VA Coverage for Alzheimer’s

Will the Veterans Administration Pay for Alzheimer’s Care?

The answer is it depends on whether your loved one meets the criteria set forth by the VA:

1. The applicant must have served during a wartime period. For instance, World War II is considered to be from December 7, 1941 through December 31, 1946; Korean War is from January 27, 1950 through the end of January 1955; Vietnam is from August 1964 through May 1975.
2. The person must have served at least 90 days and been honorably discharged.
3. If the applicant is over 65, the VA will presume you are disabled and you will meet the disability qualification without demonstrating any disability.

   You do not have to have served overseas or in a war zone.

What are the income limitations to qualify?

Social security, pension, spouse’s income for married couples, minus unreimbursed medical expenses such as doctor bills, cost of health supplemental health insurance, out-of-pocket costs for prescriptions, ongoing care costs and assisted living costs.

For a person with Alzheimer’s, for example, who has a great deal of medical costs and possibly in-home care or assisted living expenses, those costs are considered unreimbursed medical expenses. An elder lawyer who is VA certified such as Nancy Busch may be able to use strategies to reduce the assets an applicant has in order to qualify them for VA benefits (below the $80,000). Call Nancy Busch to see if she can help you qualify for VA benefits.