Morton Grove Post 134
6144 W. Dempster St, Morton Grove, Illinois

Retroactive Refunds of Copayments

The National Defense Authorization Act of 2008 (NDAA) (Public Law 110-108) extended the period of enhanced enrollment eligibility and cost-free care for conditions potentially related to a theater of combat operations.

Major implications of this law are:

1. Any combat veteran currently enrolled and new combat Veterans enrollees who were discharged from active duty on or after January 28, 2003, are eligible for enhanced enrollment placement into Priority Group (PG) 6 (unless eligible for higher PG placement), for 5 years post discharge.
2. Combat veterans discharged from active duty before January 28, 2003, who did not previously enroll in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system and apply for enrollment on or after January 28, 2008, are eligible for enhanced enrollment placement into PG 6 (unless eligible for higher PG placement) through January 27, 2011.

As a result of the NDAA, veterans are also eligible for retroactive refunds of copayments they made for medical services and prescriptions associated with treatment related to their combat experience. Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities are presently conducting reviews to determine applicable copayments which should be refunded to these veterans.

VHA anticipates mailing letters to impacted veterans in November 2009 informing them that they are due a refund which will be subsequently issued by the end of December 2009. Contained in this bulletin is a sample of the letter that will be sent to veterans who will receive refunds.

Veterans are encouraged to contact the Health Resources Center with any questions toll free at 1-800-983-0932.

BARRY A. SEARLE, Director
National Veterans Affairs and
Rehabilitation Commission

Department of Veterans Affairs

(Date)

Veteran Name
Veteran Address 1
Veteran Address 2
Veteran Address 3
City, State Zip+4

Dear Veteran:

On January 28, 2008, Public Law 110-108, the "National Defense Authorization Act of 2008" (NDAA) extended the period of a Combat Veteran's post discharge period of enhanced enrollment eligibility and cost-free care for conditions potentially related to the theater of combat operations.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will be refunding charges that were paid for care and/or prescriptions rendered to Veterans whose Combat Veteran period was extended. Our records indicate that you have paid a copayment or copayments for care which is covered by the NDAA, and that you are due a refund. The refund amount will include any copayment charges plus any interest and administrative late payment charges that were previously paid during this period of time.

If you have any questions about this refund, please call 1-800-983-0932 (toll free) for assistance or visit the facility website at Fill in local website here.

Thank you for your service to our nation.

Sincerely,