Illinois Veterans' Care
Veterans Care Program is designed to provide comprehensive, affordable healthcare to Illinois' uninsured veterans and covers those veterans who have the least access to reliable healthcare. These are the veterans who cannot currently access Veterans Health Administration's benefits and who meet specific income requirements. Premiums or $40 or $70 are charged based on the eligible veteran’s income.
Illinois Warrior Assistance Program
The Illinois Warrior Assistance Program provides assistance for Illinois Veterans as they transition back to their everyday lives after serving our country and is focused on helping service members and their families deal with the emotional and psychological challenges they may be facing.
The Veterans Administration provides health care for veterans in a variety of circumstances, particularly those who are poor and those with disabilities connected with their military service. The VA operates a nationwide network of hospitals, clinics, residences and other facilities. It also provides an assortment of other services needed by veterans, including education, housing, income supports, etc.
Who is eligible?
The type of discharge from the military can be a factor. It is not an issue if you received:- An honorable discharge
- A general discharge
- A discharge under honorable conditions
- Former enlisted persons who started active duty before September 8, 1980, or
- Former officers who first entered active duty before October 17, 1981
- Were a reservist who was called to Active Duty and who completed the term for which you were called, and who was granted an other than dishonorable discharge, or
- Were a National Guard member who was called to Active Duty by federal executive order, and who completed the term for which you were called, and who was granted an other than dishonorable discharge, or
- Only request a benefit for or in connection with:
- a service-connected condition or disability; or
- treatment and/or counseling of sexual trauma that occurred while on active military service; or
- treatment of conditions related to ionizing radiation; or
- head or neck cancer related to nose or throat radium treatment while in the military.
- Were discharged or released from active duty for a hardship , or
- Were discharged with an “early out”; or
- Were discharged or released from active duty for a disability that began in the service or got worse because of the service; or
- Have been determined by VA to have compensable service-connected conditions; or
- Were discharged for a reason other than disability, but you had a medical condition at the time that was disabling, and in the opinion of a doctor, would have justified a discharge for disability (in this last case, the disability must be documented in service records)
Where to apply?
- Priority Group 1 Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 50% or more disabling
- Priority Group 2 Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 30% or 40% disabling
- Priority Group 3 Veterans who are former POWs, veterans whose discharge was for a disability that was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 10% or 20%, disabling veterans awarded special eligibility classification under Title 38, U.S.C., Section 1151, "Benefits for individuals disabled by treatment or vocational rehabilitation"
- Priority Group 4 Veterans who are receiving aid and attendance or housebound benefits veterans who have been determined by VA to be catastrophically disabled
- Priority Group 5 Non-service connected veterans and service connected veterans rated 0% disabled whose annual income and net worth are below the established dollar threshold
- Priority Group 6 All other eligible veterans who are not required to make co-payments for their care including:
- World War I and Mexican Border War veterans
- Veterans receiving care solely for disabilities resulting from exposure to toxic substances, radiation or for disorders associated with service in the Gulf War; or for any illness associated with service in combat in a war after the Gulf War or during a period of hostility after November 11, 1998
- Compensable 0% service-connected veterans
- Priority Group 7 Non-service connected veterans and non-compensable 0% service-connected veterans whose needed care cannot be provided by enrolling in any of the groups above and who agree to pay specified co-payment.
- Priority Group 8 (8e and 8g have been closed to enrollment since 2003) Veterans with income and/or net worth above the VA national income threshold and the geographic income threshold who agree to pay co-pays.
- Subpriority a: Noncompensable 0% service-connected veterans enrolled as of January 16, 2003, and who have remained enrolled since that date
- Subpriority c: Nonservice-connected veterans enrolled as of January 16, 2003, and who have remained enrolled since that date
- Subpriority e: Noncompensable 0% service-connected veterans applying for enrollment after January 16, 2003
- Subpriority g: Nonservice-connected veterans applying for enrollment after January 16, 2003
- If not sure if you qualify under this category check out the VA's Enrollment Calculator
What happens after you apply?
TRICARE
TRICARE is available to active duty service members and retirees of the seven uniformed services, their family members (and some eligible former spouses), survivors and others who are registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). TRICARE is also available to members of the National Guard and Reserves and their families. Benefits will vary depending on the sponsor's military status. You must be registered in DEERS and have a valid uniformed services identification card showing you are eligible for TRICARE.
Who is eligible?
Active duty service members are automatically enrolled. All other persons need to actively enroll in the program. Some persons who may be able to be enrolled are:
- Spouses and unmarried children of active duty service members
- Service retirees, their spouses, and unmarried children
- Medal of Honor (MOH) recipients and/or their families.
- Un-remarried former spouse and unmarried children of active duty or retired service members who have died
- Spouses and unmarried children of reservists and National Guard who are ordered to active duty for more than 30 consecutive days (they are covered only during the reservist’s active duty tour) or of reservists and National Guard who die on active duty.
- Unmarried children up to age 21 (including stepchildren who are adopted by the sponsor)
- Certain family members of active duty service members who were court-martialed and separated for spouse or child abuse. The victims of the abuse within the family are eligible for health benefits for the period that the abused family member is receiving “transitional compensation” under Section 1059 of Title 10, U.S. Code.
- Former spouses of active, retired or former military members may be eligible for TRICARE if they meet the following requirements:
- Must not have remarried. (If remarried, the loss of benefits remains applicable even if the remarriage ends in death or divorce.)
- Must not be covered by an employer-sponsored health plan.
- Must not be the former spouse of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization or Partners for Peace nation member.
Since the above is not all inclusive nor a detailed list, it is recommended that you review eligibility at the TRICARE website.
How do you apply/enroll?
The person who is in military service or is a retiree (called the sponsor) has to complete the enrollment. If you believe you should be enrolled, but the military service member is not fulfilling his/her obligation, you may need to contact their commanding officer, if still in active duty. If you're unsure about your eligibility for TRICARE benefits, contact the Defense Manpower Data Center Support Office (DSO) to check your eligibility status by calling toll-free, 1-800-538-9552.