In 2018, 1,818 individuals with an OTH discharge received mental health treatment, three times more than the 648 treated in 2017. There was a total of 2,580 former servicemembers with an OTH discharge that received care in 2018 in VHA. Of these, 1,818 received treatment in Mental Health Services.
Full Answer
How long do veterans get free medical care after discharge?
If you’re an OEF/OIF/OND combat Veteran who has just returned from service, you can receive free medical care for any condition related to your service in Iraq or Afghanistan for 5 years after discharge. If I can’t get VA health care benefits, how else can I get health insurance?
Can I get VA health care as a veteran?
Eligibility for VA health care Find out if you can get VA health care as a Veteran. Am I eligible for VA health care benefits? You may be eligible for VA health care benefits if you served in the active military, naval, or air service and didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge.
What are VA benefits for other than honorable discharge?
A veteran with an other than honorable discharge may be eligible for VA health care and benefits like compensation, pension and vocational rehabilitation if the VA finds that the veteran’s service was honorable for VA purposes.
What happens if you get a medical discharge from the military?
If a medical condition is identified right after you join the military and is considered a pre-existing condition, you will probably receive a general discharge, which will make you eligible for most veteran’s entitlements. A medical discharge isn’t viewed negatively and doesn’t interfere with benefit eligibility.
What percentage of military veterans receive their healthcare through the VA?
Under current policy, about 60 percent of U.S. veterans are eligible for VA care, based on length of service, service-connected injuries, service in designated combat theaters, and income. Fewer than half of eligible veterans use VA health benefits.
Are you still a veteran if you get medically discharged?
If a member of the armed forces was discharged during basic training for medical reasons, they are still considered a veteran for Federal student aid purposes so long as they served at least one day before being discharged.
What happens when a soldier is medically discharged?
Members who are found medically unfit from conditions incurred in the line of duty will receive medical discharge with a lump-sum severance payment if their disability rating is determined to be less than 30% and they have not served for 20 years.
Can you get VA healthcare with a general discharge?
Veterans who receive general discharges under honorable conditions are entitled to all VA benefits, with the exception of GI Bill education benefits.
How much do you get for being medically discharged?
DoD Disability for Medical Separations All medically separated service members receive a single lump-sum severance payment for their DoD Disability. This payment is equal to 2 months of basic pay for each year of military service he gave.
What qualifies for a medical discharge?
Medical discharge is given to military service members who acquire a medical condition that deems them no longer fit for duty. To qualify as Unfit for Duty, the injured or ill service member in question must go through a multi-step process called the Integrated Disability Evaluation System, also known as IDES.
Do you get benefits for being medically discharged?
If you received an Honorable Discharge, Medical Discharge, or General Discharge Under Honorable Conditions, you are eligible for both disability compensation and VA health care.
What benefits do veterans get with a general discharge?
Accordingly, veterans with an Honorable Discharge are entitled to all VA benefits, including applicable disability compensation, educational, healthcare, and vocational benefits.
What is the difference between medically retired and medically discharged?
Conclusion. There is a significant difference between a medical separation and medical retirement. If a member is unfit for duty but has a disability rating is less than 30 percent, and there are less than 20 years in the service, the result is a medical separation with severance pay.
Do veterans get free healthcare for life?
You can get free VA health care for any illness or injury that we determine is related to your military service (called “service connected”). We also provide certain other services for free.
Is a general discharge considered honorable?
A general discharge under honorable conditions means that your service was satisfactory, but did not deserve the highest level of discharge for performance and conduct. Many veterans with this type of discharge may have engaged in minor misconduct.
Will the VA pay for outside treatment?
VA can pay for emergency medical care outside the United States if the emergency is related to your service-connected condition.
What type of veteran benefits am I entitled to with a general medical discharge?
If you received a medical discharge under honorable conditions, including a general discharge, you’re entitled to nearly all of your VA benefits.
What happens if you become sick and are injured in the military?
If you become sick or are injured to the point where military duty is no longer possible, you may be given a medical discharge. This type of discharge is based on a medical evaluation of your condition and can be a lengthy process.
How long before separation can you apply for disability?
You can begin TAP one year prior to separation or two years prior to retiring. 6. Make sure right before transitioning out of the military that you enter the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program. This way, you can apply for disability benefits before separation.
How long do you have to file a pre-charge claim before you leave the military?
How do I file for a claim before my medical discharge from the military? If you have an illness or injury that you believe was caused or made worse by your active-duty service, you can file a Pre-Charge Claim for disability benefits 180 to 90 days before leaving the military.
