North West San Antonio VA Clinic | VA South Texas health care | Veterans Affairs (2023)

FAQs

Can I use my VA health insurance anywhere? ›

To use VA benefits, you'll need to get care at a VA medical center or other VA location.

The VA Community Care Network (CCN) is VA's direct link with community providers to ensure Veterans receive timely, high-quality care. CCN uses industry-standard approaches and guidelines to administer services, pay for services promptly, and manage the network to its full potential.

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.

Remember that you can keep your VA health benefits to get coverage for health care services and items not covered by Medicare, such as over-the-counter medications, annual physical exams, and hearing aids.

Under VEVRAA, a veteran may be classified as a ''disabled veteran,'' ''recently separated veteran,'' ''active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran,'' or ''Armed Forces service medal veteran. ''

You will generally get an initial rating within six months of filing a claim, but the actual length of time for claims has varied widely from 90 days to 2 years.

How do I talk to a VA doctor? ›

VA Online Scheduling (formerly known as the Veteran Appointment Request (VAR) App) allows Veterans who are in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system to self schedule and request primary care appointments.

VA provides health care for Veterans from providers in your local community outside of VA. Veterans may be eligible to receive care from a community provider when VA cannot provide the care needed.

All non-urgent and non-emergent care requires authorization from VA in advance. Eligibility and claims submission information for emergent care will be provided after notification is made to the VA.

What is the Veterans Community Care program? Replacing the Veterans' Choice Program, the Veterans Community Care program allows eligible veterans to get medical aid through in-network providers that are not a part of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). This program was created under the VA Mission Act of 2018.

The prescription drug benefits from the VA are considered to be as good as or better than Medicare Part D, which the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services calls “creditable coverage,” so you won't have to pay a penalty if you decide to sign up for Part D later.

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.

Calling 1-877-222-VETS (8387) Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET. Presenting their health insurance card to the clinic clerk during check-in. VA health care is NOT considered a health insurance plan.

If you receive a disability pension based on years of service, retroactive retirement pay based on VA disability rating, or disability payments received for injuries resulting from a terrorist or military action you must count these as income.

Your VA benefits will last for your whole life. Even if your disability is classified as less than total and not permanent, if you've been collecting benefits for 20 years or more, the amount of your benefit won't go down.

Can you have VA benefits and Medicare Part D? ›

If you choose to enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan you will still be eligible to receive all of your current VA health and prescription drug benefits. You do not have to choose between VA prescription drug benefits and a Medicare prescription drug plan; you may have either or both.

Since the DD Form 214 is issued to those leaving the active military as well as to members of the National Guard and Reserves completing their initial active duty for training, possession of this document does not necessarily mean the student is a veteran.

Service members must have served a minimum of 24 months of active duty to be considered a veteran. If the service member becomes disabled because of their time in the service, there is no minimum length of service to qualify for VA benefits.

VA medical facilities provide a wide range of services, including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy.

Veterans and beneficiaries may apply for enrollment in the VA health care system at any time. There are no monthly or annual enrollment premiums, deductibles or cost shares. Some Veterans may be assessed copays for cer- tain health care services.

The VA health care system performs similar to or better than non-VA systems on most measures of inpatient and outpatient care quality, although there is high variation in quality across individual VA facilities, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

The VA typically only pays disability compensation going back to the date of discharge to veterans who apply for their VA disability benefits within one year of being discharged.

Answer. Almost everyone who is approved for disability gets backpay, whether the claim is for SSDI or SSI, or both. Backpay (past due benefits) are paid out in just about every single disability case.

What is the difference between Veterans Affairs and Veterans Administration? ›

In 1988, President Ronald Reagan elevated the Veterans Administration to a U.S. Cabinet-level department. The change took effect in 1989, and the VA was renamed the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. 1 As such, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs performs all of these functions.

ATLAS (Accessing Telehealth through Local Area Stations) is part of VA's Anywhere to Anywhere telehealth initiative, which sets out to better serve the nearly 9 million Veterans who receive care through VA – no matter where they are.

