Veterans Eligible For DVA Prescription Drug Benefit

BOSTON — Judith Kurland, New England Regional Director, US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and Dr Jeannette Chirico-Post of the Department of Veterans Affairs New England Healthcare System, have released a fact sheet to encourage veterans to explore VA healthcare benefits including low or no cost prescription drug coverage.

All veterans, including those with private or other public insurance, can purchase a 30-day supply of prescription medications for $2 through the VA New England Healthcare System. All veterans need to do is simply enroll at their nearest VA Hospital or Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) and then be seen by a VA primary care provider in order to access the prescription drug benefit.

“The escalating costs of prescription drugs have left uninsured and underinsured Americans, particularly the elderly and disabled, unable to afford prescribed medications. They often find themselves skimping, skipping, or sharing their medications with others,” said Ms Kurland.

In the region Ms Kurland has been working with New England state legislators to create a New England prescription drug purchasing consortium that would enable the six states to negotiate lower prices for virtually everyone who provides coverage or consumes prescription drugs. “The same kind of buying power that the VA has is what the six New England states are vying for,” said Ms Kurland. “In the meantime, we have in place a vehicle to provide prescription drug coverage to America’s veterans in the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System.”

Veterans 65 and older qualify for Medicare, but approximately three out of five lack dependable drug coverage.

All veterans are eligible for VA healthcare and drug benefits upon honorable discharge from active military service. For those discharged prior to 1980, any service time qualifies. Veterans discharged after 1980 must have completed two years of active service. To benefit from the prescription drug coverage, all veterans need to enroll in the VA health network and be seen by a VA primary care provider to determine if a prescription is needed. A visit co-payment may be charged based on a veteran’s income and disability status. However, fees can be waived for disabled and low-income veterans.

Veterans should call 781/687-3400 or visit the VA web site at http://www.visn1.med.va.gov or http://www.va.gov for information regarding locations and phone numbers of the nearest VA Medical Center and Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) to enroll in the VA healthcare network.