What is a medical review board?
A Medical Review Board will review your case and determine the most appropriate course of action, including which type of discharge is warranted and whether you should be separated from the military.
Why is it easier to service connect a discharge?
Conditions that resulted in a medical discharge are often even easier to service-connect because the medical evidence will be strong (although it’s still very possible to obtain medical evidence to service-connect a disability or medical condition even if it wasn’t documented during active duty).
Can you receive honorable discharge in 2021?
Last updated on July 9, 2021. If you’re dealing with a military medical discharge, you might think that could prevent you from receiving an honorable discharge. You might also believe that you won’t be entitled to any VA benefits. But despite the myths and rumors you may have heard about a military medical discharge, ...
What does enhanced eligibility mean?
You may qualify for enhanced eligibility status (meaning you’ll be placed in a higher priority group, which makes you more likely to get benefits) if you meet at least one of the requirements listed below. At least one of these must be true.
How many priority groups are there for VA?
When you apply for VA health care, you’ll be assigned 1 of 8 priority groups. This system helps to make sure that Veterans who need immediate care can get signed up quickly. Your priority group may affect how soon we sign you up for health care benefits.
How long did you serve at Camp Lejeune?
Served at least 30 days at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987. If none of the above apply to you, you may still qualify for care based on your income. Learn more about how the amount of money your family makes can affect whether you qualify for VA benefits. Learn more about income limits.
Can I get VA health care benefits if I served in the military?
Am I eligible for VA health care benefits? You may be eligible for VA health care benefits if you served in the active military, naval, or air service and didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge.
How long does tamp cover?
This program extends Tricare eligibility for specific beneficiaries. It provides 180 days of premium-free transitional health care benefits after regular Tricare benefits end. Active duty service members with certain service-related conditions are eligible for coverage beyond the 180 days covered by TAMP.
What is CHCBP in tricare?
Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP) Once TAMP eligibility expires and you are no longer eligible for any other Tricare health plan, you can enroll in the Continued Health Care Benefit Program. This program is purchased coverage that acts as a bridge between Tricare coverage and your new health coverage.
What is the health insurance marketplace?
Another option for health care coverage is the Health Insurance Marketplace. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires most Americans have minimum essential health care coverage, or pay a tax penalty for each month that you and the other individuals listed on your tax form do not have coverage.
Can you lose your tricare?
You can lose your Tricare eligibility for a number of reasons. If you separate voluntarily, you and your family are not eligible to use military treatment facilities or Tricare, if you are discharged for a medical condition you may be eligible for medical care from the VA, but your family will not. What can you do to make sure you ...
What is the mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs?
A core mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs is to provide health care to veterans, especially those who have disabilities related to their service.
Can a veteran receive VA health care?
A veteran with an other than honorable discharge may be eligible for VA health care and benefits like compensation, pension and vocational rehabilitation if the VA finds that the veteran’s service was honorable for VA purposes.
As a veteran or military retiree, you have lifetime access to medical care
Jim Probasco has 30+ years of experience writing for online, print, radio, and television media, including PBS. His expertise includes government programs and policy, retirement planning, insurance, family finance, home ownership and loans. He has a bachelor's from Ohio University and Master's from Wright State University in music education.
Military Veteran vs. Retired Military Veteran
If you served any length of time in the active military and were discharged "under conditions other than dishonorable," you are a military veteran. 1 If you made a career of it and spent 20 years or more in the armed forces, National Guard, or Reserve, or were honorably discharged due to a physical disability, you are a retired military veteran.
Military Veterans
If you are a former member of the active-duty military with an "other than dishonorable" discharge, regardless of the amount of time you served, you may be eligible for healthcare benefits provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) .
How to Apply for VA Benefits
The first part of applying for VA benefits involves answering questions to determine your eligibility via the VA Health Benefits Explorer. This online tool asks no more than 15 questions and responds with a general finding of your eligibility.
VA Healthcare Benefits
The healthcare benefits you will receive as a veteran will vary and depend on your medical condition and priority group. In general, you will receive the following: 13
Cost of VA Healthcare
If you have a service-connected illness or injury, you may qualify for free VA healthcare. You may also qualify for free care if you have a catastrophic disability or disability rating of at least 50%, or if the VA determines you can't afford to pay for care.
Retired Military Veterans
Retired members of the military receive medical care under the same system as active-duty military: TRICARE. As the current worldwide U.S. military healthcare program, TRICARE provides exclusive medical, pharmacy, and dental coverage to uniformed service members, retirees, and their families.
