What’s the Latest Problem with Veteran Benefit Claims?

“VA.gov has gaps, and veterans are falling into them,” said Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., who chairs the House Veterans Affairs subcommittee on technology, during a hearing recently. “This is a situation where the VA is badly in need of independent oversight.”

Military Times’ recent article, “Lawmakers demand accountability after VA loses track of vets’ claims,” reports that in August, VA leaders announced they’d found roughly 32,000 veterans’ disability claims delayed. Some of these cases date back years because of technical flaws in the department’s VA.gov filing systems. Two weeks later, officials acknowledged 57,000 more similarly delayed cases involving veterans trying to add dependents to their accounts.

VA officials said they would backdate veterans’ pay as soon as possible. However, the errors may have delayed potentially thousands of dollars in monthly payouts to individuals suffering from military-related illnesses or injuries.

Veterans Affairs Chief Information Officer Kurt DelBene noted that the errors are just a small portion of the more than seven million cases filed since early 2018. However, he also acknowledged that any mistake that causes financial harm to veterans is unacceptable.

“VA will resolve these issues, prevent them from happening again, and address them more quickly when needed,” he told lawmakers. “And most importantly, we’ll make sure that all impacted veterans get the benefits and services that they deserve as quickly as possible.”

However, several lawmakers said those promises aren’t enough.

“I think we have a problem with addressing the major issues in leadership and officials not being held accountable for things that they do or do not do in upholding their responsibilities to veterans,” said Rep. Morgan Luttrell, R-Texas. “My concern is that no one is holding [anyone] responsible for this.”

Earlier this month, in a letter to VA leadership, committee Chairman Mike Bost, R-Ill., commented that the problems are “just the latest in a string of electronic filing issues that continue to plague the department.”

Reference: Military Times (Sep. 26, 2023) “Lawmakers demand accountability after VA loses track of vets’ claims”

How Do I Make a Care Plan for Mom?

Medicare typically doesn’t pay for basic assistance, and families often don’t try to determine how to provide this care until there is a health crisis, which can lead to unnecessary stress, conflicts and escalating costs.

Nerd Wallet’s recent article, “Create a Care Plan for Older Parents (or Yourself),” says that making a care plan well in advance lets families organize, locate appropriate resources and determine ways to pay for care before a crisis hits.

A care plan is thinking through the logistics of what you’ll need as you age, so that you are prepared when the poop hits the fan with aging. A way to cope is to plan for temporary rather than permanent disability. Ask what kind of help you or your loved one might need after a hip or knee replacement. How well is the home set up for recovery? Who would help with household tasks? Contemplating a two- or three-month disability with an eventual return to health is less daunting but involves much of the same planning as a more lasting decline.

Many seniors would like to stay in their current homes as they age, something called “aging in place.” That typically means relying on family members for care, using paid workers, or both. However, if family members will be tapped, discuss the logistics, including whether and how much they will be paid. If home health aides will be hired, consider who will supervise the process.

Look at any savings that can be tapped and whether the senior may qualify for government help, such as veterans benefits, Medicaid, or state programs. Families may want to consult an elder law attorney for personalized advice.

It is important to look at the current home as “aging friendly.” An occupational therapist can suggest adaptations allowing the older person to remain in the home if they’re disabled. The sooner you get this evaluation, the more time you’ll have to prepare. Even if the home supports aging in place, the neighborhood might not. Consider how the older person will socialize, get groceries, and make it to health appointments if they can no longer drive.

An independent living or senior living facility could provide more amenities. However, these typically don’t provide long-term care. Therefore, see if the senior is okay with moving again later or whether they should begin with an assisted living or continuing care facility that can provide more help.

Once you have a plan, capture the details and share it with family members or others who may be involved. Revisit the document periodically as circumstances change. Aging planning is an ongoing process.

Reference: Nerd Wallet (Aug. 24, 2023) “Create a Care Plan for Older Parents (or Yourself)”

How to Pay for Hearing Aids

Untreated hearing loss has been linked to a higher level of depression, cognitive decline, dementia, falls, visits to the emergency room, and hospital stays. Despite this, says an article from ncoa Adviser, “Financial Assistance for Hearing Aids: A Complete Guide for Older Adults,” fewer than 15% of adults who need hearing aids use them, and the average person takes nearly nine years to go about getting a pair after being told they have hearing loss.

