benefits after certain veterans are deemed ineligible for the program. Caregivers have reported being dropped shortly after receiving a termination letter without adequate time to appeal or make new accommodations. This codifies a goal of maintaining care for an extended period of 150 days in certain cases where a veteran is terminated from the program.
Did You Know?
Low VA Ratings
Did you know it is a common mistake made by VA raters of giving veterans a rating much lower than what they actually qualify for? Experienced VSOs, attorneys, and veteran agents typically remind their clients they don’t have to accept the initial rating the VA gives them.
When VA Gives No Rating
Did you know if a veterans disability is the result of intentional
misconduct or wrongdoing, VA raters will not rate the disability? For example, if a veteran were to intentionally injure himself to get out of a military assignment, separate from the military or to potentially gain profit from an injury at time of separation, VA raters will not assign that injury a rating.
Hearing Aids Not Allowed
Did you know an examination for hearing impairment for VA purposes must be conducted by a state-licensed audiologist and must include a controlled speech discrimination test (Maryland CNC) and a puretone audiometry test? And, all hearing impaired examinations will be conducted without the use of hearing aids.
Widow Tax Being Phased Out
Did you know a long-decried law dubbed the “widow's tax” that reduced the amount of cash support some surviving military spouses could receive each month will begin a planned phaseout this month? The so-called tax, officially known as the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) offset, impacted surviving spouses who qualified for both SBP annuity payments and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) allowances from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The law required the SBP payments to be reduced by the amount of the DIC payments. That’s because federal law prevented "double-dipping," or receiving two separate federal benefits for the same reason.
Qualifying For SSDI
Did you know to qualify for the SSDI program, you must have worked a certain number of years in a job where you paid Social Security taxes (FICA) taxes? If you haven't worked long enough when you become disabled, and have low income and assets, you can apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) instead. Specifically, you need to have earned a certain number of work credits; you can earn up to four work credits per year.
Veterans Disproportionately Affected
Did you know mesothelioma, affects veterans at a disproportionate rate due to the high volume of asbestos on Navy ships, military barracks, military aircrafts, and military workcenters on military installations?
Organization Helping Veterans
Did you know the Santa Clarita Veteran Services Collaborative is a gathering of dedicated businessmen and women, nonprofit organizations, and individuals pledged to care for the interests of local veterans, active duty military and their families who have given and sacrificed so much for their country?
American Legion Continues To Help Veterans
Did you know free representation in 2020 by American Legion department veterans service officers (VSO) and national appeals representatives helped hundreds of thousands of veterans with VA benefits, according to end-of-year tallies? Notably, department veterans service officers nationwide helped veterans and their families obtain an estimated $3.7 billion in disability compensation and other benefits they were due.
Veterans Eligible To Enroll
Did you know the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that all Veterans who were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving in the military — at home or abroad — will be eligible to enroll directly in VA health care beginning March 5, 2024? This means that all Veterans who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Global War on Terror, or any other combat zone after 9/11 will be eligible to enroll directly in VA health care without first applying for VA benefits. Additionally, Veterans who never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards while training or on active duty in the United States will also be eligible to enroll.