Veterans who are enrolled in any part of the VA Health Care System do not need to get health insurance through Obamacare, according to an the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
There are several parts to the VA Health Care system:Veterans health care program (for those who served a few years); VA Civilian Health and Medical Program (CHAMPVA); TRICARE
“If you are enrolled in VA health care, you do not need to take any additional steps to meet the health care law coverage standards,” Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said in a statement.
For information on how the Affordable Care Act affects the VA, check out www.va.gov/aca, The site says there will be no changes to benefits or out-of-pocket costs in 2014.
Veterans who are not in the VA system and who do not have health insurance should check out the VA to see if they meet the eligibility requirements .
To apply for VA benefits, go to www.va.gov/healthbenefits/enroll, or call (877) 222-8387.
I’ve talked with vets who are turning 65 and told them to check out the VA, especially if they take a lot of prescriptions. Expensive brand drugs are just $8 at the VA (though there are some drugs they don’t cover).
Several vets who got signed up for the VA reported back to me that the VA was easy to work with and very efficient. One man told me he was asked if he had served in Vietnam. When he said he had been in Vietnam, the VA rep said he would get a call from someone else – and he got the call within hours.
There is no enrollment fee or monthly premium for VA coverage. Depending on a person’s income and disability rating, some veterans will have higher out-of-pocket costs than others.