Struggling Veterans Eligible For New Help

Hendry County Veteran's Office Here To Help

LABELLE, FL. -- For veterans struggling financially due to a job loss or decreased income, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers an assortment of programs that can relieve the costs of health care or provide care at no cost.

Hendry County's Public Information Officer Ron Zimmerly said this week that veterans whose previous income was ruled too high for VA health care may be able to enter the VA system based upon a hardship if their current year�s income is projected to fall below federal income thresholds due to a job loss, separation from service or some other financial setback. Veterans determined eligible due to hardship can avoid co-pays applied to higher-income veterans. Qualifying veterans may be eligible for enrollment and receive health care at no cost.

Also eligible for no-cost VA care are most veterans who recently returned from a combat zone. They are entitled to five years of free VA care. The five-year �clock� begins with their discharge from the military, not their departure from the combat zone.

Each VA medical center across the country has an enrollment coordinator available to provide veterans information about these programs. Veteran�s may contact VA�s Health Benefits Service Center at 1-877-222 VETS (8387) or visit the VA health eligibility website at www.va.gov/healtheligibility. For Hendry-Glades county's VA office call 863-675-5250 in LaBelle or 863-983-1491 in Clewiston.