What Kind of Medical Expenses Help Determine VA Aid & Attendance Eligibility?

Nov 09, 2014

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

Note: Most medical expenses must be prescribed by a physician to be deductible from gross income for VA benefit qualification purposes.

If the aging veteran you love could use some extra money to help pay for the cost of in-home, nursing home, or assisted living care, give our office a call at 800-310-3100. Your first consultation is absolutely free. We’ll let you know what steps you need to take, right now, to protect yourself and your family. Call now.

Sincerely,

Rick L. Law, Attorney, Estate Planner for Retirees.

Rick was named the #1 Illinois elder law estate planning attorney by Leading Lawyer Magazine. He has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, AARP Magazine, TheStreet.com, and numerous newspapers and articles. Rick is the lead attorney for Law Elder Law, LLP, focusing in Estate Planning, Guardianship, and Nursing Home Solutions. His goal is to give retirees an informed edge when it comes to dealing with an uncertain future. Get flexible retirement strategies that work during good times and bad, plus information on how you can save your home and assets from being used to pay for long term care.