The Affordable Care Act and You
Have you heard about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and wondered if it will affect your VA benefits?
The ACA, also referred to as the Health Care Law, was signed into law by President Obama in March 2010 in an effort to expand access to health insurance coverage, increase consumer protections, improve quality and system performance, and curb rising health care costs. Some of the Health Care Law’s provisions became effective soon after the law was passed in 2010, but most will be phased in over time.
Part of the Health Care Law requires most people to have health insurance by January 1, 2014, or pay a tax penalty. Beginning in October of this year, health insurance "marketplaces" will begin an open enrollment period for individuals and small businesses to buy affordable and qualified health benefit plans. People who do not have insurance may choose to purchase insurance through these marketplaces and may be eligible for a tax credit to help offset the cost. Some states are expanding their Medicaid program to make qualifying easier.
You already meet the requirement for mandatory health insurance coverage if you are enrolled in a federal program such as Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, Medicare, Medicaid, VA, TRICARE, and Indian Health Service programs.
Spouses, surviving spouses, children, and certain primary caregivers of certain Veterans may be eligible for VA CHAMPVA health benefits under certain conditions. For more information, call 1-800-733-VETS (8387) or visit www.va.gov/hac/forbeneficiaries/champva/champva.asp.
VA also provides free health care benefits to certain children of Vietnam Veterans and Veterans of covered service in Korea who have been determined to be eligible by the Veterans Benefits Administration for a stipend related to the diagnosed condition of spina bifida. For more information, Veterans or their beneficiaries may call 1-888-820-1756 or visit www.va.gov/hac/forbeneficiaries/spina/spina.asp.
VA will continue to provide Veterans with high quality, comprehensive health care and benefits they have earned through their service. For additional information about the Health Care Law, visit www.healthcare.gov.
If you are already enrolled
Veterans or other beneficiaries currently enrolled in VA health care, VA Civilian Health and Medical Program (CHAMPVA), or the spina bifida health care benefits program do not have to take any additional steps to comply with the health insurance requirement outlined in the Health Care Law.
If you are not enrolled
VA wants all Veterans and their families to have health care coverage, so VA will work with you to determine eligibility. If you choose to enroll in VA to meet the Health Care Law insurance coverage requirement, you do not have to wait until October 2013, for the Health Care Law open enrollment period. You may begin the enrollment process now by:
- Visiting any VA medical facility, or
- Applying online at www.myhealth.va.gov, or
- Calling 1-877-222-VETS (8387) to request an application.
