USA VA Medical Coverage Advice

[gk10002000]

I am a veteran.  Served 10 years in the 80s-90s, two different tours of duty, each meets the continuous service  the VA requires for basic eligibility, honorable discharge, etc.    Thanks to some poster's advice here I looked into VA medical.  One thing that jumped out is that there are income limits, that they use to judge your admittance into the program and that enables you to get free care.  I would almost always every year have  residual and passive investment income from my stock and bond dividends and interest, and IRA distributions that would put me above the income limits for free care.   I don't have any disabilities, not a purple heart, etc.  I would no doubt be what I think they call Level 8.  That would be fine.  I don't mind paying copays. I just want to be in the VA system so I am exempt from Obamacare while I wait for medicare age to hit me and of course to be sure I am in the system in case I use or need or want some treatment.  

 

  My concern is, if I submit the initial application, I am pretty sure from what I read they would reject it, and they would not automatically give me the option of being enrolled and doing the copays.  In addition, it seems they every year check with the IRS and other agencies and get a read on your income and they may adjust your status.  I don't mind being the lowest level priority.  I just want to be sure I can get enrolled and stay enrolled.  As a note it looks like they typically use the last year's income as a check on what you are eligible for.  So this year is past history since I have been working and well over the VA income limits which means next year I wouldn't be eligible for the free care.  again, I don't care about the free care. I just want too be in the system so I can check off on the IRS 1040 I am covered, and I won't have any monthly premiums.  I am fine with paying copays.

 

Has anybody had any experience with getting into and then out and then back into VA?  Is anybody in the system and NOT getting the free care but is doing the copays?

 

Thanks

[gk10002000]

My own follow up.  I sent an email to the VA and I received an email back just a few hours later:  This seems too easy.  The VA will process the application and assign me the Level 8 and I am in and good to go?  I guess I will give it a try.  I think I will try and call them first next week.  The reason is, I am guessing it is better to not get rejected and it might keep things neater going forward.  But if this happens, wow.  So many options as I coast into Social Security, retire from work early and not have to worry about Obamacare which for the cheapest plan in Florida for me would start at $508/month!  Single male, 60.  I guess I could find some way to NOT make any money, and then qualify for subsidies, but that bar is pretty low, and I am not going through the hassle of everyyear paying in or paying out as the ACA updates what you paid or didn't pay based on the actual income earned.  I keep my taxes simple and invest in mostly tax free things, so having to deal with ACA rebates and adjustments constantly annoys me

 

Recently you requested assistance from VA. Below is our response.

If you wish to reopen this issue, you may do so within the next 14 days.

Thank you for allowing us to be of service to you.
 

Response By Email (Department of Veterans Affairs) (06/16/2017 06:51 PM)

Dear Mr. Kxxxxxxxx

Thank you for your service to our country.

As long as the financial information is provided on the application and a copy of your DD214 is included for proof of military service it will be processed. The paper application does not offer a box stating yes or no that you agree to pay applicable co-payments. The signature line on the last page of the application covers that item. You can find the that information in Section VII of the application, where it states by submitting the application your are agreeing to co-payments.

Once the application is received it can take up to 7 business days for processing and you will receive a letter on the decision within 14 business days of that.

Edited June 17, 2017 by gk10002000

[gk10002000]

And one more addition.  Even though the email said just apply and things will be fine, when I go to the page that checks for your eligibility and put in my income, it says I am NOT eligible to enroll. Of course that is just its help tool.  Nothing prevents me from submitting the application which is done by a separate form.  So seems 50/50 that I can enroll and will then be automatically classified as priority 8 and pay co-pays.  I get the bad feeling they won't let one join and they prioritize even the enrollments.  Will find out next week

[Grubster]

41 minutes ago, gk10002000 said:

And one more addition.  Even though the email said just apply and things will be fine, when I go to the page that checks for your eligibility and put in my income, it says I am NOT eligible to enroll. Of course that is just its help tool.  Nothing prevents me from submitting the application which is done by a separate form.  So seems 50/50 that I can enroll and will then be automatically classified as priority 8 and pay co-pays.  I get the bad feeling they won't let one join and they prioritize even the enrollments.  Will find out next week

Maybe things changed but I enrolled in 2005 when having 400,000 in my 401K and was making 70,000+ per year and no problem. I think I only showed my taxable income, I really like the care they give too, when you have an appointment at Hines hospital in Chicago you better be there on time because you won't be sitting for a couple hours waiting like you do on the outside. Good Luck       You should consider joining the VFW as they have service officers to answer all those types of ?s for you, maybe file claims too.

[gk10002000]

10 hours ago, Grubster said:

Maybe things changed but I enrolled in 2005 when having 400,000 in my 401K and was making 70,000+ per year and no problem. I think I only showed my taxable income, I really like the care they give too, when you have an appointment at Hines hospital in Chicago you better be there on time because you won't be sitting for a couple hours waiting like you do on the outside. Good Luck       You should consider joining the VFW as they have service officers to answer all those types of ?s for you, maybe file claims too.

Thanks Grubster.  That seems to be basically what the email from them said.  May I ask if you do the co-pays or now make less than 70k and get the free stuff?  Also, are you still doing VA and therefore not doing ACA/Obamacare?

 

Again, Many thanks. 

[Grubster]

4 hours ago, gk10002000 said:

Thanks Grubster.  That seems to be basically what the email from them said.  May I ask if you do the co-pays or now make less than 70k and get the free stuff?  Also, are you still doing VA and therefore not doing ACA/Obamacare?

 

Again, Many thanks. 

I now have some service connected disabilities that gives me full VA care with no copays, I do know that once you are enrolled in the VA you do not have to have Obama care. I live here in Thailand now so I am only covered here for my service connected stuff, but I can go home to get full care if needed. I think I only had to pay for drugs before I got the service connected stuff. There are five VFW posts here in Thailand if you are ever interested in that. My post is in Udon Thani

[gk10002000]

Grubster, yes enrollment policies have changed over the years. In 2009 they allowed people to enrolling in priority 7 and 8, having not allowed it for a while. Later congress floated an approach to allegedly save 6 Billion a year by again not allowing Vets to enroll in 7 0r 8.  At the moment, the eligibility calculator steadfastly applies the income table limits.  That lady that emailed back to me said I can enroll.  So it is not clear what the current policy is towards priority 7 and 8 being allowed to enroll.

 

http://vmwusa.org/index.php/healthcareservices/hcarticles/47-health/1079-va-care-end-eyed-for-13-million-vets