told me he is 100% disabled. Does not have to worry about medical care ever, and in fact, the doctor arranged for him to get free transportation to the VA hospital so he doesn't have to pay for a Cab to get there. He also has free dental as well and can get eye wear if he needs it.

Sounds like a sweet deal for him, not to mention he gets to occasionally try some of my pumpkin spice cookies.

I was never hurt once or injured in the line of Duty! I did get my ass kicked once by a couple of yakuza bouncers outside of Yokota AFB, but admittedly I deserved it.
They built a brand spanking new VA Hospital just 5 minutes from where I live. I suppose I was due a little luck after the last couple of years.

I know this woman, who was a former US Marine. She was released from the Marine Corps because of a Jeep Accident that messed up both of her knee caps. She is someone who should seek disability under the VA system but refuses it, because she thinks she would be leaching off the US Government, and hates the idea. Says she would rather make it on her own.

I am not really sure I understand her position, but if help is there, and one needs it..one should take it. Who can afford those electric powered Wheel chair on a poor salary? I know I would not be able to on my paycheck.

And Kudos to her strength of character.
Personally, I used the GI Bill to go to College and I used my veteran's benefits to buy a house and now I'll use the VA Hospital for my Health care. I like to think my Federal Taxes pay for this....
Maybe if I didn't have a wife and kids I would try to do it all on my own. But, too many loved ones depend on me to forgo the benefits!

with the ACA.

your family income is over 32,000 they said I couldn't do it.

I'm not an expert on the VA health system, but I'm an associate member of a veterans organization (Dad was a Marine Corps Vet with 15 years of service). I know that many of our members, both peace time and combat vets, disabled and non-disabled receive their care via the VA. Many I believe whose income is above your listed amount (business owners and mid level execs) go the VA.

The vets you're talking about probably are service-connected, so their income has no bearing on their VA eligibility.

But even those who are not service-connected and who do not meet the means test can still get VA care on a fee basis. For those vets, the average annual out-of-pocket cost for care was $322 in 2012.

More info on fee-based VA care:

http://www.va.gov/health/aca/NonEnrolledVeterans.asp

http://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/resources/publications/IB10-431-copay_requirements_at_a_glance_jan2013.pdf

was that he could not get any VA care. I do understand fee basis, and from reading the post, I thought that he couldn't get fee basis. If he has insurance. Thanks.

Many thanks for posting this!

I signed on over a decade ago, with the same income but just for a single person household. I still have V.A. coverage even though I'm now married with higher household income. You should be able to enrole.

I will have my gallbladder removed at the Los Angeles V.A. at the beginning of the year, even though I also have coverage through my wife. The reason being is less out of pocket costs through the V.A., so that is where I will have the proceedure.

We do pay for this with our tax dollars...which is money well spent!

I'm at 10% and have been getting a check every month from the VA for the past 25 years, but I haven't received any info about being eligible for free healthcare. I guess I better check into it. If I have earned it, I'm damn sure going to utilize it.
Thanks and a shout out to Pinboy3niner.

You would probably save the VA a lot of time and effort if you just do a walk in and start the process! If you gave your youth in service to this great country...buddy...you've earned it!