By Tammy Javenkoski
Oneida County Veterans Service Officer
Veterans, if you’re having a difficult time paying your co-pays for VA health care due to losing your job, a decrease in income, or an increase in out-of-pocket family health care expenses, there are options that may be able to help you.
If you can’t afford to pay your current VA health care copay debt in one payment, you can fill out an Agreement to Pay Indebtedness, VA form 1100. This form is an agreement signed by you proposing a monthly payment plan that fits your budget until the debt is paid off.
Another option is to request debt relief from part or all of your balance. You can request a waiver (asking the VA to stop collection action on the debt), a write-off (asking the VA to cancel the entire debt), or a compromise (asking the VA to accept a lower amount of money as full payment of the debt). This is done by filling out a Financial Status Report, VA form 5655, and submitting it with a statement explaining the financial issues you’re having and why it’s difficult for you to pay your copay debt.
If your income has decreased and you won’t be able to pay future copays due to loss of job, for example, you can file a Request for Hardship Determination, VA form 10-10HS, and submit it with a statement explaining why your income has decreased and why it would be difficult for you to pay copays. This would only change your copay status for the remainder of the calendar year, however.
The final option is to update your income with the VA. Many veterans applied for VA health care several years ago and because of a job change or retirement of them or their spouse, their household income has changed. If this is the case, you can file a Health Benefits Update Form, VA form 10-10EZR, and notify the VA of the change to your household income. Just like the initial VA health care application, you must report your previous calendar year income on this form.
Your County Veterans Service Office can help you with any of these forms.
Note: The Lincoln County Veterans Service Office is currently unstaffed until further notice. Lincoln County veterans and surviving spouses are welcome to contact our office for assistance.
Tammy Javenkoski can be reached at 715-369-6127 or [email protected]. Jason Dailey, Assistant CVSO, can be reached at the same number or [email protected], or you can contact us via Facebook at www.Facebook.com/oneidacvso or our webpage at www.co.oneida.wi.us/departments/vs/.
Vilas County residents can contact Brian Thomas at 715-479-3629 or [email protected]. Kevin Eades, Assistant CVSO, can be reached at the same number or [email protected], or you can contact them via Facebook at www.Facebook.com/vilascvso.