Leaving the military can be a difficult transition for many reasons, and one of those is the need to now pay for healthcare. In the military, you have access to complete free healthcare coverage, so having to start paying for coverage and navigating plans can be a shock.
You might be asking yourself, “what’s a premium?” and wondering “are health insurance premiums tax deductible?”, in which case, you’re not alone. Many veterans and families experience this, which is why you’ll want to keep reading to understand your options.
You’re going to want to plan well in advance for this transition and start researching your options. After all, going without healthcare coverage for any period of time can be incredibly expensive.
Before choosing the right veterans health insurance option for you, here’s what you should consider:
Knowing what you need and can afford can help you better research what’s available and find the right fit for you.
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All veterans who are enrolled for VA health care are eligible. You can enroll online at the Department of Veteran Affairs website.
Once you are successfully enrolled, you are placed into veteran priority groups to ensure you are getting the level of care you require.
VA health care priority groups are as follows:
VA health care’s Basic Medical Package for Veterans can cover anyone who served in and was separated from active military service for any reason other than dishonourable discharge.
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If you are a current or former Reserves or National Guard member who performed active duty as a result of a Federal order and completed the full period for which you were ordered or called to be active, then you may also be eligible for VA health care benefits.
If you are a combat veteran who has served in a theater of combat operations after November 11, 1998, you can enroll in priority group 6 within five years from the date of discharge and receive free health care services as well as nursing home care for conditions that may be related to your military service.
If you were released or discharged from the active military, naval, or air service but you did not enroll to receive hospital care, medical services, or nursing home care during the legally specified five-year period, you’ll have one year from the period from the date of enactment of the Clay Hunt SAV Act (February 12, 2015) to enroll for VA health care. Note that this is only applicable to those released or discharged after January 1, 2009, and before January 1, 2011.
If you served active duty at Camp Lejeune for no less than 30 days between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987, you are eligible for care and treatment of certain medical conditions, regardless of your enrollment status. Additionally, you’re entitled to free health care related to those conditions or illnesses.
Get more information about this program for Camp Lejeune veterans here.
Medicare has its benefits, but it doesn’t compare to coverage offered by VA health insurance. In fact, under Medicare, up to half of health care costs go unpaid for older adults.
What’s more, Medicare is limited in terms of what services and supplies it covers, and the associated co-payments and deductibles are substantial. Thankfully, for veterans who are eligible, VA health insurance can pick up where Medicare leaves off.
That’s right: you may qualify for both Medicare and VA health insurance, providing you with free or extremely low-cost health care solutions and priceless peace of mind.
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Whether you want to learn about VA health insurance options for yourself or a loved one, it’s important to know that—just as the health care needs of every veteran are different—there are a variety of different coverage options. VA health care is only one of them, with more than 9 million of 18 million US veterans taking advantage of its many benefits.
This said, while VA health care works for many, it may not be the best or only option for you.
Here are all your options, starting with a recap of VA health care.
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The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is a healthcare system that provides primary care, medical care, social support services, mental health services, and more to veterans. You may qualify based on your income, military service, and if you have a disability. If you qualify and can get care from VHA, it’ll likely be free or more affordable than other options to you.
The truth is that leaving military life can be tough on you and your family, but health insurance can be the least of your concerns with a little research and preparation. And ensuring you and your family have the coverage you need is critical, so start preparing well before the transition happens to ensure you’re ready.
VA health care facilitates free care for any conditions that were caused or made worse by or during your military service. Veterans with serious disabilities or injuries are eligible to receive all medical care for free—not just the medical care associated with injuries. Also, if your disabilities are classified as 50% or greater, or if you are a former POW, your VA care is free.
Veterans with lower income may receive more care. Other groups may be eligible for free coverage.
Claire Smith Claire is a creative entrepreneur with a variety of marketing and content creation skills, including blog and web copy writing, research, and strategy. She has a Masters in Cultural Studies from Queen's University and is known for thinking laterally about marketing, based on her deep knowledge of people and behavior.
