12 Myths About Benefits
Don’t
know what to believe about Warrior Support, VA benefits, and entitlements? Click
on a myth below to jump to the true story:
- After I return from OIF/OEF, I need to have my dental work
(as part of my VA benefit) completed before the end of the 180-day period.
- If I receive disability compensation from the VA, I will be
discharged from the National Guard.
- I am receiving 40% disability compensation from the VA and
have heard that I will be discharged if I am receiving more than 30%.
- VA does Retirement Physicals.
- If I am injured in a car accident, my TSGLI benefits will reduce
the amount of my SGLI in the event of my death at a later time.
- As a National Guard member, I heard that my SGLI coverage is
only good while I'm at drill.
- I cannot go to the VA Hospital for a service-connected problem
because I have private health insurance.
- If I am a Service Member returning from theater and do not
have a job, I am not eligible for Unemployment Compensation.
- I need to pay enrollment fees to take advantage of the new
Post-9/11 GI Bill.
- If I file for my VA compensation then I have automatically
enrolled in the VA Healthcare System.
- Service Members and their families are not eligible for Pre-activation
Benefits (Early Eligibility) TRICARE.
- I am enrolled in the TRICARE healthcare program and am automatically
covered for dental care.
Myth #1: After I return from OIF/OEF, I need to have
my dental work (as part of my VA benefit) completed before the end of the 180-day
period.
The Truth: The 180 day period refers to enrolling in the VA and
making the dental appointment within 180 days of the REFRAD date, but you are NOT
required to have all of your dental work completed before 180 days!
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Myth #2: If I receive disability compensation from
the VA, I will be discharged from the National Guard.
The Truth: You can be a traditional National Guard member and receive
VA disability compensation. However, you cannot receive VA compensation for the
same time period that you receive military pay. For typical 'traditional' Guard
members, this means 63 days of military pay (48 UTAs and 15 AT). Any Active Duty
Operational Support Guard program (aka ADSW), RMA, etc. counts as military pay as
well. If you are AGR or mobilized, you will be receiving military pay 24/7, and
must stop VA compensation immediately, or you will become indebted to the Federal
Government.
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Myth #3: I am receiving 40% disability compensation
from the VA and have heard that I will be discharged if I am receiving more than
30%.
The Truth: Although there is something in the enlistment contract
about 30%, that does not apply to you because you are not enlisting! The percentage
of disability compensation from the VA does not affect your membership in the National
Guard. However, you must pass the physical examination for the NG – “fitness for
duty exam or ability to perform your duty” – this is what will determine if you
are retainable. And always record accurate information on the Annual Medical Certification.
There is a block that asks if you are receiving disability compensation from Social
Security, VA, Workers Comp, etc. These are government documents and to give an untrue
answer is deemed as committing fraud and then neither DoD (Department of Defense)
or VA is going to be chomping at the bit to take care of you.
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Myth #4: VA does Retirement Physicals.
The Truth: They do not. Guard members often confuse the Compensation
and Pension Exam as being a retirement physical. However, if there is a VA/DoD Sharing
Agreement, the VA Medical Centers may be requested by DoD medical facilities to
assist with these service retirement physicals, but these instances are rare. Note:
Under the Benefits Delivered at Discharge Program, DoD will accept the VA’s physical
as their retirement physical. If the Service Member has already done a VA Compensation
and Pension exam, they can get a copy of it and use it as their retirement physical.
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Myth #5: If I am injured in a car accident, my TSGLI
benefits will reduce the amount of my SGLI in the event of my death at a later time.
The Truth: Payment of TSGLI has no impact on the amount of SGLI
payable. For example, if a Service Member is insured for $400,000 of SGLI coverage
and receives a TSGLI payment of $50,000 for a traumatic injury, that member is still
insured for the full $400,000 of SGLI coverage, which will be paid upon the Service
Member's death.
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Myth #6: As a National Guard member, I heard that
my SGLI coverage is only good while I'm at drill.
The Truth: If you are a National Guard member and have been assigned
to a unit in which you are scheduled to perform at least 12 periods of inactive
duty that is creditable for retirement purposes, full-time SGLI coverage is in effect
365 days of the year. You are also covered for 120 days following separation or
release from duty.
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Myth #7: I cannot go to the VA Hospital for a service-connected
problem because I have private health insurance.
The Truth: You may enroll with the Department of Veteran Affairs
for healthcare benefits regardless of your private health insurance plan. You may,
depending upon the circumstances, have to make a co-payment for treatment for non-service
connected conditions. Your private insurance may be billed for non-service conditions
as well.
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Myth #8: If I am a Service Member returning from theater
and do not have a job, I am not eligible for Unemployment Compensation.
The Truth: Although the Unemployment Compensation benefit varies
among states, you may be eligible in your state for unemployment insurance. Usually
the states provide these temporary wage replacement benefits to qualified individuals
who are out of work through no fault of their own. Check it out! Also check out
your state benefits, which may include employment benefits and job placement assistance,
too.
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Myth #9: I need to pay enrollment fees to take advantage
of the new Post-9/11 GI Bill.
The Truth: There are no enrollment fees to receive benefits under
the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
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Myth #10: If I file for my VA compensation then
I have automatically enrolled in the VA Healthcare System.
The Truth: The process to apply for VA compensation is separate
from the process to enroll in the healthcare system. To enroll you must complete
a 10-10EZ and submit it in person, online or via the mail to your nearest VA hospital.
It must be signed before you submit it. It is also wise to have a copy of your DD214
to verify your active duty status and theater of deployment for combat vet eligibility
for enhanced healthcare and other benefits. Additionally, if you submitted your
military medical records with your disability claim, it is not available to the
hospital. For VA healthcare enrollment, it is also necessary to bring copies of
any of your medical records so that they can be scanned into the VA’s VISTA electronic
record system.
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Myth #11: Service Members and their families are
not eligible for Pre-activation Benefits (Early Eligibility) TRICARE.
The Truth: Guard and family members are eligible once the SM receives
mobilization alert orders, is within 90 days of deployment and all are currently
enrolled in DEERs. Special note: if you think there is a possibility that you may
be found not fit for duty, you should keep your civilian heath insurance until you
are found fit for duty. Remember that when you return from this deployment, you
are eligible for 6 months of TRICARE TAMP for your and your family healthcare needs
(enrollment is not automatic – see your Transition Assistance Advisor or TRICARE
representative for details). VA healthcare covers only Veterans for 5 years from
the REFRAD date.
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Myth #12: I am enrolled in the TRICARE healthcare
program and am automatically covered for dental care.
The Truth: Enrollment in TRICARE does not cover your dental care.
The TRICARE Dental Program (TDP) is offered by the Department of Defense (DoD) and
you must purchase this benefit from United Concordia, which administers the program.
Learn more at www.tricaredentalprogram.com.
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