VA Benefits

[u.s.soldierlibke]

I clicked the search thing and tried using that but nothing came up regarding my questions so I'll just ask right out.

Right now my health insurance is through Medicaid, under my parents for the extent of my tuition at WyoTech. But that's only going to last another 5 months and then I'll be without any health insurance at all.

What I'm wondering is how does all the VA and stuff work? Am I insured 24/7 regardless just for having enlisted or is there paperwork I have to fill out and pay x amount of dollars a month like any normal health care plan?

[Sandbagger]

To get the best most up to date information, you should speak with a VA representative. You can start with their website.

www.va.gov

Active duty enlistees are not covered by the VA, they are covered by Tricare which is the military medical insurance. If you are active duty, you will know where your local military clinic/hospital is and will know how to get there to make appointments for care.

National Guard and Reserve forces are covered for ailments which come while the soldier is in the line of duty (LOD). Otherwise, subsidized insurance through Tricare is available for purchase for relatively low prices.

Unless I am mistaken, you will not be eligible for VA care until you 1) are discharged from the armed forces honorably and 2) register for benefits with the VA following your discharge. Those eligible for VA benefits fall into several different priority groups depending on nature and circumstances of service.

Your best option is to speak to a representative and determine what benefits you are eligible to receive.

I have a number for the VA if you want it.

1 800 827 1000 for benefits information. They are available from 0800 to 1600 Mo-Fri

[u.s.soldierlibke]

Ok, thanks much for the info. With the way I run my life (I BMX quite a bit and it's a regular thing for me to wind up in the hospital at least once a year) I definitely don't want to be stuck without health insurance and if it's as relatively cheap as you suggest then I shouldn't have too much trouble making ends meet.

[Sandbagger]

Ok, thanks much for the info. With the way I run my life (I BMX quite a bit and it's a regular thing for me to wind up in the hospital at least once a year) I definitely don't want to be stuck without health insurance and if it's as relatively cheap as you suggest then I shouldn't have too much trouble making ends meet.

Ask someone at your unit about signing up for "tricare reserve select"