How To File A Va Claim For Guard Or Reserve

Before separating or retiring from the military, active duty service members to include full-time National Guard or Reservists, can apply for VA disability benefits with the Pre-Discharge Claim program.

If you have an illness or injury that you believe was caused or made worse by your active duty service, you can file a VA claim for disability benefits 180 to 90 days BEFORE you leave the military.

This can help help speed up the VA claim process so you can get your benefits sooner.

To use the VAs Pre-Discharge Claim program, ALL the following must be true:

• Youre a service member on full-time active duty , and
• You have a known separation date, and
• Your separation date is in the next 180 to 90 days, and
• Youre available to go to VA exams for 45 days from the date you submitted your claim, and
• You can provide a copy of your service treatment records for your current period of service when you file your claim.

However, at VA Claims Insider, we recommend using the VAs Fully Developed Claim program right on the new VA.gov website along with these useful tips from VA Raters to increase your VA rating.

Transitional Assistance Management Program

The Transitional Assistance Management Program is a short-term health care program that will give you and your family an additional 180 days of health care coverage after you separate from the military. The benefits are the same as active duty health care, and if you qualify, you and your family will receive DoD issued ID cards for access to health care on base.

TAMP is designed for military members and their families who are required to make a quick, and sometimes unexpected, exit from military service. Eligibility for TAMP depends on 2 factors: the reason you are separating from the military, and you must have an honorable discharge. Some qualifying reasons for separation include involuntary separation, stop-loss in support of a contingency operation, voluntary agreement to stay on active duty for less than one year in support of a contingency operation, receiving a sole survivorship discharge, and a few other select circumstances.

Involuntary Separation Guide This article and podcast is an in-depth guide covering many of the struggles facing servicemembers facing an involuntary separation. Highly recommended if you need additional information about what to expect and how to cope with this transition.

If you do not qualify for TAMP, you and your family members may still be eligible for Continued Health Care Benefit Program or some of the other healthcare options listed in this article.

Uniformed Services Employment And Reemployment Rights Act

Another federal statute directly affecting National Guard and reservists along with their civilian employers is the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act . Unlike COBRA, the USERRA is enforceable against all employers without regard to the number of people they employ.

Among the protections provided those in the uniformed services under the USERRA, reservists who must leave their civilian jobs to perform assigned military duties have the right to elect continuing employer-based health insurance coverage for up to two years . The election is both for themselves and for their dependents.

Upon return to civilian life from military duty, the non-active duty service member has the right to full reinstatement with the employers health insurance. Setting service-related illness or injury aside, upon returning to the job the military-employee is freed from insurance waiting periods and pre-existing condition exclusions. At least with regard to health insurance coverage, the military-employee picks up in private life where things left off when the reserve unit mobilized.

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Failure To Update Deers

Failing to keep information up-to-date in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System can cause your heath care benefits to lapse. Unlike many of the other issues that may cause you to become ineligible for TRICARE, a failure to update DEERS can be easily fixed. Keeping information as accurate and up-to-date as possible can prevent ineligibility from happening.

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How To Apply For Tricare Benefits

Applying for TRICARE health benefits is relatively easy, and consists of three main steps:

• Register for the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System
• Check health benefit eligibility
• Select a TRICARE plan online

Anyone applying for TRICARE health benefits must first register in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System . The DEERS system is a global database that catalogs information about uniformed service members, their families and dependents, and anyone else who can receive military health benefits.

How Much Will National Guard Business Insurance Cost

As well as the size of the business, some other factors, such as location and claims history, are used to determine your policys cost.

You should discuss with professional insurance agents and brokers, or insurance company representatives.

You can search for more information insurance for National Guard, in the search box below, and follow the relevant links.

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Tricare For Dependent Parents And In

Parents and parents-in-law who rely on sponsors for care may qualify for some TRICARE benefits. Those who are eligible can receive medical attention in military hospitals and clinics, and receive some medications at military pharmacies, just like sponsors and their families. A military service member must be on active duty for more than 30 days for a parent or in-law parent to receive health care benefits.

Important Definitions That Impact Guard And Reserve Status For Va Benefits

Armed Forces means the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard, including their Reserve components.

Reserve component means the Army, Naval, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard Reserves and the National and Air National Guard of the United States.

Reserves means members of a Reserve component of one of the Armed Forces.

