Long Term Care Benefits For Veterans
April 04, 2021
One of the most important benefits offered to veterans from the VA is its extended care program. This program offers eligible veterans a variety of long-term care options for free or at a reduced cost, depending on income and level of disability.
When long-term care becomes necessary for a veteran, they can access several different types of care as appropriate for them if the services are available in their area. Some of the options include:
- Hospice/palliative care
- Community residential care
- Home healthcare
- Adult daycare
- Home health aide services
- Respite care to temporarily relieve a spouse or other caregiver of their duties for some time
- Geriatric evaluation and management (GEM) assesses older veterans for medical, functional, or psychological problems and certain problems related to advanced age and creates an ongoing, managed care plan for them
To be eligible for extended care, a veteran must have:
- A service-connected disability rating of 70 percent or more
- A 60 percent service-connected disability rating and an inability to keep gainful employment or an official rating of “permanent and total disability.”
- A combined disability rating of 70 percent or more
- A service-connected disability that requires nursing home care
- A service-connected or non-service-connected disability and income and assets below VA national income limits and the HUD geographical income threshold
When space and resources allow other veterans on a case-by-case basis can be considered for the extended care program. Priority is given to veterans with service-connected disabilities and those who need care for rehabilitation, respite, hospice, geriatric evaluation and management, or spinal cord injury.
Depending on income, a copay for long-term care services (except hospice care) might be charged to the veteran. If the veteran has private medical insurance, some services will be billed through that and can reduce the amount of copays the veteran is responsible for.
To qualify for the extended care program, a veteran must first be enrolled in VA health care. Having a service-connected disability rating or receiving VA benefits does not automatically enroll a veteran in VA health care. Having served in the military and possessing a discharge status of anything but dishonorable is often enough to access that benefit.