Hey veterans, did you know?

... It’s easy to apply for VA medical benefits?

All veterans are encouraged to enroll in the VA Health Care System. To begin the process, please complete an Application for Health Care Benefits at www. va.gov/health-care/how-toapply/

You can submit the form online, or print the form and mail it to:

Spokane VA Medical Center

Business Office / Eligibility 4815 N. Assembly St

Spokane, WA 99205

You can also bring the form to the Medical Center. The Eligibility Office is on the 7th floor of the main building. Whether mailing or bringing your application, please include the following: • a copy of both sides of your current insurance card (including Medicare or Medicaid • a copy of your DD214, “Armed Forces Report of Transfer or Discharge” (Purple Heart recipients only) • a copy of your award letter if 'Purple Heart' is not noted on your DD214

To speak to the Eligibility Office, call (509) 434-7009 or (800) 325-7940.

... VA disability pay rates may grow up to 10.5% next year?

Disability pay rates, which are effective beginning Dec. 1, 2022, currently include an estimated year-over-year increase of 10.5% based on the latest cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) projections.

While not officially confirmed, this rate increase is one of the highest raises seen in a long time. Official and final COLA from the VA is typically announced on Oct. 13 each year with figures expected to be finalized in December.

... VA provides travel pay for health care appointments?

The VA can reimburse eligible veterans and caregivers for mileage and other travel expenses to and from approved health care appointments.

Veterans may be eligible for reimbursement if they meet the requirements below, including: • You’re traveling for care at a VA health facility or for VA-approved care at a non-VA health facility in your community.

At least one of these must also be true: • You have a VA disability rating of 30% or higher, or • You’re traveling for treatment of a service-connected condition, even if your VA disability rating is less than 30%, or • You receive a VA pension, or • You have an income below the maximum annual VA pension rate, or • You can’t afford to pay for your travel, as defined by VA guidelines, or • You’re traveling for a scheduled VA claim exam (called a compensation and pension, or C&P, exam), to get a service dog, or for VA-approved transplant care

Non-veteran caregivers may also be paid for transportation and related lodging and meals for if they meet any of these requirements.

At least one of these must be true: • Is a family caregiver under the National Caregiver Program traveling to receive caregiver training or to support care, or • Is a medically required attendant traveling with a veteran to support their care, or • Is a veteran’s transplant care donor or support person

The VA may also pay for care for an allied beneficiary when the appropriate foreign government agency has authorized care, or for the beneficiary of another federal agency when that agency has approved care. The VA can reimburse for travel to the closest VA health facility to a veteran’s home that can provide the care they need. If a veteran’s VA health care provider decides that they need to travel to another VA facility for care, the veteran will be reimbursed the cost of travel.

Reimbursement is available for non-VA care at a non-VA health facility if it has been approved in advance, except in certain emergency situations.

The VA may pay for: • Mileage driven to and from appointments • Bridge, road and tunnel tolls

• Parking • Taxi and plane fares • Ticket costs for public transportation, including train, subway, bus, ferry, or light rail • Transportation by a specially equipped vehicle, like an ambulance or wheelchair van, when needed and approved • Meals and lodging when needed in some cases

Submit travel pay reimbursement claims through the Beneficiary Travel Self Service System (BTSSS). blogs.va.gov/ VAntage/85832

The VA currently pays 41.5 cents ($0.415) per mile for approved, health-related travel.

It uses Bing Maps to calculate mileage, based on the fastest and shortest route from your home to the closest VA or authorized nonVA health facility that can provided the needed care.

The VPA pays round-trip mileage for scheduled appointments. It may only pay return mileage for unscheduled visits.

Before the VA can pay a veteran back for expenses, he or she must pay a deductible, currently $3 one-way or $6 round-trip for each appointment, up to $18 total each month. After you pay $18 within 1 month, the VA will pay the full cost of approved travel for the rest of that month.

The deductible is charged because the VA is required by law to withhold certain amounts from travel reimbursement payments. The money withheld helps pay for travel or medical care for other veterans.

In some cases, the VA may waive this deductible.

... You can get hearing aids through the VA?

To receive hearing aids through VA, you must first register at the health administration/enrollment section of the VA Medical Center of your choice. The following documents are usually needed at the time of registration: a copy of the veteran's DD214, driver's license and health insurance (if available).

There are several ways to enroll: • In person at any VA Medical Center or Clinic • Online at www.1010ez.med. va.gov/sec/vha/1010ez/1010ezr. asp • By mailing completed Form 10-10EZ to the Medical Center of your choice (be sure to sign your application or it cannot be processed)

Once registered (or if already registered), you may schedule an appointment at the Audiology and Speech Pathology Clinic for a hearing evaluation.

The audiologist will make a clinical determination on the need for hearing aids and/or other hearing assistive devices. If hearing aids are recommended and fit, the hearing aids, repairs, and future batteries will be available at no charge to you, as long as you maintain VA eligibility for care.

Does this sound like someone you know? Pass this information on to them and invite them to look at the “How can I get help?” section on page 5 of this publication to learn how to sign up.