A number of veterans will be hit with a big unexpected bill from the VA this month, and the reason why has military members and families quite frustrated.
Back in April the VA decided to stop collecting payments from many veterans for their medical care. This included payments for copays.
Now the VA has announced they will be asking people to pay for any charges incurred for medical care or prescriptions from April 6 through the end of 2020.
Veterans who are affected by the announcement may have also received a letter in December alerting them of the bill.
That letter advised veterans of their account balance, which includes any uncollected copays from April 6 and any outstanding medical debt incurred prior to that date. It also said the VA would begin collecting that money in January, and that no interest or fees will be charged on the outstanding debt until that time.
VA officials said veterans who owe might be able to set up repayment plans or request debt relief.
“We understand this may impose a financial burden on some of our Veterans, and we’re doing everything we can to help,” officials said in the release.
Military.com
To add to the frustration, the instructions included in the letter did not include people’s VA account numbers, yet they required them for people to make a payment on their bills.
In light of the pandemic, both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have called on the VA to continue deferring its nine-month pause on collecting bills from veterans.
The VA responded by saying they will not further delay collections, even though they have the authority to do so.
“VA could continue to defer veteran debt; however, we do not have authority to waive all veteran debt, so the debt will continue to grow,” stated VA Press Secretary Christina Noel. “VA feels it is in the veterans’ best interest to notify them of a potential debt. If they are unable to repay the debt or if doing so would cause a financial hardship, VA can work with individuals to provide relief based upon their unique circumstance.”
I can’t see how you can legally do something like this without telling us or having us sign anything before hand. I will check with my congressman beforehand.
We are on a fixed income , i do not feel this is fair , what the v a did was put us in a big hole , now we have to deal with paying this large bill , we were fine until you did this without being asked to do so , how are we going to pay this , if you had asked we would have told you not to do that , now we are stuck with this large bill .
Seems like the VA is still broken.
My bill is not nearly as large as many others that depend on the VA for the bulk of their healthcare.
But, I do feel it was devious to not send co-pay bills to Vets and to not provide knowledge of the possible consequences.
Vets should have been allowed to decide whether or not to apply for a plan of deferment with all the rules and fees made apparent.
I think it is crap too. I am retired and this is going to hit hard, I would have rather paid every month, would have been much easier.
2014 when to the VA to see a Doctor for the first time. I am a former USMC Vietnam Veteran. Service 4 years in the USMC.. Always saw a private doctor for health care.. In 2014 went to the VA for health care. I was not happy the way I was treated. So I keep going to my family doctor. Some medications I pay co-pay. . I have stent in my Thigh, 2 stents in my heart and a Triple heart bypass. Every thing is out of pocket. The VA don’t do nothing for me. A. Rodriguez.
Yeah, thanks congress for fixing the VA…yeah right! It is still broken and the VA has denied choice for Dental. At least at the Hampton VA in Hampton, VA. Way to take care of us Vets who put everything on the line to protect our Freedoms!
I’m disabled and can’t work and they are already taking my monthly check to pay back separation payment which I think is BS.
I agree with Kim Mohr. This was a devious practice. And I know illegal aliens get so much free it makes me sick. Don’t forget the foreign aid and Congressional pork. The VA is part of the swamp. I doubt anyone or anything can reform it. I’m a 75 year old old retired veteran.
I “think” it is ‘crap’…(that’s my point I want to choose!!!!).
This is outrageous we put our lives is harms way for our beloved country now they can’t even afford to take care of our needs. To top it all, we have to burden the cost for what it’s suppose to be “NO COST” when we sign up. What a waste of time !
I am a vet also and also so live on SS how the hell did you put us in this fix I contacted my VA numerous times and I was advise not to worry about it got my bill already and I don’t know which I have to give up eating or my medications guess I’ll have to split my pills in half THANK YOU GOVERMENT