Secondary Insurance With Va Benefits

[lobo]

I am a 100% disabled veteran on Aid & Attenance, non service connected, recieve VA benefits. I was on Medicaid 6 or 7 years prior to going on VA benefits. I have a problem though, I live in Panama City Florida and their is no VA hospital near me in case I need to see a Doctor, I thought the VA would pay any Doctor you saw but that is not the case. There is a small VA outpatient clinic about 25 miles from where I am and my assigned VA Hospital is in Biloxi, Miss. I need some kind of insurance to see a Doctor locally in emergency, no dental, eye glasses or hospital stays. I had a Brain operation about 20 years ago that left me a few fries shy of a happy meal, no head problems since. I can't drive, see funny, double vision, hard to walk, talk. Would it be possible to get on medicaid or medicare just to pay for Doctor visits, I would be willing to pay if it was not to much. I would still keep my VA benefits for everything else, thank you. Where should I go for insurance to see local Doctor and emergency room?, thanks.

[carlie]

Pension is income dependent and SSA benefits usually knock you out of Pension.

[Philip Rogers]

Yes, they can. The pension amount will be reduced by whatever the SSA/SSDI amount is and if the SSA/SSDI amount exceeds the pension amount the pension will be discontinued, altogether.

pr

Can a vet get SSD and a VA NSC pension at the same time? I know lobo wants to get medicare but can he do it if he has a NSC pension?

Edited February 6, 2011 by Philip Rogers

[Philip Rogers]

lobo, most hospitals have a sliding scale for low income patients. Also many receive funds from the feds and have to provide either free or reduced fee services under the Hill-Burton Act. As for doctors you may be able to find a local free clinic somewhere nearby. As for emergency care you can check-in a local emergency room and advise them to contact the VA for you.

pr

I am a 100% disabled veteran on Aid & Attenance, non service connected, recieve VA benefits. I was on Medicaid 6 or 7 years prior to going on VA benefits. I have a problem though, I live in Panama City Florida and their is no VA hospital near me in case I need to see a Doctor, I thought the VA would pay any Doctor you saw but that is not the case. There is a small VA outpatient clinic about 25 miles from where I am and my assigned VA Hospital is in Biloxi, Miss. I need some kind of insurance to see a Doctor locally in emergency, no dental, eye glasses or hospital stays. I had a Brain operation about 20 years ago that left me a few fries shy of a happy meal, no head problems since. I can't drive, see funny, double vision, hard to walk, talk. Would it be possible to get on medicaid or medicare just to pay for Doctor visits, I would be willing to pay if it was not to much. I would still keep my VA benefits for everything else, thank you. Where should I go for insurance to see local Doctor and emergency room?, thanks.

[Chuck75]

In this case, it looks like SSDI needs some consideration. SSDI eventually also includes Medicare(Two year wait).

The 10 years since holding a job can be a problem. The first criteria to meet might be 40 quarters paid in to SSA.

Present age was not mentioned. It's true that SSDI/SSA payments are deducted from what the VA might pay, or, cause the VA pension to be eliminated.

Only 25 miles away for a VA facility? In our case the nearest VAMC is 60 miles, and cannot handle urgent treatment for many serious problems common to veterans.

There is no "supplementary" insurance related to VA medical care. In order to have such a thing, you usually have to carry Medicare A&B (Age dependent) and some sort of group insurance.

When you reach 65, some group insurance forces a change to "Medicare Advantage", which seems to be to insurance companies benefit more than that of the client. Both Medicare and the client pay the insurance company.

The Client for coverage, and Medicare for administrative costs.