Quote:
If you knew me @ all, you'd know my "higher-ups" opinion on any subject is of absolutely no interest to me. Vet Benefits are completely regulated by congress (and many states have veteran programs, but nothing of the scale of the DVA). Vietnam era vets were not promised free health care for life, WW1 & WW2 vets were, and to some degree the Korean War vets were.
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What are the Priority Groups?
Once you apply for enrollment, 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 1-8 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 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
· Nonservice-connected veterans and noncompensable 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; or
§ exposure to ionizing radiation during atmospheric testing or during the occupation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; or
§ for disorders associated with service in the Gulf War; or
§ 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 copayments with income and/or net worth above the VA Means Test threshold and income below the HUD geographic index
· Subpriority a: Noncompensable 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
· Subpriority c: Nonservice-connected veterans who were enrolled in the VA Health Care System on a specified date and who have remained enrolled since that date
· Subpriority e: Noncompensable 0% service-connected veterans not included in Subpriority a above
· Subpriority g: Nonservice-connected veterans not included in Subpriority c above
Priority Group 8
Veterans who agree to pay specified copayments with income and/or net worth above the VA Means Test threshold and the HUD geographic index
· Subpriority a: Noncompensable 0% service-connected veterans enrolled as of January 16, 2003 and who have remained enrolled since that date
· Subpriority c: Nonservice-connected veterans enrolled as of January 16, 2003 and who have remained enrolled since that date
· Subpriority e: Noncompensable 0% service-connected veterans applying for enrollment after January 16, 2003
· Subpriority g: Nonservice-connected veterans applying for enrollment after January 16, 2003
Link
This, from the VA home page shows just who is entitled to VA health care..