Reimbersement Of Out Of Pocket Medical Expenses

[edtremblay]

Hi I stumbled across this info I hope it helps some of you it has given me some hope

VA WILL NOW NOTIFY VETERANS OF POSSIBLE MEDICAL

EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT IN COMPENSATION AWARD

LETTER -- Veterans have the right to request

reimbursement from the VA for care received

prior to a decision on a compensation claim.

Story below:

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This comes from a press release from Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Press release here... http://www.vawatchdog.

org/07/scva07/scva052907-1.htm

Press release below:

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DEMOCRATIC PRESS RELEASE

May 29, 2007

AKAKA PRAISES VA AGREEMENT TO NOTIFY INJURED VETS OF POTENTIAL MEDICAL EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to a letter that U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, sent to VA Secretary James Nicholson, VA has announced will be revising veterans’ compensation award notification letters to include disclosure that, as a result of the award, medical copayments may be reduced or eliminated. Veterans have the right to request reimbursement from VA for care received prior to a decision on a compensation claim, but many veterans are not aware of this benefit.

“Given that over 25 percent of veterans seeking compensation are waiting more than six months for their claims to be adjudicated, I am pleased that VA is now fulfilling its legal responsibility to provide service-connected medical care. The out-of pocket costs paid by veterans during that waiting period can be considerable and they deserve to be compensated,” stated Akaka.

VA will inform veterans that they may contact their medical centers regarding potential refunds of out-of-pocket medical expenses, or reduced copayments, based on grants of service-connection or increased evaluation. These revised award notification letters will begin going out to veterans next month.

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Larry Scott --