The VA??
 

My husband spent 30 yrs in military. Marines and army. When he went over to register, they told him he makes too much money. Is this possible? We both combined don't make more then 100,000 a yr. Are only low income veterans eligible? His insurance through his job doesn't have dental, eyeglasses or hearing aids? Anyone know VA eligibility rules?? Why would they need .y income? He is the veteran, not me?

Here are the income rules:

Annual Income Limits - Health Benefits

Since your husband retired with Tricare its a separate bucket of money than VA disability funding.
If your husband has a service related disability there is no income limit.

No service injury but at Camp Lejeune a year

Did you meet with a DAV person yet? If he was in CL claim need to be filed.

Could u kindly explain the tri care? Tk u

Dav?? No. What is that? No one explained anything

Tri Care is the health insurance that Military services provides to their retirees. Since your husband served more than 20 years, he should qualify, and he can enroll you also.

TriCare will always be secondary to any other health insurance that you have. So if he has health insurance through his employment, that pays first, then TriCare picks up any balance remaining.

Is he on Medicare yet? Then Medicare pays first, and TriCare picks up any balance remaining. So you do not need a Medicare supplement or drug plan. All doctors around The Villages are happy to accept TriCare.

I'm not certain how it works now if he is too young for Medicare. When we were that age, the veteran was covered as of age 60, I paid a premium until 65. Might be different now.

Check with the military benefits office.

Once on Tricare, he can get hearing aids, dental care, and vision care if he goes to a military base. Jacksonville NAS or Tampa (McDill) are closest.

Tk u for being kind and trying to explain. He is 70 and yes has Medicare and decent health insurance through job. Where do I meet with military personnel to discuss what exactly he is eligible for?

Yes, that sounds about right.

My husband - 4 years in he Army doesn't qualify either because they stated that he was way over the income level to recieve any Veterans benefits.

My brother - 4 years in the Navy - same song and dance to him.

The VA folks in The Villages did tell my husband that he should feel very lucky not to have to depend on those benefits because he's so financially independent.
Go fiqure ~

The fact still remains that my husband did serve his country as well...does that not count for anything ?

That's why I'm confused? 25 plus yrs? He signed up during Vietnam but they didn't send him over. Marines few yrs then army NG 25 yrs and he can't go to VA?

Heart and soul the day your husband retired from the military he received medical and pension.
VA medical was a good recruiting lie.
With TriCare you can go to any doctor or medical facility here in The Villages you have a clinic nearest VA hospital is Tampa. Orlando and Gainesville. Since your husband is now on Medicare TriCare is your secondary insurance.

VA Eligibility Rules
 

The eligibility rules for VA Health Care are complicated. Yes, income might be a deciding factor among the many. There are many issues such as Medal of Honor recipient, VA disability, Honorable discharge, service during certain dates, and many others. For example, I have an honorable discharge after 24 years service including the Vietnam era. My service is all very nice but that alone isn't enough for VA health care. Thankfully, I was not injured, I wasn't a Prisoner of War, and I don't have a certified VA disability. Plus, my income level rules out VA Health Care Certification.

Here is a comprehensive site to read - and it will take you some time to read, study and understand: VA Priority Groups | Veterans Affairs

That contains lots of information but after studying it, you will be in a better position to ask VA for amplification. Best of luck.

Go online to
HTTPS://tricare.mil/tfl

There is a place to ask questions and phone numbers to call.

Or, call DEERS 800-538-9552


Is he receiving a military pension?

Retired military ID card is all you need.
 

If you have a military retired ID card, that is all you need. Just show that at the doctor's office. It is your TRICARE card.

This is where you want to go for help and information. Call first for an appointment.

Sumter County Veteran Services | Sumter County, FL - Official Website

The VA is a different entity from Tricare. There are no income requirements for Tricare, but the VA does have income requirements and again, Tricare is a SEPARATE entity from the VA.

Do you have documentation such as Military ID card(s) and documentation such as his DD214? I suggest you contact the Retirement Services Officer at Ft. Stewart, GA.

Without knowing your exact situation, it is hard to advise. My husband is retired military and can explain in more detail to your husband if you are interested. Please email me through this website and he may be able to explain some things to you and your husband regarding tricare and VA.

Va services
 

Call the VA service center in sumpter country located in the same building the DMV is off of Powell Road. Robert is one of the reps there and can probably answer your questions. Make an appointment. His number is: 352-689-4400.

I was told in 2017 by the VA that I needed a VSO officer. He got me 50% disabled, of which 20% was for a disease I never had!

Please check out the PACT ACT. The PACT Act And Your VA Benefits | Veterans Affairs This is a way to establish care if the Veteran is not disabled(service connected) during the time frames. If your husband was at Camp LeJuene -- you absolutely need to use the act to make this happen. Get a Veterans Service Officer (VSO) to help you, the team at the Sumter County Veterans office are good.

Do retired military get free health insurance?
After you retire, but prior to your 65th birthday (or Medicare eligibility), you remain eligible for regular Tricare just like you had on active duty. These programs are: Tricare Prime: A health maintenance organization-type managed care program for which retirees are required to pay an annual enrollment fee.
Retired military should get insurance through tri-care same as when on active duty . Not VA healthcare .

