Does the expense of new dentures

[MJ]

count on the medical expense report for A&A?

[jpez]

mj,
the award is based on repeated predictable expenses that can be annualized forward to award the Pension.
so dentures would not fit in that catagory.

THat is why things like premiums, Rxs, CARE that goes on indefinately, Assited Liv., work.
YOu don't want to be chasing one time expenditures.

[VSR]

mj,
the award is based on repeated predictable expenses that can be annualized forward to award the Pension.
so dentures would not fit in that catagory.

THat is why things like premiums, Rxs, CARE that goes on indefinately, Assited Liv., work.
YOu don't want to be chasing one time expenditures.

This guy is WRONG.  I work at a VA pension center.  Our job is to "count all expenses directly related to medical care."  This includes:

-dentures
-diapers
-vitamins and supplements (we can allow up  $500/year without a doctor's note, unlimited with doctor's note)
-OTC meds,
-mileage (provide us with the numbers of miles driven round trip for each trip to doctors and pharmacy)

Overall point is that after the initial app is through, it is best to keep track of all of your expenses that are related to your health.  This is often the difference between a large retro payment and a termination.

[new57]

Let me quote from my father's benefit letter...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What income and expenses were not used?

We didn't use the expenses you reported to calculate your benefit:

o prescriptions xxx.xx per month
o depends xx.xx per month

We can only consider in advance such expenses that are reasonably predictable and ongoing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[VSR]

Ok sorry, I wasn't too clear!

There are two types of expenses we work with:

1. CME (continuing medical expenses).  These are expenses that are always the same every month.  These expenses are typically medicare premiums assisted living expenses, private medical insurance
2. unreimbursed expenses.  these are expenses that can only be considered after they have been paid.  In the quote you cited, they denied the expense because you had projected an expense that could not be reasonably considered to be reoccurring.  i.e. you probably wrote "RX - $100 per month".  Instead, at the end of the year, submit a VA form 21-8416 with each individual purchase of prescriptions and depends with the date and the amount paid.  So for example, now that 2009 is over, fill out an 8416 that says something like:

Depends - March 24, 2009 - $26
RX - March 29, 2009 - $56
Depends - April 1, 2009 - $4

etc.  Once we know that the expense has been paid, we can consider it.  Does this make sense?  Let me know if you have

[jpez]

Max,
I'll accept that as your apology.
Working at the processing center does not grant you "i'm right all the time, regardless of what is written".
In fact, this website wouldn't have to exist if you (plural) really were.

[Fit2009]

Here it is in plain English:
To get into A&A program, only those expenses that occur every month are used.

If you have a partial award, at the end of the year, you submit a Medical Expense Report with the receipts of all of your medical expenses that do not occur every month - co-pay, dentures, etc.  This is the Unreimbursed Medical Expense program.

So if you are going to get less than the max under A&A per month, take it file for URM and get a bump up - try to force it into A&A, might as well just hit your hand with a hammer.