Champva And Survivors

[john999]

What happens when the ChampVA sponsor dies and before the surviving spouse has their DIC approved? Does ChampVA stop until the survivor gets their DIC claim approved? If my wife were to be on Medicare as primary and ChampVA as the secondary medigap coverage and I croak then what? I know the money from my compensation stops, but do all the other benefits to the spouse stop as well until she/he has DIC approved? My wife is entitled to three survivor pensions so to speak. She would be eligible for my SSA, my Civil Service survivor pension and to DIC. The thing is how long does it take for all this to kick in after she applies? Not many survivors just snap out of it in a week and then claim their life insurance and all their survivor pensions. They have to bury their vet and deal with all that plus they might be in grief for a while. The way I see it the survivor can't afford to grieve if they want to keep paying their bills. Now I have some of this taken care of but the insurance thing worries me. One thing I do know is that the vet and the spouse need an emergency fund that will carry them at least 6 months while all this stuff gets worked out. I have the disabled vet insurance which is enough to bury me, but do undertakers extend credit based on the VA insurance? Even if a vet has the grave and headstone paid for by the VA the service and all the extras can come out to $5000-6000. I did take a course in financial planning but I did not get to that specific section I guess. My wife always avoids my talking about what she will have to do if I leave this world before her. She says " John, you worry too much!" Yeah, I have been dealing with the VA for 40 odd years, so I do worry. I think it would behoove her to get one of those medicare advantage plans so she would not be high and dry if I croak and she has to wait for DIC claim.

John

[atomicwidow]

We think alike, Berta. I'll begin wordsmithing my Notice of Disagreement as I await the doctor's clarification.

I understand medical lingo and I'm succinct, these skills will help. In my professional writing, I try to say as much as necessary and as little as possible.

Thanks!

[atomicwidow]

I thought I'd share a brief update.

I received the letter of clarification from the diagnosing MD. I mailed my Notice of Disagreement with this letter; I received the Regional Office's letter asking whether I wanted to go with the Decision Review Officer process or Traditional Appeal Process. I selected the DRO. That was in early April.

So now I wait, again. Any guess how long? I'm expecting 4-6 month minimum?

[Gastone]

John: Did you ever sign up for the $10K VA Life Ins?

I've discussed "End of Life," not a very popular topic, with a group of Fellow Nam Vets that get together every couple weeks. After broaching the topic, most agree that getting their ducks in a row way before is appropriate. Completing all the VA forms in advance, except for date might be prudent. My personal experience indicates that usually 1 family member or good friend usually rises to the occasion to help the Wife/family. Sometimes that person is the last you would have expected. As with a Will/Trust, always best to get your instructions down in clear, precise writing so there is as few problems as possible, you won't be there to mediate.

"Live Long and Prosper"

Semper Fi

Gastone

[Berta]

Atomic widow said:

I thought I'd share a brief update.

I received the letter of clarification from the diagnosing MD. I mailed my Notice of Disagreement with this letter; I received the Regional Office's letter asking whether I wanted to go with the Decision Review Officer process or Traditional Appeal Process. I selected the DRO. That was in early April.

So now I wait, again. Any guess how long? I'm expecting 4-6 month minimum?"

Did the VA send you a SOC yet ? A Statement of the Case? when they asked if you wanted a DRO review or traditional appeal?

I need to find the older posts.....did you attach a copy of their SOC here in the past?

It is difficult to guess on a timeline.

[Berta]

Gastone.... I completely agree with you that End of Life issues should be discussed and documented in one's lifetime.

We have done radio shows here in the past on having a "death File" that should contain

the link to hadit, and the password the veteran uses, their DD214 and 215 if applicable and lots of other stuff the survivor will need to have.

I wrote my husband;s obit and the funeral director checked it against his Dd214-215 and published it If I had not mentioned he was a service connected veteran in the obit and stated his decorations, the AL would not have been contacted by anyone to do the color guard and the gun salute. as he was buried in the National Cemetery in Bath NY ,next to the VAMC, where he wanted to be buried..

I checked with the Bath VA recently who said these arrangements are supposed to be handled by the funeral director but years ago they werent always followed through on properly.

So things have changed there but this is something that veterans should decide in the lifetime...do they want to be in a National cemetery and buried with Military honors.

The ceremony my husband had and the Chapel service was wonderful and I even wrote part of the service as the Chaplain didnt know him as well as I did and I felt his service had certainly been honored properly with many of our veteran friends from the VA and even from the PTSD inhouse program that we knew,

(but honored more in his death than it ever was in his lifetime)

We all need a Medical Directive as well. I forget what it is called....)

Anyone here on Medicare with a private doctor, is asked for copy of that directive at their annual Medicare check up.

I don't know if the VA ever asks for a copy. Most lawyers prepare it when they prepare your will.

Edited April 29, 2015 by Berta

[atomicwidow]

Hi Berta,

I haven't received a Statement of Case. It appears that a SOC is part of the Traditional Appeal process, but not the Decision Review Officer process. I selected the latter.

The VARO letter explains that after the Decision Review Officer reviews the claims file, evidence, arguments & statements, they may request additional evidence or an informal conference with me to discuss the case. "The DRO will then make a new decision. You will be notified of the decision and your appeal rights."

So I'm now awaiting the DRO process.