Active service in the Armed Forces of the United States includes:

• Active duty military service
• Any period of active duty for training during which a person is disabled or dies from a disease or injury incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, or
• Any period of inactive duty for training during which a person is disabled or dies from an injury incurred or aggravated in the line of duty or from any of the following conditions that occurred during training:
• Cerebrovascular accident

According to VAOPGCPREC 8-2001, Sexual Assault constitutes an injury for the purposes of this section involving active service.

In addition, time spent proceeding directly to and from active duty for training must be considered as part of the active or inactive duty for training as specified in 38 CFR 3.6.

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State Active Duty Vs Federal Active Duty

A state or territorys governor may activate National Guard members for State Active Duty, such as in response to a natural or man-made disaster.

State Active Duty is based on state law, not federal law, and therefore, does NOT qualify as active service for VA benefits.

Unlike full-time National Guard duty, National Guard members on State Active Duty orders are paid with state funds as opposed to federal funds .

Group And Individual Health Insurance

Health insurance in the US is usually broken down into two categories: group health care coverage and individual health care coverage.

A group health care plan is a health plan that is shared by a large group of people. These plans are often offered by employers as part of your benefits. Tricare is an example of a group health care plan.

An individual health care plan is just what they sound like a health care plan that is for an individual or an individual family and is not part of a larger group benefits plan. Many of these plans are part of the Affordable Care Act and can be found on Healthcare.gov, or a private website such as eHealthInsurance.com .

How to get a group health care plan: A general rule of thumb is that you will be able to get a group health insurance plan through an employer, trade group, or another large group. Some companies also offer health care benefits to part-time employees. Its always a good idea to find out if there is a waiting period before you are eligible for benefits.

There are pros and cons to both of these types of health care plans, and you can learn more about them here: Individual Health Insurance vs. Group Health Insurance.

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Va Disability Compensation Benefits

VA Disability Compensation is a monthly tax-free benefit paid to veterans who are at least 10% disabled because of injuries or diseases that were caused or made worse during active duty military service or active duty for training.

The VA will pay monthly benefits to separated or retired National Guard and Reserve members for disabilities from disease or injury incurred or aggravated during active duty service and active duty for training, AND for disabilities from injury incurred or aggravated during inactive duty for training .

However, the VA will not pay disability compensation benefits for diseases and related conditions incurred or aggravated during inactive duty for training except as determined by veteran status and qualifying service.

Understanding Tricare Eligibility Requirements

You may be eligible for TRICARE coverage if:

• You are an active duty or retired Uniformed Service member
• You are the spouse or child of an active duty or retired Uniformed Service member
• You are a National Guard or Reserve member
• You are the spouse or child of a National Guard or Reserve member
• You are the survivor of deceased military member
• You are the former spouse of a military member
• You are a Medal of Honor recipient
• You are the spouse or child of a Medal of Honor recipient
• You are registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System

TRICARE provides coverage for two kinds of beneficiaries, and refers to them in these terms:

Sponsors: Any individual who is currently on active duty, is retired or is a National Guard or Reserve serviceperson

Family members: Any individual who is the spouse or child of an active duty, retired or National Guard or Reserve serviceperson, and is registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System

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House Bill Would Expand Access To Health Care For National Guard And Reserve Members

The U.S. Capitol in Washington is seen as National Guard members pass by on Thursday, May 20, 2021.

WASHINGTON Health care coverage for National Guard members and reservists would be expanded under a bill introduced Tuesday, as calls to make benefits more equitable for these service members is gaining traction in Congress.

The bill from Reps. Andy Kim, D-N.J., and Trent Kelly, R-Miss., would allow all National Guard members and reservists to sign up for TRICARE Reserve Select, a premium-based health care plan, without additional fees or copays.

Now, only those who are called to active-duty status for more than 30 days are eligible for coverage. The Healthcare for Our Troops Act aims to expand access to affordable health care for about 130,000 members, or 16% of the Guard and Reserve, who lack private health insurance.

Kelly served as a combat engineer in the Mississippi Army National Guard for 35 years before his promotion to major general in December. The congressman said he has been pushing for four years to bring benefits and pay allowances for Guard members more in line with active-duty troops.

It’s just not fair to ask them to put their lives on the line and not have the same coverage and same benefits as their active counterparts, Kelly said.

