Mass Vets Advisor

The VA is required by law to bill private health insurance carriers for medical care, supplies & prescriptions provided for treatment of Veterans' nonservice-connected conditions. Private health insurance coverage through a Veteran or their spouse is insurance provided by an employer, Veteran or other non-federal source, including Medicare supplemental plans. The VA DOES NOT bill Medicare or Medicaid for reimbursement. To learn more about Private Health Insurance Billing visit the link above.

VA Small & Veteran Business Programs implement the requirements to aid, counsel, assist, & protect the interests of small & Veteran business concerns. When acquiring products and services, the federal government must award these businesses a fair proportion of total VA property and services purchases, contracts, & subcontracts. To learn more about this program's goals & accomplishments for veteran business owners, please visit the link above.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a survivors & burial benefits kit as a source of pre-need planning information & record storage for Veterans & their families. The documents found in the guide help families plan while ensuring survivors know what benefits are available to them. Visit the link above to access this guide.

A VA Survivors Pension offers monthly payments to qualified surviving spouses & unmarried dependent children of wartime Veterans who meet certain income & net worth limits set by Congress. To find out if you qualify, learn more about the program, & how to apply, please visit the link above.

VA travel pay reimbursement pays eligible Veterans & caregivers back for mileage & other travel expenses to & from approved health care appointments. To find out if you’re eligible & to learn how to file a claim, please visit the link above.

The VA's "Veterans in the Workplace" study gained insight into practices that improve Veteran retention in the workplace. A critical element to workplace retention advocated by study respondents was employer support & development of Veteran mentoring programs. Veteran mentoring programs create peer support among Veterans in the civilian workplace. To learn about the benefits of creating these programs in your workplace along with some helpful tools, visit the link above.

Women Veterans are eligible for comprehensive health services through the VA including primary, specialty, mental health, maternity, & reproductive services. The VA also provides: - management of acute & chronic illnesses - preventive care - contraceptive services - menopause management - cancer screenings, including pap smear & mammograms, & gynecology To learn more about available options visit the link above, or call the Women Veterans Call Center (WVCC) at 855-829-6636.

Each VA Medical Center has a Women Veterans’ Program Manager, helping women vets access their benefits, counseling them, & discussing treatment options. Below you will find info on how to connect to local Women Veterans Program Managers: VA Boston: va.gov/boston-health-care/health-services/women-veteran-care/ VA Central/Western MA: va.gov/central-western-massachusetts-health-care/health-services/women-veteran-care/ VA Bedford: va.gov/bedford-health-care/health-services/women-veteran-care/

The VA's Veterans work-study program can help you earn money while you’re enrolled in a college, a vocational school, or professional training program. To learn more about eligibility & to apply for the work-study program, visit the link above.

The VA offers an advance care planning guide that provides a step-by-step process to help plan for medical decisions in your future. Advance care planning involves four main actions: • Choosing a spokesperson; • Thinking about what you would want if you had to make difficult choices; • Talking about your views with your spokesperson, loved ones, & health care providers; • Completing an advance directive to document your preferences. Read the guide & know your options by visiting the link.