Part of the reason for the delay is financial. Resources for getting hearing aids vary from state to state, and even county to county, which can be confusing. Here’s how to get started.

First, check with your health insurance company to see what’s covered and ask about additional services. You’re not just buying an appliance. Hearing aids require activation and fitting, and other unexpected out-of-pocket costs may occur. Sometimes the easiest way to verify insurance is to have a hearing aid clinic check into it.

Except in five states—Arkansas, Connecticut, Illinois, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island—insurance providers are not required to cover hearing aids as part of health care for adults. Medicare Parts A and B don’t cover the cost of hearing aids or fitting exams. Still, Medicare Part B covers hearing and balance exams ordered by a doctor and an annual audiology appointment to evaluate hearing loss. Whether or not Medicare Advantage, aka Medicare Part C, provides coverage depends upon the plan.

Medicaid coverage varies by state and plan. Many people with Medicare and Medicaid can sign up with select insurance companies and get coverage at no additional cost, but the coverage varies. Also, the quality of the hearing aids may differ.

Active duty military service members and family members diagnosed with hearing loss meeting the coverage criteria may be eligible to receive hearing aids through a TRICARE-approved provider. For veterans, the VA has hearing aid benefits. They should reach out to their local office or representative. The VA website has information on how to apply for VA hearing health care and find the nearest provider.

Federal employees of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) have access to discounted hearing aids, including a free hearing exam, discounted hearing aids, and aftercare support.

Those with mild to moderate hearing loss can now consider over-the-counter hearing aids. Note that the cost of the device you are buying is a third of the price. The rest of the costs are services, so be sure what services are bundled into the offerings. Instead of relying on online reviews, research trusted sources. You’ll want to clearly understand the return policy, warranty coverage for damage and loss, and customer service.

Reference: ncoa Adviser (July 2, 2023) “Financial Assistance for Hearing Aids: A Complete Guide for Older Adults”

What’s the Latest on Benefits for Families of Service Members?

Dependent care flexible spending accounts are one of six measures announced recently by defense officials to address some needs in parental leave, childcare, education and career advancement for military spouses.

Military Times’ recent article entitled, “DoD to offer tax-saving child care accounts, other benefits for troops,” reports that the memorandum, signed by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, also expands eligibility for the popular My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) financial assistance program, to include spouses of service members in paygrades E-6 and O-3. The program, which provides up to $4,000 for obtaining a professional license, certificate, or associate degree, was available to spouses of troops in pay grades E-1 to E-5, W-1 and W-2, and O-1 and O-2 only. In addition, Secretary Austin also requires improvements to the Exceptional Family Member Program within 90 days.

The dependent care flexible spending accounts will let service members earmark up to $5,000 in pretax income, through payroll deductions, for eligible dependent care expenses. Officials hope to implement these accounts for service members by this year’s open season, which begins in mid-November.

A recent DoD survey of active-duty spouses found that 38% of those with children at home routinely use childcare.

According to Internal Revenue Service regulations, a dependent care flexible spending account can be used to pay for home and child center care, preschool, summer day camp, before and after school programs for children up to age 13 and adult day care. The money is deducted from the service member’s gross pay and deposited into the account before taxes are calculated. Childcare bills are then paid with those funds. The end result is a lower tax bill.

In addition, married service members with one child with eligible childcare expenses could get a tax benefit by contributing $5,000 to a dependent care flexible spending account. For them, the tax decrease ranges from $382.50 to $1,382.50, depending on their overall income. A 2021 DoD demographics report shows that 35% of active-duty members have children. Of those, nearly 42% have at least one child, five or younger. Another 33% have at least one child in the six to 11 age group.

In addition to these new accounts and expanded eligibility for MyCAA, Austin’s memo announced improvements to the Exceptional Family Member Program, universal prekindergarten at Department of Defense Education Activity schools and professional license portability.

Reference: Military Times (March 22, 2023) “DoD to offer tax-saving child care accounts, other benefits for troops”

Should Vets Be on Look-out for COVID Vaccine Scams?

Officials from Operation Protect Veterans — a joint effort from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and AARP that works on scams targeting veterans and military members — said they have seen a recent uptick in the number of illicit offers for veterans to “cut in the vaccination line,” if they provide cash to third-party groups.

Military Times’ recent article entitled “Warning: Post Office sees rise in COVID vaccination scams targeting veterans” says that the group also warned of scammers offering “cash payments or other incentives around obtaining a COVID vaccination.”

