The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides each veteran with basic medical benefits. The package contains outpatient and inpatient care, diagnostic, supplies and medications, preventive, specialty care, and primary care. In addition, if you have unique qualifications, you may receive extra benefits. This article has everything you need to know about these benefits.

Outpatient Care

Outpatient care covers the following services:

• Mental health
• Alcohol and drugs abuse
• Chiropractic care
• Plastic surgery
• Medical
• Bereavement counseling

Inpatient Care

Here are some benefits you can receive:

• Medical
• Alcohol and drug abuse
• Emergency care
• Mental health
• Surgical

Preventive Care

It covers the following services:

• Screening tests
• Immunizations
• Physical examinations
• Programs on good health
• Health care assessments

Supplies and Medications

It covers the following services:

• Over-the-counter medications
• Prescription medications
• Surgical supplies

The VA also takes care of the unique needs of female veterans. It is important to note that VA upholds dignity, sensitivity, and confidentiality when offering the services. They include:

• Regular gynecologic services
• Gender-specific health care for women
• Disease prevention through screening

Long-Term Services

As a veteran, you may need some long-term services. These, too, are covered by VA. Take a look.

Medical Foster Home

You can learn more about your VA benefits from CCK Law, but you need to know this home does not host veterans only. There may be people from other professions as well. However, you will be taken care of by a trained caregiver at the individual level. The number in a foster home is also small; hence the services are as per the required standard.

The medical foster homes are inspected and approved by VA to ensure that all the requirements are available before you check in. Domiciliary Care

Sometimes you may not prefer to stay in a nursing home. You can choose to receive services from home. If this is your case, then domiciliary care is for you. It provides veterans with long-term health maintenance care and rehabilitative services.

Once you are rehabilitated, domiciliary care insists that you become a valuable member of society. So, you will be required to engage in various community activities, whether economic, political, or social.

Extra Services

As early stated, these services are provided when you meet certain qualifications. They will be described in each service below.

Geriatrics and Extended Care

Due to age or military hazards, you may develop complications that need daily care. Geriatrics and extended care come in handy in this case. You can receive the services from any place you wish. It can be at VA medical facility, home, or community.

Respite Care

It is healthy for anyone to take a break, including your caregiver. When that happens, the VA pays someone to take the caregiver’s place until they return. This is what is called respite care.

The said person can be sent to your residence, or you may be prompted to go to a care facility to continue receiving the services.

Adult Day Health Care

It is a program where veterans meet for recreation, peer support, and companionship. They can also learn various skills such as cooking, bathing, and dressing to help them conduct their daily activities.

Geriatric Evaluation

We mentioned that veterans are provided with geriatrics and extended care. However, before getting to that stage, you must be evaluated to determine if you qualify to receive the care.

The evaluations are conducted by outpatient and inpatient bodies such as geriatric primary care clinics and Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM) units.

Hospice Care

Hospice care is for a veteran with a terminal condition and not more than six months to live. The care focuses on relieving the pain and suffering of the veteran. You are handled in a manner that upholds your dignity, culture, personal, and religious beliefs. Your family is also offered grief counseling to ease their pain.

Copayments do not apply to hospice care in any instance.

Bottom Line

Serving your country as a veteran is a sacrifice that needs to be honored. The VA has outlined a basic medical benefits package that can keep you moving smoothly. They are as analyzed above. If you want to learn more about your rights as a disabled veteran, check out the VA’s resources or talk to an SSD attorney.

As a journalist, Leland D. Bengtson dedicated most of his career to law reporting. His greatest satisfaction is to convey legal matters to the public in a language that they can understand. He is active on various platforms and media outlets, writing about common legal issues that people confront with every day. While medical malpractice is his strong suit, Leland covers plenty of other topics, including personal injury cases, family law, and other civil and even criminal legal matters.