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Started By
Message
Anybody familiar with VA benefits for health care? Need to find way to help father in law
Posted on 11/13/19 at 10:02 pm
Posted on 11/13/19 at 10:02 pm
I'll try to keep this short. My father in-law is 92 years old and enlisted in the military as soon as he was old enough at the very end of World War II. He is the nicest man I have ever met and would do anything for anyone.
He recently had a stroke, which left him without the use of the right side of his body. My wife was able to arrange for him to be accepted into a rehabilitation center, but when it seemed like everything was in place she was told the insurance company had decided at the last minute not to cover him. To keep this short, we believe the hospital doctor refused to recommend him for rehab due to his age. When my wife kept asking about options for him and if he had talked with the insurance provider the doctor's only responses were basically "he is 92". My father in-law is one of those older people that still works in the yard every day and takes no medication. Instead of rehab, the insurance company paid to send him to a recovery center where he has been receiving about 15 minutes of physical therapy a day. Over the last month, he has improved enough that he talks, has some mobility with his right hand, and can move his right leg.
Unfortunately my wife was told this afternoon that he would not be covered for the recovery center after Friday and that he would have to leave. Coincidentally the same day her mom was discharged from the hospital for surgery. So, we have two whole days to figure out how to get him assistance so he can continue to recover. This would be a challenge regardless, but we both have pretty demanding full time jobs so that will make it even more difficult. Seeing him make improvements and suddenly being told the services are no longer available is heart breaking. Since he is a veteran, I'm hoping it will help with options for coverage. We have no idea where his discharge paper work is, so it will take some time just to pull his history together.
Has anyone worked with the VA for assistance with a relative? Any idea what types of assistance I can expect for him? Thanks for any advice.
He recently had a stroke, which left him without the use of the right side of his body. My wife was able to arrange for him to be accepted into a rehabilitation center, but when it seemed like everything was in place she was told the insurance company had decided at the last minute not to cover him. To keep this short, we believe the hospital doctor refused to recommend him for rehab due to his age. When my wife kept asking about options for him and if he had talked with the insurance provider the doctor's only responses were basically "he is 92". My father in-law is one of those older people that still works in the yard every day and takes no medication. Instead of rehab, the insurance company paid to send him to a recovery center where he has been receiving about 15 minutes of physical therapy a day. Over the last month, he has improved enough that he talks, has some mobility with his right hand, and can move his right leg.
Unfortunately my wife was told this afternoon that he would not be covered for the recovery center after Friday and that he would have to leave. Coincidentally the same day her mom was discharged from the hospital for surgery. So, we have two whole days to figure out how to get him assistance so he can continue to recover. This would be a challenge regardless, but we both have pretty demanding full time jobs so that will make it even more difficult. Seeing him make improvements and suddenly being told the services are no longer available is heart breaking. Since he is a veteran, I'm hoping it will help with options for coverage. We have no idea where his discharge paper work is, so it will take some time just to pull his history together.
Has anyone worked with the VA for assistance with a relative? Any idea what types of assistance I can expect for him? Thanks for any advice.
10
Posted on 11/13/19 at 10:05 pm to Ramblin Wreck
find momentoftruth
Posted on 11/13/19 at 10:08 pm to Ramblin Wreck
The best thing to do is go to your local VA. Should be an outpatient clinic if you aren't close to a hospital. Find out information directly from the source. Contact your state rep to possibly expedite the situation.
Posted on 11/13/19 at 10:09 pm to Ramblin Wreck
My grandfather has VA benefits but I don’t know much about it
Can you file an appeal with the insurance agency?
The rehab center should have a social worker / case worker that can help with this.
Another option is see about getting home health / physical therapy at home, his insurance may cover it
Good luck
Can you file an appeal with the insurance agency?
The rehab center should have a social worker / case worker that can help with this.
Another option is see about getting home health / physical therapy at home, his insurance may cover it
Good luck
Posted on 11/13/19 at 10:13 pm to Ramblin Wreck
Not sure if you are still on. My wife (no pics) is a Social Worker at the VA in New Orleans. She may be able to help some. Do you have an email we could reach you at?
Posted on 11/13/19 at 10:15 pm to Ramblin Wreck
What does medicare cover? What insurance company covers a 92 year old?
Posted on 11/13/19 at 10:15 pm to LSUJML
quote:
The rehab center should have a social worker / case worker that can help with this.
Definitely this.
Posted on 11/13/19 at 10:17 pm to Ramblin Wreck
In my experience it’s the typical hurry up and wait.
Had to have chemo for Non Hodgkin lymphoma from what doctors say was caused by very being exposed to Agent Orange while serving in Vietnam. Filed a claimed with VA. Waited almost two years. They said non service related.
Filed an appeal, will take two to six years to process.
Wish I had better news for you.
Had to have chemo for Non Hodgkin lymphoma from what doctors say was caused by very being exposed to Agent Orange while serving in Vietnam. Filed a claimed with VA. Waited almost two years. They said non service related.
Filed an appeal, will take two to six years to process.
Wish I had better news for you.
Posted on 11/13/19 at 10:20 pm to Ramblin Wreck
The best thing my father (70) did over the last couple years was apply and receive VA benefits (Vietnam vet). He has been dealing with Pancreatic cancer for approx. three years and last Spring had a major stroke in the hospital. VA benefits definitely provided much more care in terms of length of rehab, at home rehab, and weekly help.
In terms of how it works. I know he went to the local VA clinic/office to apply. Once he applied and was approved, he had to start seeing VA doctors in order to coordinate care. From my understanding (I have been to many doctor visits that were covered by insurance, but not VA) the VA doctors sort of just looked at his existing files and approved the care what that was needed.
