For Your Benefit
For and about Hawaii's military
See also: In The Military
Higher-income vets still
eligible for some VA careQuestion: I understand the Department of Veterans Affairs is no longer accepting new higher-income veterans for enrollment. If I cannot be enrolled, will I still be eligible for VA hospital and outpatient care?
Answer: It is true that unless you are service-connected for a medical condition or a recipient of a Purple Heart, enrollment is closed at this time. However, you will still be eligible for hospital and outpatient care for conditions related to military sexual trauma or from exposure to Agent Orange, ionizing radiation or environmental contaminants; head or neck cancer related to nose or throat radium treatment while in the military; and treatment related to service-connected conditions.
You may wish to contact the Spark M. Matsunaga VA Medical Center at 433-0600 to learn if any other exceptions apply to you. Keep in mind that if the VA determines you have a condition requiring immediate treatment, VA will provide you services on a humanitarian basis. Please note, VA must charge you a usual and customary fee for such care.
Q: What if I'm catastrophically disabled?
A: If you have a permanent, severely disabling injury or condition that compromises your ability to carry out the activities of daily living and requires you to use personal or mechanical assistance to leave home or bed or require constant supervision to avoid physical harm, you may be catastrophically disabled. To request an evaluation, contact the VA Medical Center at 433-0600. If it is determined that you are catastrophically disabled, you will be assigned to Priority 4; however, if you previously made co-payments, you will still be responsible for those co-payments after moving to Priority 4.
If you have questions about your benefits as a veteran,
call Fred Ballard at the Veterans Affairs at 433-0049
or visit the VA Web site at www.va.gov/hawaii
or the Star-Bulletin at 529-4747.Gregg K. Kakesako, who covers military affairs for the Star-Bulletin,
can be reached by phone at 294-4075
or by e-mail at gkakesako@starbulletin.com.