VA officials will reimburse veterans for the cost of vaccines by the department’s Foreign Medical Program. However, they do not help them find vaccine appointments.

Legislation approved last month by Congress allows all veterans, their spouses and caregivers to get coronavirus vaccines through the Department of Veterans Affairs free of cost. The timing and availability of those shots depends on local supplies.

However, VA officials have stressed the fact that people do not need to pay to receive a dose. Any outside group promising quicker delivery in exchange for cash are taking advantage of confused or frustrated veterans.

“In addition to many of the same scams that fraudsters use to target veterans, we’re now seeing more ‘timely’ scams, like those related to COVID,” said Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale in a statement.

“And as May is Military Appreciation Month, it’s a great time for everyone to become informed and spread the word about scams targeting veterans in order to, in some small way, help repay the tremendous debt we all owe those who have served.”

An AARP survey from 2017 found that vets are twice as likely to be victims of scammers as the general public. The survey found that one in six veterans reported losing money to a bogus offer of benefits or assistance.

The U.S. Postal Service cautions vets not to divulge their personal information over the phone to strangers, especially bank account numbers, credit card numbers or Social Security numbers.

Moreover, they also said any veteran with questions about an unsolicited offer or program should check out the deal with a family member, friend, or local Veterans Affairs office.

Anyone who demands veterans act immediately on such a transaction are like scammers.

More information on scams and protections for vets is available at the Postal Inspection Service web site.

Reference: Military Times (April 30, 2021) “Warning: Post Office sees rise in COVID vaccination scams targeting veterans”

Can I Get Paid to Be a Caregiver for a Family Member Who’s a Vet?

AARP’s recent article entitled “Can I Get Paid to Be a Caregiver for a Family Member?” says that you may be able to get paid to be a family caregiver, if you’re caring for a veteran. Veterans have four plans for which they may qualify.

Veteran Directed Care. Similar to Medicaid’s self-directed care program, this plan lets qualified former service members manage their own long-term services and supports. Veteran Directed Care is available in 37 states, DC, and Puerto Rico for veterans of all ages, who are enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration health care system and require the level of care a nursing facility provides but want to live at home or the home of a loved one. A flexible budget (about $2,200 a month) lets vets choose the goods and services they find most useful, including a caregiver to assist with activities of daily living. The vet chooses the caregiver and may select any physically and mentally capable family member, including a child, grandchild, sibling, or spouse.

Aid and Attendance (A&A) Benefits. This program supplements a military pension to help with the expense of a caregiver, and this can be a family member. A&A benefits are available to veterans who qualify for VA pensions and meet at least one of the following criteria. The veteran:

Requires help from another to perform everyday personal functions, such as bathing, dressing, and eating
Is confined to bed because of disability
Is in a nursing home because of physical or mental incapacity; or
Has very limited eyesight, less than 5/200 acuity in both eyes, even with corrective lenses or a significantly contracted visual field.

Surviving spouses of qualifying veterans may also be eligible for this benefit.

Housebound Benefits. Veterans who get a military pension and are substantially confined to their immediate premises because of permanent disability are able to apply for a monthly pension supplement. It’s the same application process as for A&A benefits, but you can’t get both housebound and A&A benefits simultaneously.

Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers. This program gives a monthly stipend to family members, who serve as caregivers for vets who require help with everyday activities because of a traumatic injury sustained in the line of duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001. The vet must be enrolled in VA health services and require either personal care related to everyday activities or supervision or protection, because of conditions sustained after 9/11. The caretaker must be an adult child, parent, spouse, stepfamily member, extended family member or full-time housemate of the veteran.

Reference: AARP (May 15, 2020) “Can I Get Paid to Be a Caregiver for a Family Member?”

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What’s the Latest Problem with Veteran Benefit Claims?

How Do I Make a Care Plan for Mom?

How to Pay for Hearing Aids

What’s the Latest on Benefits for Families of Service Members?

Should Vets Be on Look-out for COVID Vaccine Scams?

Can I Get Paid to Be a Caregiver for a Family Member Who’s a Vet?

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What’s the Latest Problem with Veteran Benefit Claims?

How Do I Make a Care Plan for Mom?

How to Pay for Hearing Aids

What’s the Latest on Benefits for Families of Service Members?

Should Vets Be on Look-out for COVID Vaccine Scams?

Can I Get Paid to Be a Caregiver for a Family Member Who’s a Vet?

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