Like another poster said, you should definitely go to the local clinic, but you might also want to call ahead and see what information you need and paperwork you need ahead of time (like power of attorney, or something else giving you power of your FIL medical information). I recall my mother had issues with VA after my dad's stroke because he didn't initially list her on his forms to give her clearance. Just something to think about before you head to the local office/clinic and get stonewalled initially (obviously, time is of the most importance).
Best of luck!
In terms of how it works. I know he went to the local VA clinic/office to apply. Once he applied and was approved, he had to start seeing VA doctors in order to coordinate care. From my understanding (I have been to many doctor visits that were covered by insurance, but not VA) the VA doctors sort of just looked at his existing files and approved the care what that was needed.
Like another poster said, you should definitely go to the local clinic, but you might also want to call ahead and see what information you need and paperwork you need ahead of time (like power of attorney, or something else giving you power of your FIL medical information). I recall my mother had issues with VA after my dad's stroke because he didn't initially list her on his forms to give her clearance. Just something to think about before you head to the local office/clinic and get stonewalled initially (obviously, time is of the most importance).
Best of luck!
Posted on 11/13/19 at 10:23 pm to Ramblin Wreck
I can't help with specifics, but it all starts with contacting the VA. As stated above, do it in person if possible. Hopefully, he will be covered for that.
It can take a while to get things in order, but hopefully they can expedite it. So, I agree with trying to get home health/rehab if possible. At his age, assuming he is on Medicare, their goal is to keep him out of the hospital as much as possible.
If you can get him VA benefits, do it, regardless of the outcome here. I have a family member with VA benefits. In the past 5 years he has had several major operations, including a liver transplant and an emergency hernia surgery just a couple weeks ago. He hasn't paid a single penny and has had great care. His VA doctors are in Birmingham and Nashville, so your FIL's mileage may vary.
Those are his benefits, and he earned them. I hope everything works out.
It can take a while to get things in order, but hopefully they can expedite it. So, I agree with trying to get home health/rehab if possible. At his age, assuming he is on Medicare, their goal is to keep him out of the hospital as much as possible.
If you can get him VA benefits, do it, regardless of the outcome here. I have a family member with VA benefits. In the past 5 years he has had several major operations, including a liver transplant and an emergency hernia surgery just a couple weeks ago. He hasn't paid a single penny and has had great care. His VA doctors are in Birmingham and Nashville, so your FIL's mileage may vary.
Those are his benefits, and he earned them. I hope everything works out.
Posted on 11/13/19 at 10:25 pm to Nicky Parrish
Unfortunately it is hurry up and wait. If he goes to the local VA, he will know what documents he needs, paperwork, and advice to get a claim started. It wont happen overnight, but if done properly it will be done sooner. Wait times are being cut thankfully, still ridiculous and painful dealing with the VA.
The problem I see OP running into is finding the documents he needs as well as hoping his FIL can get a service related rating just because of his age. This pisses me off that a vet cant walk in and get help. My generation has it so much better, even if the VA is fricked.
There are also va reps in each state/region that can help with this. Again, I recommend OP to go to VA to see exactly what they need.
The problem I see OP running into is finding the documents he needs as well as hoping his FIL can get a service related rating just because of his age. This pisses me off that a vet cant walk in and get help. My generation has it so much better, even if the VA is fricked.
There are also va reps in each state/region that can help with this. Again, I recommend OP to go to VA to see exactly what they need.
Posted on 11/13/19 at 10:25 pm to Ramblin Wreck
Obama said he’d be better off taking a pill.
Posted on 11/13/19 at 10:26 pm to Legion of Doom
quote:
Social Worker at the VA in New Orleans. She may be able to help some
Thanks for the offer. He lives in Texas and I just found there is a VA clinic where he lives. I guess we should probably first speak with someone there. I'll reach back out if we hit a road block. We recently moved to Baton Rouge and have been trying to talk my in-laws into letting us move them here. I guess I need to look into what is available here also in case I can now talk them into moving here.
Posted on 11/13/19 at 10:27 pm to RouxGaRoux84
Good advice here, particularly about the doctors and coordinating care. The only thing my family member had not had covered was an Ambulance transport from the VA hospital to UAB hospital for a test, literally next door. The insurance through his job picked that bill up and he paid very little.
Posted on 11/13/19 at 10:34 pm to LegendInMyMind
We dealt with the local VA home for the elderly with my FIL who was eligible for entry. But it was newly opened and full and he died before his name came up on the entry list.
Contact his Representative.
See if anyone knows folks on local TV stations who do public interest. For that matter, ask friends there for help and for names.
You can't do this long distance, you or your wife needs to be there to rattle the chains of decision makers.
Good luck and don't take no for an answer. Keep a book of who you talked to, when and what came of it. Ask unhelpful people who they would recommend you talk to next.
Contact his Representative.
See if anyone knows folks on local TV stations who do public interest. For that matter, ask friends there for help and for names.
You can't do this long distance, you or your wife needs to be there to rattle the chains of decision makers.
Good luck and don't take no for an answer. Keep a book of who you talked to, when and what came of it. Ask unhelpful people who they would recommend you talk to next.
Posted on 11/13/19 at 10:51 pm to Ramblin Wreck
Dont contact the VA or go to a local clinic. Your first step should be to contact a Veterans Service Officer (VSO). They do this stuff all the time and will know the best way to get it done... it's also free of charge.
Google VSO in your area. Usually available through VFW and other veterans organizations.
Google VSO in your area. Usually available through VFW and other veterans organizations.
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