Military Liens
When representing a client who may be eligible for Military Health coverage, it is important to understand the different types of Military Health coverage your client may be covered under. Most personal injury attorneys may be familiar with the processes for resolving Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance liens but do not handle enough Military Liens to be familiar with differences in coverages or the different processes in resolving them efficiently and effectively.
- VA Lien
VA is a direct provider of services. The VA system is a network of VA funded hospitals, clinics, and doctors. VA medical benefits are available to any veteran no longer serving.
- TRICARE
TRICARE is a comprehensive health coverage managed by the Department of Defense’s Defense Health Agency. TRICARE coverage is available to active duty and retired members of the uniformed services, as well as their families, and survivors. Unlike VA medical benefits, TRICARE is similar to a form of health insurance and can be available to eligible active duty and retired military personnel and their families. To put it simply, Tricare is the insurance program run by and for the military and their dependents.
- Tricare for Life
Tricare for Life is a program for beneficiaries who are both Medicare and TRICARE eligible. Tricare for Life is a secondary insurance coverage available to retired military veterans with 20 or more years of service, their dependents, and for surviving spouses of soldiers killed in action.
- CHAMPVA
The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs or CHAMPVA is a comprehensive health care program that shares healthcare costs for families of veterans. CHAMPVA covers most healthcare services and supplies that are medically and psychologically necessary. CHAMPVA provides coverage to the spouse, widow or widower, and to the children of a veteran who:
- Has been rated permanently disabled due to a service-connected disability;
- Was rated permanently disabled to a service-connected condition at the time of death;
- Died of a service-connected disability;
- Died on active duty.
The coverage is often confused with TRICARE, however, they are not the same. CHAMPVA is a Department of Veterans program, while TRICARE is a Department of Defense program. If a party is eligible for TRICARE they are not eligible for CHAMPVA.
- Veterans Community Care Program / VA Choice
Veterans Community Care Program was launched under the MISSION Act, which ended the Veterans Choice Program. This program allows a Veteran to work with their VA health care provider and other VA staff to see if they are eligible to receive treatment outside the network of VA funded hospitals, clinics, and doctors. The criteria for the veteran to be eligible can be found in the VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Ace of 2018 (MISSION ACT).
Navigating thenegotiation and resolution of these different types of liens can be difficult. At ZipLiens, we have an experienced team specifically dedicated to resolving all types of military liens for your clients.