The Special Agent/Inspectors are in regular contact with their respective VA Police Chiefs; responding as needed to trouble spots. In order to ensure the effectiveness of the Security and Law Enforcement programs of VA Medical Centers, the Police Service provides a comprehensive program of on-site inspections.

Through the VA Video Connect app, you can have a video telehealth appointment with your VA provider. You can also invite your family members and caregiver to join the video visit.

What is a Nexus Letter? Nexus letters for vets are evidence-based documents prepared by qualified and credible medical experts. Their purpose is to show a connection between the veteran's current disability or medical condition, and one or more events that occurred during their time in the Armed Forces.

VA Health Chat allows Veterans to immediately connect with VA health care clinicians over text-messaging. No need to travel to a VA facility.

Click anywhere in the calendar. In the event box that pops up, click Appointment slots. Enter the details, including a title, and pick the calendar where you want the event to show up. To add more information, like a location or description, click More options.

You should make an appointment by calling or by email. Do not try to make appointments by text, unless you are simply asking a good friend if they would like to have lunch. When making an appointment you should give the person your name and the reason for wanting an appointment.

• Time Sensitive Appointments-appointments that, in the clinical. judgement of the provider, must occur on a before a certain date.

VA might be able to do for you. When it is not possible for you to go to a VA Medical Center, you should go to the nearest hospital that has an emergency room. If you are in an ambulance, the paramedics will usually take you to the closest emergency room.

Does the VA pay for colonoscopy? ›

What services does VA provide for colon cancer screening? VA offers a variety of tests to screen for colon cancer, including Fecal Immunochemical Tests (FIT) and colonoscopies.

The prior authorization process begins when a service prescribed by a patient's physician is not covered by their health insurance plan. Communication between the physician's office and the insurance company is necessary to handle the prior authorization.

In 2021, CVS Health, CVS/pharmacy's parent company, created new Veterans Advantage prescription pharmacy benefits and urgent care savings. CVS/pharmacy has a long-standing commitment to veterans.

If you have other forms of health care coverage (like a private insurance plan, Medicare, Medicaid, or TRICARE), you can use VA health care benefits along with these plans. Yes.

The VA provides health care for preventative disease control to avoid infectious diseases to veterans for free. Shingles, flu and Covid-19 vaccinations are all free.

All health insurance plans regardless of the state of purchase will cover emergency services at any hospital in the United States, with the exception of Hawaii. However, non-emergency care, like primary care visits, might not be covered.

Q. Can I use my Medicaid coverage in any state? A: No. Because each state has its own Medicaid eligibility requirements, you can't just transfer coverage from one state to another, nor can you use your coverage when you're temporarily visiting another state, unless you need emergency health care.

Most Blue Cross Blue Shield members can rest easy since Blue Cross Blue Shield coverage opens doors in all 50 states and is accepted by over 90 percent of doctors and specialists. And if your extended travel plans take you abroad, you can ensure you have access to quality care through GeoBlue.

You can't transfer state administered benefits to a new state. However, with careful planning you can apply in your new home state without a lapse in benefits. Let's go over the process for transferring the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Unemployment Insurance, and Medicaid as examples.

Can you have health insurance in two states? ›

Multi-state plans are available in 35 states as of 2020. Check with a health insurance website for the most up-to-date multi-plan availability, and read plan details carefully to understand their networks and benefits.

VA medical facilities provide a wide range of services, including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy.

En español | You aren't required to sign up for Medicare if you have health care coverage through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), but the VA encourages veterans to sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B during their initial enrollment period at 65, unless they also have group insurance from a current ...

Can I get free VA health care as a Veteran? You can get free VA health care for any illness or injury that we determine is related to your military service (called “service connected”). We also provide certain other services for free.

Technically, there's no formal program or option that allows you to transfer your Medicaid coverage from one state to another. Therefore, if you're relocating, you'll need to re-apply for Medicaid in the state you're planning to reside in.

Federal Poverty Level thresholds to qualify for Medicaid

For example, in 2022 it is $13,590 for a single adult person, $27,750 for a family of four and $46,630 for a family of eight. To calculate for larger households, you need to add $4,720 for each additional person in families with nine or more members.