Veteran's Administration Benefits

Making Medicare Choices ;
educated health care choices for
senior citizens

I will be walking you through the steps that I took in order to receive benefits for the:

 Veteran's Administration

 http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA/

 Medicare

 http://www.medicare.gov/default.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

 MediCal

 http://www.medi-cal.ca.gov/default.asp

Medicaid

http://www.cms.gov/MedicaidEligibility/downloads/ListStateMedicaidWebsites.pdf.

A brief story about my situation

or

scroll down to Veteran's Administation Benefits Process

My father-in-law was a disabled Veteran with Parkinson's.  My mother-in-law was deaf.  My mother had pancreatic cancer.  I did not know that my Mother was entitled to Veteran's Administration benefits, due to my Father retiring from the Navy.  All three of them lived with us at the same time.  There we were with three senior citizens to take care of two of which were disabled and in wheelchairs. 

I had to surf the Internet to find out who/what/where/when/why and how to do everything.  I could not find a site or blog that would walk me through the process of taking care of senior citizens and their benefits.  I could not believe how difficult it was to figure out where I needed to go, and what I needed to do to get Veteran's Administration/Medicare/MediCal/Medicaid benefits for them.  I had to learn the hard way that the items I purchased were covered by Veteran's Administration, and when I made a claim for items that I purchased they just made it very difficult for me to be reimbursed.  I was NEVER reimbursed. 

I do not want anyone to pay for something that they do not have to pay for.  I believe it was unfair for me or my family to pay for prescriptions/items, that the government should have paid for.  My Dad retired after serving the U.S. Navy for at least 20 years, and worked 20 years after that.  My Mom worked in the United States for more than 40 years.  My father-in-law was a disabled veteran.  I can't believe how people that have never worked in the United States and/or are not even United States citizens are receiving benefits.  Yet, I had difficulties receiving benefits for senior citizens that have worked in the United States the majority of their lives?  How is that fair?

I had to make my house disabled friendly.  Most of the items that I purchased are listed on

www.filipinasinger.com/handicap.html.

I am certain that the Veteran's Administration would have provided me with numerous items, but there was no telling how long that would take. 

The Convalescent Aid Society in Pasadena, California provided us with most of the items (hospital bed, commode, wheelchair, walker, alternating air mattress...) free of charge, and we had to return the items if/when they were no longer using the items.  Since the Convalescent Aid Society provided us with numerous items, in return I donated all the items that I purchased to them when my Mother and Father-in-law passed away.  The Convalescent Aid Society's website address is 

http://www.cas1.org/equipment.html#listing.

Veteran's Administration (VA) Benefits Website is
http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA/
The following are steps that I took in order to receive benefits/services for my father-in-law with the

Veteran's Administration:

1)     I contacted the Veterans Administration locations and numbers are at

http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp?dnum=3.

2)     Informed them of his change of address, and forward checks to a new address.  This is assuming that you/your parents no longer live at their own home, and have moved in with you or that you are now handling their finances.

3)     Asked them to refer me to a case worker that would help me through most of the steps.  It is more convenient to go to a local Veteran's Administration office, but I received more benefits going to the main location. 

4)     Found out from the case worker as to what benefits the veteran is entitled to.  My father-in-law was able to get the following free of charge from the Veteran's Administration:  medical visits, eye exams, prescription glasses, a custom wheelchair for him (since he had Parkinson's and could not sit up on a regular wheelchair), medical prescriptions filled; a chair lift that would take him from the first floor to the second floor when he lived in his condo.  There were people at the VA that informed me that their electric wheelchair was given to them by VA.  I am certain that there are other items available for the Veterans, but they didn't voluntarily tell me what I would be able to get.  I needed to ask them, if they provided an item/service.  The benefits site for the Veteran's Administration is

 http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA/. 

5)     Since we are dealing with the Veterans Administration, it took a long amount of time to receive the benefits (doctor's appointments, medical equipment...).  When it comes to doctor's appointments, it was a good idea to make an appointment at my closest Veteran's Administration outpatient clinic which can be found on

http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp?dnum=1.

6)     The only thing I was able to get from the VA within a timely manner was his monthly prescriptions filled free of charge.  The VA has website for filling prescriptions, but you must have a HealtheVet account the page to register for the service is

 https://www.myhealth.va.gov/mhv-portal-web/anonymous.portal?_nfpb=true&_nfto=false&_pageLabel=registrationHome. 

If you already have a MyHealtheVet account their VA prescriptions page is

 https://www.myhealth.va.gov/mhv-portal-web/anonymous.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=refillPrescriptions. 

You must be logged in to access the VA prescriptions page.  

7)     In order to receive benefits/services without having to wait for a month(s), I contacted Social Security.  If you do not have Medicare you could apply 3 months before the age of 65 on

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps6z/iClaim/rib,

call 1-800-772-1213 or go to your closest office which can be found at

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps6z/FOLO/fo001.jsp.

8)     I found out the benefits that he was entitled to.  Medicare's frequently asked questions can be found at

 http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/app/answers/list/c/103. 

