expenses for medications

[Catie]

I began handling my MIL's affairs late last year. From mid-Oct. through the end of Dec. she was in the hospital followed by nursing home. She entered assisted living Jan 2, 2010.

My question is whether providing documentation for her out-of-pocket drug costs only for 2010 is sufficient. She wasn't paying out of pocket while confined in the nursing home and hospital.

[VSR]

VA can only consider expenses paid after the date the application is received by VA.  All of the medications she paid last year are likely going to be irrelevant.  The only expenses that might be relevant would be reoccurring expenses she pays every month (i.e. medical insurance, assisted living costs, etc).

[Catie]

Hmmm. But they're almost all drugs she takes every single day and is still on. And the cost is not insignificant.

[AngelaManz]

Send in the information about the prescriptions.  The VA grants the application on a prospective basis for what you claim are monthly medical expenses.  Then the next year, you will confirm that she actually incurred those expenses and you will estimate what 2011 expenses will be.  The VA does count Rx copays.  I suggest getting the pharmacy to print a year-to-date statement for her and include that with your application.  That should be sufficient to show the monthly estimated cost

[Catie]

Thanks, Angela. I had planned to, because there's just too much money involved and will be year after year. I'd already gotten the year's worth from one pharmacy and will gather receipts from her online one and one other we rarely used.