Camp Lejeune Update 1950s through the 1980s, people living or working at the U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, were potentially exposed to drinking water contaminated with industrial solvents, benzene, and other chemicals.        Health benefits Veterans and family members who served on active duty or resided at Camp Lejeune for 30 days or more between January 1, 1957 and December 31, 1987 may be eligible for medical care for 15 health conditions: Esophageal cancer Breast cancer Kidney cancer Multiple myeloma Renal toxicity Female infertility Scleroderma Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma Lung cancer Bladder cancer Leukemia Myelodysplastic syndromes Hepatic steatosis Miscarriage Neurobehavioral effects     VA published a proposed regulation September 11, 2013, which discusses how the VA will improve health care to eligible Veterans. You may comment on the proposal by October 11, 2013. The VA is working on regulations for family member care and will publish these separately.     Veteran health Care You can receive care now if you’re eligible. You don’t need to wait for the proposed regulation to become final. If you’re already enrolled in VA health care, contact your local VA health care facility to receive care.   Family member health care reimbursement VA will be able to reimburse you for eligible out-of-pocket expenses for the 15 covered conditions after they publish regulations. The VA can only pay for claims after you have received payment from all your other health plans. You will be able to continue to receive health care from your providers. VA won’t be providing you direct health care.   What you can do now if you have one of the covered conditions: Call 1–877–222–8387 and ask to be added to VA’s Camp Lejeune database. The VA will contact you when regulations are published. Gather documents showing: Your relationship to a Veteran who served at Camp Lejeune, such as marriage license or birth certificate You lived on the base for 30 days or more between Jan. 1, 1957 and Dec. 31, 1987, such as copies of orders or base housing records Keep receipts for health care expenses you paid for a covered condition on or after March 26, 2013. This is the date when Congress began to fund this program. Hold on to your documents and receipts. We’ll let you know when to submit these after regulations are published. Don’t cancel your health insurance. This program only covers the 15 health conditions listed above. It doesn’t meet the minimum standard for health coverage under the Affordable Care Act.         Compensation Benefits The August 6, 2012 law applies to health care, not disability compensation.  At this time, there is insufficient scientific and clinical evidence to establish a presumptive association between service at Camp Lejeune during the period of water contamination and the development of certain diseases. VA is closely monitoring new research. VA representatives regularly attend the quarterly Community Action Panel meetings hosted by The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Veterans may file a claim for disability compensation for health problems they believe are related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.  VA decides these claims on a case-by-case basis.     See your VSO for details or call 800-827-1000 today.   | 1 | 2 | >>              [ Veterans Gain Victory...Read More... ]

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