VA Health Care

Overview

In October 1996, Congress passed Public Law 104-262, the Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996. This legislation paved the way for the creation of a medical benefits package - a standard enhanced health benefits plan available to all enrolled veterans. Like other standard health care plans, the Medical Benefits Package emphasizes preventive and primary care, offering a full range of outpatient and inpatient services.

Veterans Affairs (VA) places a priority on improved veteran satisfaction. Their goal is to ensure the quality of care and service you receive is consistently excellent, in every location, in every program. Under the medical benefits package, VA offers you, the veteran, a comprehensive health care plan that provides the care you need.

Our office will assist you in completing the application for medical benefits, VA Form 10-10EZ. Please contact Chisago County Veterans Services.

Priority Groups

What are the Priority Groups?

Once you apply for enrollment (VA Form 10-10-EZ), your eligibility will be verified. Based on your specific eligibility status, you will be assigned a priority group.

The priority groups are as follows, ranging from 1 to 8 with 1 being the highest priority for enrollment. Under the Medical Benefits Package, the same services are generally available to all enrolled veterans.

As of January 17, 2003, VA is not accepting new Priority Group 8 veterans for enrollment (veterans falling into Priority Groups 8e and 8g.)

Priority Group 1

  • Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 50% or more disabling

Priority Group 2

  • Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 30% or 40% disabling

Priority Group 3

  • Veterans who are former Prisoners of War (POWs)
  • Veterans awarded the Purple Heart
  • Veterans whose discharge was for a disability that was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty
  • Veterans with service connected disabilities rated 10% or 20% disabling
  • Veterans awarded special eligibility classification under Title 38, U.S.C., Section 1151, "benefits for individuals disabled by treatment or vocational rehabilitation"

Priority Group 4

  • Veterans who are receiving aid and attendance or housebound benefits
  • Veterans who have been determined by VA to be catastrophically disabled

Priority Group 5

  • Non service connected veterans non commensurable service connected veterans rated 0% disabled whose annual income and net worth are below the established VA Means Test thresholds
  • Veterans receiving VA pension benefits
  • Veterans eligible for Medicaid benefits

Priority Group 6

  • Compensable 0% service-connected veterans
  • World War I veterans
  • Mexican Border War veterans

Veterans solely seeking care for disorders associated with:

  • Exposure to herbicides while serving in Vietnam
  • Exposure to ionizing radiation during atmospheric testing or during the occupation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
  • For disorders associated with service in the Gulf War
  • For any illness associated with service in combat in a war after the Gulf War or during a period of hostility after November 11, 1998

Priority Group 7

Veterans who agree to pay specified co-payments with income and/or net worth above the VA Means Test threshold and income below the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) geographic index:

  • Sub priority A: Non-compensable 0% service-connected veterans who were enrolled in the VA Health Care System on a specified date and who have remained enrolled since that date
  • Sub priority C: Non-service-connected veterans who were enrolled in the VA Health Care System on a specified date and who have remained enrolled since that date
  • Sub priority E: Non-compensable 0% service-connected veterans not included in Subpriority A
  • Sub priority G: Nonservice-connected veterans not included in Subpriority C

Priority Group 8

Veterans who agree to pay specified co-payments with income and/or net worth above the VA Means Test threshold and the HUD geographic index:

  • Sub priority A: Non commensurable 0% service-connected veterans enrolled as of January 16, 2003 and who have remained enrolled since that date
  • Sub priority C: Non service connected veterans enrolled as of January 16, 2003 and who have remained enrolled since that date
  • Sub priority E: Non commensurable 0% service-connected veterans applying for enrollment after January 16, 2003
  • Sub priority G: Non service connected veterans applying for enrollment after January 16, 2003