State veterans’ homes are a joint venture between state veterans’ departments and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Subsidies come from the state, VA and other sources. Most state homes are nursing homes for veterans, but some homes may also provide assisted living and other care. Each state has a least one VA nursing home. VA Maryland Health Care System provides health care and service to Maryland's Veterans at the Baltimore Loch Raven and Perry Point VA Medical Centers, in addition to five community-based outpatient clinics.
The mission of the VA nursing homes is to restore each veteran to his or her highest level of well-being, prevent health declines and provide end-of-life comfort care. Generally, there is no income or asset test. Most veterans in most states would qualify. Many states have waiting lists of weeks to months for available beds. Each facility has different eligibility rules and there is an application process. Unfortunately, the ratings for VA nursing home care comes in much lower than most other private nursing homes.
Qualifications for VA Nursing Home Care
Career military personnel have the highest priority for admission to VA nursing homes. Eligibility extends to those enlisted with a minimum of 20 years of service by age 60, veterans who are incapable of earning a living due to a disability incurred in the line of duty, veterans who served in a war zone and who later became incapable of earning a living, and women veterans who served prior to June 12, 1948.
Care in VA nursing homes is NOT free. It is however subsidized by the VA and the veteran may qualify for Medicaid assistance as well. The veteran is still financially responsible for his or her costs. No facilities are entirely free to any veteran with an income unless the veteran is also receiving Disability Compensation at a certain disability rating.
There may be a better approach for veterans looking to find affordable long-term care. With proper, advance planning veterans and their spouses may qualify for several different types of aid such as Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefits and/or Medicaid. The elder law attorneys at Stouffer Legal keep up with the changing rules and application procedures to better assist clients with the planning and application process.
Our attorneys understand how both the Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefits work with Medicaid benefits and the necessary asset protection planning that must take place for many veterans to qualify.
Additional Veterans’ Benefits
Aside from subsidized nursing home care, veterans also receive some of the following benefits:
- Burial in VA cemeteries
- Free state license plates and waived car registration fees
- free hunting or fishing licenses for disabled veterans
- tuition assistance for veterans, National Guard and dependents
- disability parking placards for disabled veterans
- free admission to state parks
For more information on elder law planning for veterans, contact Stouffer Legal. You can schedule an appointment by calling us at (443) 470-3599 or emailing us at office@stoufferlegal.com.