If you have any questions, you could also search on the official government site for Medicare on

http://questions.medicare.gov/app/home.

9)     Find out the companies that accept Medicare

 (http://questions.medicare.gov/app/answers/list/c/33),

and the types of services they provide.  The smaller pharmacies are more helpful regarding what they will able to bill to Medicare/MediCal.  I was able to get incontinence supplies free of charge from a local store that sold medical equipment.  The store is usually very happy to tell you what you will be able to get from Medicare/MediCal, because they'll be able to bill Medicare/MediCal for the items that you are in need of.  A prescription was needed for certain items.  I will go into further detail regarding MediCal.

10)    There was a nurse that would come on a regular basis to check on my father-in-law to see how he was doing free of charge.

11)    There was also a physical therapist that came to the house.  That also came free of charge.

12)    Since he had additional income from the Veteran's Administration, he did not qualify for MediCal.

The following are steps that I took for my Mother
that had Medicare, MediCal/Medicaid and
Veteran's Administration benefits,
since my Father was in the navy:

1)     Contacted Social Security regarding her benefits.

2)     Since I went to the Social Security Administration office without my Mother, I needed more than my Power of Attorney.  I filled out the Authorization for the Social Security Administration to Release Social Security Number Verification

(http://www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ssa-89.pdf).

3)     I also needed to provide them with an Appointment of Representative Form

(http://www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ssa-1696.pdf).

4)    Since she was only receiving social security checks, she was entitled to MediCal

(http://files.medi-cal.ca.gov/pubsdoco/forms.asp).

The advantage of having MediCal was that it would pay for whatever Medicare did not pay for.  Since I live in California I contacted MediCal.  Medicaid for other states is on

http://www.cms.gov/MedicaidEligibility/downloads/ListStateMedicaidWebsites.pdf.

5)     Fill out those numerous forms for MediCal/Medicaid.  There are certain states that allow you to apply online.  You will find that it will save you a lot of time if you have all the forms on the date of your appointment with your MediCal/Medicaid case worker.

6)     Fortunately, Social Security and MediCal paid for almost everything.  It is a good idea to apply for Medicaid, when you know that your medical expenses are no longer affordable.

7)     Since my Mom was the spouse of a Veteran, I did not know that she also had benefits.  She was entitled to free medication.  I had already paid for a lot of her medication, by the time I found out that she was entitled to free medication.  I gave up trying to get reimbursed by the government.  My Mother's doctor was the person that told me of numerous benefits that she was entitled to.  The pharmacist informed me that Medicare and MediCal pays for a percentage of the medication.

It is best to know what you want or need and to ask that government agency if that item is covered by the Veteran's Administration, Social Security and Medicaid benefits are.  Unfortunately, they did not let me know what my Mom and In-law's benefits were.  I had to ask if they covered certain items or services, before they would tell me that it is one of their benefits.

A good idea is to ask your doctor/doctor's office/local medical equipment store/pharmacy as to what is covered by the Veteran's Administration, Social Security and Medicaid.  There are senior citizens that are provided with a live-in caregiver.  I was only able to have a nurse and physical therapist that came once a week for my Mom and Father-in-law. 


You'll be able to see the helpful items that I purchased for my Mother and/or In-laws and other helpful sites on  www.filipinasinger.com/handicap.  

The following is in regards to Dyshidrotic Dermatitis/Eczema.

After my Mother passed away, I started having nerve and skin problems.  I would have this intermittent burning/itching sensation that would be all over my body.  There was nothing that I could do to relieve me from it.  I just had to wait until it went away.  Afterwards, my skin got progressively worse.  My fingers and toes were cracking/bleeding.  I saw a dermatologist for two years, and had to wear cotton gloves because I had Dyshidrotic Dermatitis/Eczema.  I was using numerous topicals for my body.  I met another dermatologist, and he told me to stop wearing the gloves and stop using the strongest topicals with steroids.  In a VERY comforting manner he held my hands without the gloves, and recommended me to a therapist.  I did not want to admit that I had depression, but who wouldn't be depressed if they lost their best friend/Mother?  I was prescribed numerous pills, but found that Hydroxyzine (50 mg) has helped my skin/nerves.  I moisten my skin with Blairex Wound Wash Saline to avoid infection, and then I use one of two lotions that keep my skin moist.  I purchase the Blairex Wound Wash Saline from americanrx.com, because they offer free shipping for orders over $100.  The two lotions I use are Gold Bond Ultimate Restoring with CoQ10 (I no longer see it on Gold Bond's website), and CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion.  I like both, but the Cerave does not leave a film on the skin.  When using the Gold Bond, it has a tendency of leaving light marks on my dark clothing.  If I plan to stay home all day, I'll use the Gold Bond.  When I have plans of going out, I use the CeraVe.  This is NOT an advertisement for any products/websites.  This is just a true story.  I just want to be able to help those that might be encountering the same problems that I have undergone.  My Mom passed away in 2005, and I started writing this blog in 2010.  I still miss my Mother! 

I still take Hydroxyzine.