Q: I received an honorable discharge from the U. S. Army more than 20 years ago. Now, I’m having health issues and can’t afford to pay for prescribed tests and examinations required by various physicians. As a veteran, am I entitled to any health-care benefits from the government? 

A: I, too, was honorably discharged from the Army but was given very little information about benefits I was entitled to as a veteran. I had to find the answers for myself, and I found that I had to answer two questions first to determine if I qualified.  You can answer those questions by going to the VA Health Care Overview page and then filling out the form.  

When I left the military, I was told that the government would for one year cover most of my dental expenses. I was also told about an educational stipend and the VA Home Loan Program that offered lower interest rates than traditional banks. No book was given to me nor were there workshops scheduled to help me understand veterans’ benefits.   

While being treated at a VA facility, I learned that all honorable discharged personnel may qualify for VA health care benefits. Later while reading the “Federal Benefits for Veterans Dependents & Survivors,” I learned that even Reservists and National Guard members, who have completed active duty when called by a federal order, may qualify.   

Here’s a short account of how I began receiving health-care benefits:   

Since I was in my mid-20s, and had had very good health and dental care while serving in the military, I only needed regular teeth cleanings to maintain my oral hygiene and didn’t have any noticeable health problems other than a common cold.   

It never dawned on me that I qualified for VA medical care. For several decades, I didn’t need major medical care and I had health insurance with my employer. Then, when I became self-employed, I paid for occasional medical treatments because insurance premiums were too high for me to have a health-care policy.   

After having a major medical problem about six years ago and being treated several times unsuccessfully in a local emergency room, an acquaintance who was also a veteran told me about the VA’s medical services.   

My friend told me that I didn’t need an appointment, so I stopped by the VA facility that same day. I had to take my DD Form 214 (Discharge Papers and Separation Documents) to prove that I had an honorable discharge. An employee filled out the VA form 10-10EZ that was on software in her computer. She printed the form and I signed it.   

She accessed information from my military records showing that I was diagnosed with hypertension during active duty. Back then, no doctor ever told me about the diagnosis. But I was immediately approved for medical treatment and issued an ID card similar to a driver’s license. Then I was assigned to a medical team, which ensures that I’m treated by the same doctors during each visit unless they deem it necessary for me to see other specialists.   

Veterans like me who do not have the financial means to pay for health care in the private sector are able to receive quality medical care. The VA calculates a vet’s gross income and net worth based on each state’s geographic income threshold to determine the amount, if any, of co-pay.   

The VA form 10- 10EZ for health benefits can be filled out and submitted online or the form can be printed, filled out and faxed or mailed to the VA health care facility nearest you. You can also call 1-877-222-VETS (8387).  

You’ll need the Adobe Reader 9.2 to access the form online. I tried to download it but encountered problems. I installed Adobe Reader on my computer, but I was still unable to open the document. Maybe it was “operator error” or the site was malfunctioning.  

However, the six-page pdf version of the VA form is easy to access and print. To request the application by mail, call 1-877-222-8387 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, Eastern Time. Once you become registered and your eligibility has been established, you can receive health care at VA facilities anywhere in the United States.  

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Russell Davis has spent the last few years aggressively seeking answers to his own veterans’ benefit questions. He’ll be taking over the Taking on Life blog every Friday to tell you what he’s learned and to help honorable military discharged women and men, their spouses, partners and others to find answers. Click here to ask him a question.

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