An estimated 258,000 middle-income veterans with no service-connected health conditions will be allowed by late June to enroll in the VA health care system. Enrollment means access to VA health care in exchange for modest co-payments, and also valuable discounts on prescription drugs.
The Department of Veterans Affairs unveiled its schedule for reopening VA healthcare to a quarter million new “Priority Group 8” veterans Jan. 5 -- ironically as President-elect Obama warned of trillion-dollar-year budget deficits and a new report of cost-cutting health care options by the Congressional Budget Office included ideas for tightening access to VA care.
In expanding enrollment, VA is acting at the direction of Congress. Last year, Rep. Chet Edwards (D-Texas) fought successfully to add $350 million to the VA budget so income thresholds that bar Priority 8 veterans could be raised 10 percent to allow more middle income veterans access.
Phillip Matkovsky, deputy chief business officer for the Veterans Health Administration, said veterans with 2008 incomes “10 percent or less” above current Priority 8 thresholds will be able to enroll in VA health care when revised regulations take effect sometime before June 30. The new income thresholds will range from $32,342 for an unmarried veteran and adding $2,222 for each dependent. Geographic income ceilings also will rise.
Friday, January 9, 2009
VA health enrollment to rise; lawmakers shrug off CBO
