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If you are a veteran who served AT ANY TIME you should register with your local VA. One of the promises that I got at the time of enlistment was that I could go to the VA after I got out. When you are young but never suffered any injury in the military you generally don't think about the VA when you get out. Being involved with Veterans Organizations I have learned that was a mistake.

The American Legion years ago pushed for all Veterans to register with the VA even if you didn't think you needed it. The idea is to let our government know just how many veterans are out there and how many could or would use the VA at some point in their lives. The registration of veterans was successful as the VA was inudated with Veterans registering. So many in fact that the VA Secretary Principi (Now gone) had to put a freeze in place so even though you registered you can't get into the system for now due to the overwhelming number of veterans now in the system.

If you were service-connected when you got out you should have been going to the VA from that time. If you were not you would need to register now with your LOCAL VA in your state. You must request the VA Form 10-10EZR IF you have never been rated with a disabilty. As a non-service connected veteran you can still go to the VA. I do. My current insurance carrier pays the VA for any healthcare I get and my prescriptions. The means test determines if non-service connected need to pay a co-pay or ot. It is dependent on your income (which includes your wife's, which I DO NOT AGREE WITH), and then the VA will set an amount that you will pay for visits.

The VA went though some changes recently. Now all office visits are $15 and going to a specialty clinic is $50 or higher. If you have no insurance that amount I just listed is all you would pay if you went to the VA. All prescriptions cost $7 per prescription. If you take one the cost is $7. If you take 10 your cost is $70. So if you take any medications currently you can see the savings you will get by getting into the VA system.

The information I am giving you comes from a book titled "What Every Veteran Should Know" 2003 printing which is the lates book put out that I received from Veterans Affairs. As with anything with our government there can be changes made since the book was printed. But for the most part you will find the information very accurate.

VA Eligibility

Been discharged from active military service UNDER HONORABLE conditions

Served a minimum of 2 years, if discharged after September 7, 1980 (prior to this date there is no limit)
this does not address if you have been on active duty serveral times like I have been!

If National Guard or Reserve, served the entire period for which called to active duty other than for training purposes.

If you got hurt at anytime active duty, National Guard or Reserve on active duty and you got hurt and your are discharged with a disability you would automatically be eligilbe for the VA

The VA breaks veterans into 8 catagories called Priority Groups The book shows 7 but now there are 8. These groups are as follows:

Priority Group 1: 50% or more Service-Connected

Priority Group 2: 30-40% Service-Connected

Priority Group 3: Former POW's, veterans discharged for a disability that occurred in the line of duty, 10-20% service-connected, purple heart recipients and veterans awarded a special eligibilty classification under Titlle 38, USC, Section 1151.

Priority Group 4: Veterans who are receiving aid and attendance or household benefits, or who have been determined by VA to be catastrophically disabled.

Priority Group 5: Non-Service Connected and service-connected rated 0% disabled whose annual income and net worth are below the established dollar threshold. Veterans in this catagory MUST provide the VA with information on their annual income and net worth. This threshold is adjusted annually and announced in January.

Priority Group 6: All other veterans who are not required to make co-payments for their care which includes those with disabilities resulting from exposure to toxic substances, radiation or for disorders associated with service in the Gulf War or for any illness associated with service in combat in a war after the Gulf War or during a period of hositility after November 11, 1998, and compensible 0% rated service-connected.

Priority Group 7: Non-service connected veterans and nocompensable 0% service-connected veterans whose needed care cannot be provided by enrollong in any of the other groups listed above and who agree to pay specified co-payments.

Now there is a Priority Group 8 which is broken down into many catagories that keeps changing. I am now in this group. This group breaks the veterans down into catagories based on need and financial ability to pay and if they are insured. The VA wants to recoup the money the spend on you if they can. And I understand that.

Anyway for this first article I have given you veterans out there a lot to think about. I do recommend you visit your VA hospital and get enrolled ASAP. You are helping your fellow veterans as well as yourself. And we are letting the government know we are out here and we are a voice that they need to listen too.

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MJN