Kim said affordable care would be one small way to repay service members who kept him safe during his time in Afghanistan where he worked as a strategic adviser before being elected to Congress.

Active Duty Uniformed Service Members

If you are an active duty military member or the spouse or child of an active duty serviceperson you are eligible for TRICARE insurance benefits. TRICARE is the only insurance provider you can have as long as you or your military sponsor is on active duty within one of these military branches:

Example. If your spouse is an active duty member of the U.S. Army, you are both eligible for TRICARE benefits.

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Average Costs Of These Types Of Insurance

Although every National Guard insurance requirement is unique, there are enough examples of average quotes from insurance companies for us to give approximate guidelines, including what are the cheapest rates offered.

Of course, you should always check with an insurance representative whats relevant for your business.

The list below is of annual premiums we have gathered for the main types of insurance your National Guard businesses needs.

Also you can let the internet do the work for you by searching for insurance companies near where your business is located.

Another reliable source of information is the local Better Business Bureau in your city.

How The Military Healthcare System Works

The Military Health System is one of Americas largest and most complex healthcare institutions and the worlds preeminent military healthcare delivery operation. The MHS has a simple three-part directive: save lives on the battlefield, combat infectious disease worldwide, and provide healthcare to Americas active-duty and reserve-duty personnel and their families.

TRICARE is governed by public law and federal regulations, which can change frequently. Though the information in this article is believed to be accurate as of the time of publication and/or update, TRICARE advises that for the most up-to-date information, you should check with your local military hospital or clinic.

Within MHS lies TRICARE, the Defense Health Agencys primary healthcare delivery mechanism for uniformed service members, retirees, and their dependents around the world. Here we focus on members of the armed servicesboth active duty and reservehow they receive healthcare, where they receive it, and what it costs.

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Retiree Health Care Options Under Age 60

Once a member retires from the Reserve Component, he or she loses access to the subsidized Tricare Reserve Select plan. They become eligible to participate in the Tricare Retired Reserve plan, which is similar to Tricare Reserve Select, but without any subsidies, and a higher Catastrophic Cap. The retiree must pay 100% of the premiums if they wish to participate in the plan. And its fairly expensive, at least compared to what you may be used to.

Without subsidies, Tricare Retired Reserve comes in at roughly $444/mo for the individual and about $1,066/mo for a family plan. The Catastrophic Cap for Tricare Retired Reserve is $3,655 per family, per fiscal year. This is more expensive than Tricare Reserve Select, but it may or may not be more affordable than anything you can find through an employer or on one of the health insurance exchanges.

Guard and Reserve retirees may also be eligible for some special military health care programs if they were on active duty at the time of their retirement .

These programs may include:

• This article covers more health care options after leaving the military.

How To Apply For Tricare

Applying for TRICARE is an easy, three-step process that first begins with registering in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System . DEERS is a global database that catalogs information about military members, their families and dependents. This system can ensure you receive military health benefits regardless of where you and your family live or are stationed. You must be registered in DEERS to apply for TRICARE benefits.

To apply for TRICARE benefits:

• Register for the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System
• Check your health benefit eligibility through DEERS
• Select a TRICARE plan online that benefits your unique situation or family needs

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Va Life Insurance Programs

VA Life Insurance programs provide financial security and peace of mind to you and your family, especially considering the risks involved in military service.

Eligible Servicemembers and Veterans pay relatively low monthly premiums for coverage, which vary by insurance program.

You are automatically insured under full-time Servicemembers Group Life Insurance as either a:

• Member of the Ready Reserve or National Guard who is scheduled to perform at least 12 periods of inactive training per year, OR
• Servicemember who volunteers for a mobilization category in the Individual Ready Reserve Part-time coverage is also available to National Guard and Reserve members who do not meet the inactive training requirement above but do perform duty at specific times.

Part-time coverage is also available to National Guard and Reserve members who do not meet the inactive training requirement above but do perform duty at specific times.

List of the Top VA Life Insurance Programs for National Guard and Reserve Members:

• Veterans Group Life Insurance is available to service members who are separating, retiring, or being released from assignment from the Ready Reserve, or a National Guard member who was covered by SGLI, OR to members of the National Guard or Reserve covered by part-time SGLI who incurred or aggravated a disability while performing inactive duty or traveling to/from duty, OR to members of the Individual Ready Reserve or Inactive National Guard.