Medicaid
What Kind of Medical Expenses Help Determine VA Aid & Attendance Eligibility?
By Senior Advocate Rick Law of the Estate Planning Center at Law Elder Law in West Suburban Aurora, Illinois. As we discussed before, someone may have told you, or the veteran you love, that you have too much income to qualify for the Aid and Attendance benefit. But did you know, some unreimbursed medical expenses may have an effect on your eligibility? These expenses can be deducted from your gross income to help determine VA benefit eligibility:
- Medicare Premiums deducted from Social Security
- Supplementary medical insurance (Part B) under Medicare
- Abdominal supports
- Acupuncture service
- Ambulance hire
- Anesthetist
- Arch supports
- Artificial limbs
- Back supports
- Braces
- Cardiographs
- Chiropodist
- Chiropractor
- Convalescent home (for medical treatment only)
- Crutches
- Dental services
- Dentures
- Dermatologist
- Eyeglasses
- Food or beverages prescribed by doctor for treatment of illness
- Gynecologist
- Hearing aids & batteries
- Home health services
- Hospital expenses
- Insulin Treatment
- Insurance premiums (medical)
- Invalid chair
- Lab tests
- Lip reading lessons (in connection with disability)
- Neurologist
- Nursing services
- Occupational therapist
- Ophthalmologist
- Optician
- Optometrist
- Oral surgery
- Osteopath
- Pediatrician
- Physical examinations
- Physician
- Physical therapy
- Podiatrist
- Prescriptions and drugs
- Psychiatrist
- Psychoanalyst
- Psychologist
- Psychotherapy
- Radium therapy
- Sacroiliac belt
- Seeing-eye dog
- Speech therapist
- Splints
- Surgeon
- Telephone/teletype for deaf
- Transportation expenses (20 cents per mile)
- Vaccines
- Vitamins prescribed by doctor
- Wheelchairs
- Whirlpool baths for medical purposes
- X-rays