but you might want to double check that household income thing. There's just something fishy about that.

My guess is that's probably the Choice program, but that's only a guess.

My recommendation is to file a claim with the VA and see where it goes. If your state has Veteran's Dept. they usually have advocates who can file the claim for you. Much better than filing a claim with the VA itself...or so I've heard.

in my link above. The limits were probably different when you looked into it.

I was way above. Bottom line for me was that once the "income line" was established the conversation ceased.

I ran into the same thing. Vietnam era vet also. Make too much income and you don't qualify. I believe that standard applies to any vet whether they in country or not.

You just don't get free healthcare.

income does determine eligibility unless you have a t least a 10% service related disability.

"Priority Group 1

Veterans with VA-rated service-connected disabilities 50% or more disabling
Veterans determined by VA to be unemployable due to service-connected conditions

Priority Group 2

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

Priority Group 3

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

Priority Group 4

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

Priority Group 5

Nonservice-connected Veterans and noncompensable service-connected Veterans rated 0% disabled by VA with annual income below the VA’s and geographically (based on your resident zip code) adjusted income limits
Veterans receiving VA pension benefits
Veterans eligible for Medicaid programs

Priority Group 6

Compensable 0% service-connected Veterans
Veterans exposed to Ionizing Radiation during atmospheric testing or during the occupation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Project 112/SHAD participants
Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam between January 9,1962 and May 7,1975
Veterans of the Persian Gulf War who served between August 2, 1990 and November 11, 1998
Veterans who served on active duty at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987
Currently enrolled Veterans and new enrollees who served in a theater of combat operations after November 11, 1998 and those who were discharged from active duty on or after January 28, 2003, are eligible for the enhanced benefits for five years post discharge.

Priority Group 7

Veterans with gross household income below the geographically-adjusted income limits (GMT) for their resident location and who agree to pay copays

Priority Group 8

Veterans with gross household income above the VA and the geographically-adjusted income limits for their resident location and who agrees to pay copays"


https://www.va.gov/HEALTHBENEFITS/resources/priority_groups.asp

I'm in Priority Group 3.

Looks like the law was changed in 2003 and 2009

Veterans eligible for enrollment:

Noncompensable 0% service-connected:

Subpriority a: Enrolled as of January 16, 2003, and who have remained enrolled since that date and/or placed in this sub priority due to changed eligibility status
Subpriority b: Enrolled on or after June 15, 2009 whose income exceeds the current VA or geographic income limits by 10% or less

Nonservice-connected and:

Subpriority c: Enrolled as of January 16, 2003, and who have remained enrolled since that date and/or placed in this sub priority due to changed eligibility status
Subpriority d: Enrolled on or after June 15, 2009, whose income exceeds the current VA or geographic income limits by 10% or less

Veterans not eligible for enrollment:

Veterans not meeting the criteria above:

Subpriority e: Noncompensable 0% service-connected (eligible for care of their SC condition only)
Subpriority g: Nonservice-connected

which makes him not eligible.

It's bullshit.

Like you, I am a Viet Nam ERA vet, not having served in country. I left the service in the late 60s, and got my first degree full time on the GI Bill. After that, I was insured by my employers and as a result, never registered with the VA. Many years later, just because, I tried to register. I was not even able to do that. I made too much.

At first I was okay with that. If that would get a vet in need coverage at my expense, so be it. There but for the grace of God . . . . . and all that.

Then it hit me. What the FUCK. The VA was part of the bargain the government made with ME when I volunteered (NOT drafted. VOL UN FUCKING TEERED) to serve. That was a sacred compact and they fucking broke it.

And to this very day, vets are being fucked. The biggest fuckings ALWAYS come under GOPee control. Lip Service Mother Fuckers.

I still find myself able to get by, healthcare wise, without the VA and for that I am supremely fortunate. But GODDAMMIT that should not be. ALL vets were promised VA access. ALL VETS. Not just poor vets.

Why do we have to hold bake sales to care for our vets?

In typical GOPee fashion, we honor the vet, but abandon them when they're finished. Typical. Like protecting fetuses but abandoning children.

MOTHER

FUCKERS

"Congressional Research Service, which provides analysis for Congress, issued a 2003 report that found veterans were not entitled to free medical care for life, even though they may have been promised exactly that by their recruiters.

Since 1956, veterans and their families can be treated at military medical facilities "subject to the availability of space and facilities and the capabilities of the medical and dental staff," the report found.

"They have no right to military health care and the military services have total discretion in when and under what circumstances retirees and their dependents will get care in military treatment facilities," the report said.

Several veterans have taken their claims to court, alleging that recruiters promised them free medical care, but one court ruled that such promises did not constitute a contract, the report said.

Moreover, since recruiters do not have the authority to make such promises, there is no way to enforce them, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled in 2002. The Supreme Court later refused to hear the case, ending the matter."

https://www.stripes.com/blogs-archive/the-rumor-doctor/the-rumor-doctor-1.104348/do-veterans-have-a-right-to-free-health-care-for-life-1.161485

I was told that the VA was there for me if I needed it.

Every vet of my era was told that.

I know vets from my era and even later, with service similar to mine, who are now getting VA care because they signed up for it way back when.

I was told when I enlisted I'd have the old GI Bill and I did till Congress changed the law and I lost it.

I'm a Class 7 Vietnam Era Vet retired and on SS as my only income.

I'm getting by, and the care is actually pretty good where I'm at, the Seattle facility.

between SS, his police pension and his disability checks he made 10K a month. My father and his young wife got care at the VA. His wife still does. They may have paid a deductible, but I've never heard them, well now just her complain about the VA and not qualifying for anything

And one of my duties was Unit Career Counselor. I had to be up on all the latest benefits provided by the DoD and the VA for my unit member.

You can thank Newt's Congress for the Household Income limits for VA Medical services to Vets with non-service related disabilities. Prior to the Welfare Reform package, the only limits for VA Medical service for you and immediate dependents (spouse and under-aged kids) was that you didn't have access to medical insurance or benefits through your work or situation (i.e., you had access to Tricare, Medicare, BIA medical services), and the "first seen were all service-related issues, then it was first come, first served" when you wanted to see a specialist or get services.

Household income for access to VA service always been pegged to 3/4 of the median local income.

Haele