Just one amplification on Tricare to what has been discussed above. As stated above, Tricare is a secondary medical insurance, but for veterans under the age of 65. With Tricare, you pay a premium like other medical insurances.

For honorably discharged retirees with 20 or more years of service, "Tricare for Life" kicks in at age 65. It also is a secondary insurance. However, it is free and a spouse is eligible when he or she turns 65. I have Tricare for Life and it has covered all expenses for my bride and I including several major surgeries and co-pays. One caveat ..... if Medicare refuses coverage for a medical procedure, Tricare for Life will not cover it either.

The best advice as stated above is to make an appointment with a Veteran Service Office and get the straight skinny on the programs available. Hope this helps.

In addition to income, the VA heath care eligibility is subject to an asset cap. Often this is the trick. I looked for what the current cap is but could not find it. As I recall, it does exclude the equity in your primary residence.

If he served in the military and participated in a war, then he gets full benefits regardless of income. He was in the service for 30 years? When he retired he should have received a benefits pkg explaining everything. There is a VA in The Villages. Check with them for what he is or isn’t qualified for. And I thank him for his service.

OP, you and your spouse are covered under Tri-Care for Life and Medicare. You don't need to do anything with the VA, ignore the posts telling you to keep trying with them. You have already gotten their decision. The wife and I have Tri-Care for Life and Medicare and haven't had to pay a penny for our medical needs. As has been stated by other posters, if you have a military ID, that is your Tri-Care for Life medical card. Get with a military retired assistance office and become informed on your entitlements and rights.

RETIRED military are automatically eligible for tricare. Under 65, the member has to select a plan and enroll. My wife is 62 and pays $192 (approx) per year for Tricare select. The insurance is very good. I had tricare select until I reached 65, then my tricare automatically switched to TFL, tricare for Life, which has no premium payment. But TFL is a supplementary insurance and the member must enroll in Medicare as primary (A&B, or C) to receive TFL.

Thank u

Thats really frustrating. I'm in year 9 of my VA appeal to increase my disability for injuries received while in service. They acknowledge the disability and its service connection, yet have yet to determine percentages. Thankfully I got a lawyer but 9 years is a long time and there are currently 62,341 appeals ahead of me....down from 137,496.

I don't know if I'd be proud of that 20%......

Tri Care coverage
 

I beg your pardon. TRICARE does NOT cover hearing aides, or dental. They only cover what medicare cover. Medicare does cover 1 pr gasses annually, so tricare picks up its co pay.

I am in the same boat. Did not go to Vietnam, and make too much money in retirement. All I would be interested in are hearing aids being around jet engines in my military career.

They need to apply for a service connected disability. They need their military health records to prove disability. For example tinnitus is a 10% disability. I believe once in system with the service connected disability they should quailify for VA health care as well as Tricare. I have both, retired in 1992, started the disability process in 1995.
Your medical records from active duty are critical. Sprained ankles, bad back etc. while in service.

I am 20% DAV with only 5 years in the Air Force. I have VA medical but they do not cover dental unless you are at least 40% DAV. They did just supply me with top of the line hearing aids from Starky labs with no cost. The problem is they are so backed up here in Panama City that I have to wait at least 2 months for an appt. So I just go to a clinic in town and have my Post office medical cover it. I am not old enough for medicare yet but my wife is. I never received a bill before my wife got medicare(now I have to resend bills in constantly before they are finally paid!).

You husband was probably like me, didn’t go to hospital/sick call for every little achy thing and now realize’s we should have. VA really for disabled vets regardless of time serviced. (IMO VA discriminated against retirees). If his DD214 was clean and he had no medical condition when retired now he will have to prove medical related condition that was caused by service to get VA benifits, `good luck with that.

Tricare for life along with Medicare should take care of all you’re and his medical needs except what you mentioned, even to get dental through VA that’s special requirement. I had 21 years active and was told same thing.

Medicare and TCL has done everything I expected it to do. If your husband has cataracts Medicare and tricare will pay for removal and corrective lens so he won’t need glasses other than to read depending on his condition?

Dental? you out there with worthless dental plans.

Try contacting the United Way in Leesburg. Ask for Tracey Schoomacker (I know I'm spelling this wrong but it sounds this way.) He is a veteran who guides veterans to get the benefits they deserve. He is a good place to start. I wish your husband and you the best with this.

The VA was originally established to care for injured soldiers and their widows and children but not for their healthcare. If you are a service connected veteran, you get free care for the service connected disability no matter how much you make. If you were in for 4 years and were never injured then you do not qualify for any healthcare. Obamacare made it possible to choose the VA as a provider if you met other criteria. The VA was never sold as a healthcare program for people who were not injured while on duty or retired with other medical benefits.

Traditional Medicare and coverage for eyeglasses:

Eyeglasses Coverage

There are many filling out false incomes

And false claims. :shocked:

Any additional award should be retroactive. He would receive a lump sum and an increased monthly award if the % is increased.

One of your subsequent posts on this topic may have shed a little more light on your dilemma. You mentioned that your husband spent about five years on active duty, and then the remainder of his time was spent in the National Guard.

If you retire from the National Guard, the rules surrounding healthcare are a little bit different. You may want to review the following:

https://www.tricare.mil/-/media/File..._Retire_Br.pdf