If you served in the active military, naval or air service and are separated under any condition other than dishonorable, you may qualify for VA health care benefits. Current and former members of the Reserves or National Guard who were called to active duty (other than for training only) by a federal order and completed the full period for which they were called or ordered to active duty also may be eligible for VA health care.

The primary factor in determining eligibility for VA health care benefits is ‘veteran’s status’ which is established by active duty service and a discharge or release under other than dishonorable conditions. In addition, veterans who served after Sep 7, 1980 must have completed 24 continuous months of active military service or in the case of National Guard or Reserve service members, they must have completed the tour of duty they were called on to perform. Veterans who served prior to September 7, 1980 do not have to meet a minimum service requirement to be eligible for VA health care.

. Veterans may apply for enrollment anytime during the year by completing an ‘Application for Health Benefits’. The form requires you to report your gross annual income from the previous year to help determine your eligibility for free medical care, medications and/or travel benefits.

The assessment is based on the previous year gross household income of the veteran and his or her spouse and dependents, if any. The form requires you to report your gross annual income from the previous year to include wages, bonuses, tips and other benefits. Net income from your farm, ranch, property or business are listed separately. Other income from retirement, pension, social security, interest and dividends must also be reported.

You may deduct non-reimbursed medical expenses paid by you or your spouse and any funereal or burial expenses from the past year. College or vocational educational expenses may also be deducted. This financial information also may be used to determine the Veteran’s enrollment Priority Group.

VA has eliminated the annual requirement for updated financial information. VA now uses information from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Social Security Administration (SSA) to automatically match individual Veteran’s income information, reducing the burden on Veterans to keep their health care eligibility up to date.

In January 2015, VA eliminated the use of net worth information as a determining factor for eligibility and copayment responsibilities. VA will only consider a Veteran’s gross household income and deductible expenses from the previous year. This change makes VA health care benefits more affordable to lower-income Veterans who have no service-connected condition or other qualifying factors. Veterans with incomes below the Geographic Means Test (GMT) income threshold, which is $43,505 for a single veteran in Charles Mix County or $49,720 with one dependent, may be able to enroll.

You may not need it today — or tomorrow — or for years to come. But all veterans should apply to be able to take advantage of an entire network of high-quality comprehensive VA health care and medical benefits at little to no cost.

To fill out an application, contact Charles Mix County Veterans Service Officer Jerry Seiner at the courthouse at 605-487-7691 or 605-481-1338 (c). Office hours are Monday and Tuesday from 8:00 to 4:30 and Wednesday from 8:00 to 12:00.