VA to Re-open Enrollment to 265,000 Vets

Military.com | Veterans Affairs (VA) | January 12, 2009
VA To Offer Health Care to Previously Ineligible Veterans

WASHINGTON -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today plans to re-open enrollment in its health care system by July 2009 to about 265,000 veterans whose incomes exceed current limits.

"We're pleased to be able to offer what has been called 'the best care anywhere' to many more new veterans," said Dr. James B. Peake, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. "We'll be able to provide these newly enrolled veterans with the kind of timely, high quality health care veterans who already use our system are accustomed to."

The change affects veterans whose incomes exceed the current VA means test and geographic means test income thresholds by 10 percent or less. Congress provided funds in VA's fiscal year 2009 budget to support the new enrollment.

In 1996, Congress established a priority-based enrollment system for VA and a uniform package of medical benefits for all enrollees. The legislation opened enrollment in VA's health care system to all eligible veterans and required that each year the Secretary of Veterans Affairs assess veterans' demand for services and determine if the necessary resources are available to provide timely, quality care to all enrollees.

Enrollment for the lowest priority of the eight groups--veterans who are not being compensated for a military-related disability and who have incomes above a set threshold--was suspended on January 18, 2003, although veterans in that priority group who were already enrolled for care were permitted to remain enrolled.

VA originally suspended enrollment for Priority 8 veterans because it was unable to provide all enrolled veterans with timely access to its health care due to a tremendous growth in the number of veterans then seeking enrollment. VA now plans to reopen enrollment for a portion of these veterans without compromising the Department's ability to provide high quality health care services to all enrolled veterans who are eligible for care.

VA's computer systems are being modified to accommodate the changes, and the Department is preparing communication and education materials to ensure that Congress, veterans service organizations, and the public are aware of the coming changes.

"The rule will take effect by June 30, 2009, if the regulatory process proceeds smoothly," Peake said. "We look forward to welcoming these newly eligible veterans into the VA system. VA will continue to monitor wait times to ensure the quality of care is not adversely affected."

Statement of Senator John F. Kerry Massachusetts

Every Veteran Deserves The Best Care
Recently, we've heard media reports suggesting that our brave returning military servicemembers are getting inferior care at Walter Reed Medical Center and other facilities when they return from serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. That’s unacceptable to me and it should be unacceptable to all of us. I intend to hold the Bush Administration accountable for the failure to anticipate the number of wounded militatry and to provide adequate care and outreach to families that are already hurting.
Congress is holding hearings and several investigations are underway. In the Senate, I am talking with colleagues about setting aside additional funds to pay for imemdiate improvements and additional staff to process paperwork. I intend to make sure that our bravest from Massachusetts get the care they deserve. Since 9-11, more than 15,000 servicemembers from Massachusetts have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan; another 2,200 were there as recently as Christmas. We have nearly 477,000 veterans in our state and all of them have earned our care and respect.

I encourage any returning servicemember or family of a servicemember who is having trouble getting the kind of health-care or counseling assistance from the miltiary of VA system that they need to reach out to my office. We are here for them and we will do everything we can to insure that everyone gets the help they need.

Home Loans Fund for MA Vets

Home Loans Fund for MA Vets
Week of July 14, 2008

Veterans in Massachusetts have access to low- or no-down payment mortgages under the "Home for the Brave" Program. The program will offer affordable home loans to Massachusetts veterans and will include mortgage insurance that will pay a veteran's monthly mortgage payment for up to six months if the veteran becomes unemployed or deployed on active duty. The program was developed by Mass Housing, the state's affordable housing bank. For more information, visit the MassHousing.com website. Learn about proposed national legislation to help vets through the mortgage crisis.

Connect with lenders ready to help you refinance.
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Bill would clear debt

Contact your Senators regarding
S.2536:'A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from collecting certain debts to the United States in the case of veterans who die as a result of a service-connected disability incurred or aggravated on active duty in a combat zone, and for other purposes.
Please pass this e-mail along to all who care that our service members are giving their lives for their country without their families having to sacrifice any more than they already have due to the loss of their loved one.
Link to the bill and to contact your Senators: http://www.congress.org/congressorg/issues/bills/?billtype=S.&billnumb=2536&congress=110