Federal Benefits

MEDICAL BENEFITS

VA Medical Centers-
Access to care with minimal or no co-payments.

Your comprehensive VA Health Benefits include all the necessary inpatient hospital care and outpatient services to promote, preserve, and restore your health. VA medical facilities provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, radiology and physical therapy.

In addition, most of our medical facilities offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology and speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplant and plastic surgery.

Big Stone County Veteran Services can assist you in enrolling in the VA Healthcare system by helping complete the “Application for Health Benefits” (VA Form 10-10EZ). Certain restriction to enrollment may be applicable.

The VA does count as credible coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

For more information:
VA-Affordable Care Act Fact Sheet
VA-Affordable Care Act FAQ Sheet 

TRICARE-
TRICARE is medical and dental insurance for military service members, military retirees, and their families.

CHAMPVA-
Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) is a comprehensive health care program for eligible spouses or windows in which the VA shares the cost of covered health care services and supplies with eligible beneficiaries. The program covers most health care services and supplies that are medically and psychologically necessary. Upon confirmation of eligibility, you will receive program material that specifically addresses covered and non-covered services and supplies in the form of a CHAMPVA handbook.

Dental Insurance-
The US Department of Veterans Affairs is offering affordable dental insurance to veterans who are eligible for VA health care. This offer is also extended to family members who are currently receiving VA funded health care under the CHAMPVA program.

The contracts with Delta Dental and MetLife ended on January 31, 2017. Until a new contract is established, there will be no new VADIP enrollments. VA will announce the new private insurance providers and new enrollment timelines as soon as the contract process is complete.

For more information: Frequently Asked Questions and Facts Sheet

My HealtheVet-
My HealtheVet is an online tool that is offered by the VA Medical Centers for veterans, service members, and their dependents. This online tool is access to your personal health record and allows you to access your VA Immunization records, more detailed lab reports, and a list of your current medical issues. It also allows you to process prescription refills, schedule VA appointments, and talk with your provider through Secure Messaging.

DISABILITY BENEFITS

Compensation-
Disability compensation is a monetary benefit paid to veterans who are disabled by an injury or disease that was incurred or aggravated during active military service. Compensation varies with the degree of disability and the number of dependents, and is paid monthly. This benefit is not subject to federal or state income taxes.

Certain diseases are considered presumptive for veterans who meet any of the following criteria:
* Prisoner of War (POW)
* Veterans exposed to radiation
* Veterans exposed to Agent Orange
* Gulf War Veterans and Veterans exposed to burn pits & environmental toxins
* Any veteran diagnosed with ALS

Veterans Pension-
Veterans Pension provides supplemental income to limited income veterans who are either permanently and totally disabled or are 65 years old or older. Three rates are available depending on the veteran’s physical condition; they are Basic Rate, Housebound Rate, and Aid & Attendance (Nursing Care) Rate.

Survivor’s Pension-
Survivor’s Pension provides supplemental income to limited income surviving spouses and/or unmarried children of a deceased veteran with wartime service.

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)-
DIC is a tax free monetary benefit paid to survivors of service members who died on active duty or Veterans who died from a service-related disability.

HOME LOAN GUARANTEE

Home Loan Guarantee-
The Department of Veterans Affairs helps service members, veterans, and eligible surviving spouses become homeowners. They do this by providing a home loan guarantee benefit and other housing related programs to help qualified people buy, build, repair, retain, or adapt a home for personal occupancy.

EDUCATION

Education Benefits Program- 
Many veterans and active duty personnel can qualify for more than one education benefits program, including the
* Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)
* Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB, Chapter 30, and Chapter 1606)
* Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP, Chapter 1607)

Survivors & Dependents Assistance-
Survivors & Dependents Assistance provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of certain disabled or deceased veterans.

VETERAN READINESS & EMPLOYMENT

Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E)-
This program assists veterans with service-connected disabilities to prepare for, find, and keep suitable jobs. It also provides services to improve the veteran’s ability to live as independently as possible, when the veteran is so severely disabled that they cannot immediately consider work.

LIFE INSURANCE

 Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI)-
SGLI is a low-cost life insurance coverage for service members (active and reservists).

Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI)-
VGLI is life insurance that allows veterans to convert their full-time SGLI coverage to a lifetime renewable term insurance. Premiums are age-based and if you apply within 240 days following separation, no health questions are asked.

Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (FSGLI)-
FSGLI is life insurance that automatically covers the spouse and children of service members insured under SGLI. Spousal coverage is a small premium, but dependent children are insured at no cost.

SGLI Traumatic Injury Protection Program (TSGLI)-
TSGLI provides automatic injury coverage to all service members covered under the SGLI program. It provides short-term financial assistance.

Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (S-DVI)-
S-DVI is a life insurance benefit for veterans who have service-connected disabilities who are otherwise in good health. This program stopped taking new applications after December 31, 2022, but if you already have S-DVI, you can keep it.

Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife)-
VALife provides guaranteed acceptance whole life coverage of up to $40,000 to Veterans aged 80 and under, with service-connected disabilities rated 0% to 100%. VALife took effect January 1, 2023.

Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance (VMLI)-
VMLI is mortgage protection insurance that can help families pay off the home in the event of the death of a severely disabled service member or veteran.

BURIAL BENEFITS

Headstone or Government Marker-
The VA will furnish a headstone or marker, at no cost, to mark the grave of an eligible veteran that died on or after November 1, 1990. They will also furnish a headstone or marker for any unmarked graves of veterans who died prior to November 1, 1990.

Burial Flag-
The VA provides a United States flag, at no cost, to drape the casket or accompany the urn of a deceased veteran who served honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces. The flag is given to the next-of-kin, as a keepsake, after its use in the funeral service.

Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC)-
A PMC is an engraved paper certificate, signed by the current President, to honor the memory of an honorably discharged deceased veteran.

Burial and Plot Allowances-
VA burial allowances are partial reimbursements of an eligible veteran’s burial and funeral costs.

Burial in a VA National Cemetery-
Most veterans and some dependents may be buried in a VA National Cemetery. To find out more about Fort Snelling National Cemetery located in Minneapolis, MN click here.