Health Benefits for Spouses of Veterans

By Lashunda Wilkison

As an active duty spouse you are comforted by other spouses and the tools that the military has set up for family members. You can expect for many of those tools to be provided once the service members end their time in service. You know the veteran will continue to receive health care, but what about the spouse. Spouses of veterans may still qualify for health benefits if guidelines are met.

All programs for veteran spouses cover hospital stays, outpatient care, mental car, substance abuse, and preventive services. All veterans must have an honorable or general discharge. Spouses if qualified, are able to visit any Military Treatment Facility, Veterans hospital, or any civilian hospital that accepts the insurance.

For a spouse to receive care through Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans one of four rules must be met. The veteran became totally and permanently disabled while in service, died from a Veteran Affairs service disability as a veteran, died while on active duty, or at the time of death rated totally and permanently disabled. You must not be able to qualify for Tricare.

All Tricare programs provide dental care at an extra cost. There is no annual deductible, but a one-time enrollment of $460 for a veteran's family. There are no co-pays in this program. You will need approval to a specialist by your primary care provider unless you are Tricare Remote Prime.

This is the most expensive plan, but it gives you greater choices of providers with no annual enrollment fee. It is $300 annual deductible for family member with a 25 percent permissible charges cost share.

You will receive the lowest patient priority at Military Treatment Facilities. The annual deductible is $300 for the entire family with no annual enrollment fee. Your choice of provider will be limited with co pays 20 percent of the fee for civilian doctors.

You must be eligible for Medicare parts A and B. Age is not a factor. It is secondary to Medicare. There are no enrollment fees and you manage your own health care with no files to claim.

http://www.lenderva.com