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ARMED FORCES NEWS |
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Insurance Reimbursements to VA Skyrocket Department of Veterans Affairs collections from insurance companies that reimburse the government for veterans' health care reached record levels in recent months as the number of veterans seeking care at VA facilities continued to climb. In each of the last five months, collections topped $100 million. Since the VA gained authority in 1986 to seek reimbursement from third-party insurers and assess copayments for care furnished to certain veterans with annual incomes above an amount set by law, collections have increased from $24 million to an estimated $1.2 billion this fiscal year. Before 1997, collected funds went to the U.S. Treasury. Since then, the VA has been authorized to keep the money for medical care. The VA does not make collections for the treatment of service-connected conditions. |
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