Before your Veterans Choice card can be used, you must first meet this test of eligibility by asking yourself these four simple questions:

Is your current residence more than 40 miles from the closest VA health-care facility? The Durango VA Clinic counts as your closest VA health-care facility, and the 40 miles is calculated geographically, not by road miles.

Have you been told by your local VA health-care facility that you will need to wait more than 30 days from your preferred date or the date medically determined by your physician for an appointment?

Do you need to travel by plane or boat to the VA medical facility closest to your home?

Does a geographic challenge, such as mountains, extensive distances around water or other geologic formations present a significant travel hardship?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may be eligible to use your Choice Card. Verify your eligiblity by calling (866) 606-8198. Please be prepared to provide VA with information about any other health-care insurance coverage you have.

If you answered “no” to all of these questions, you are not eligible for benefits. You do not need to call VA. Not all veterans who receive the card will be able to participate in the Veterans Choice program.

IMPORTANT: If you do not receive pre-approval from VA to use your Choice Card, you will be responsible for some, or all, of the costs of the non-VA treatment you receive. The Choice Card is for pre-approved medical care only, and the Choice Card does not cover any prescriptions.

Richard Schleeter is the veterans service officer for the La Plata County Veterans Service Office. He can be reached at 759-0117 or schleeterrs@ co.laplata.co.us.

If you go

Veterans and their family members are invited to attend a Town Hall meeting from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 1550 Main Ave., in Durango. This will provide you with the opportunity to meet the new director of the New Mexico VA Health Care System, Andrew Welch. Write down all your questions and concerns about your VA health care and the new Veterans Choice Card and bring them to this meeting, so they can be addressed.

For more information

The La Plata County Veterans Service Office provides information and assis­tance to veterans and their families. For more information, visit the county website at www.co.laplata.co.us and type “veterans services” in the search window.
The Veterans Service Office and the Durango VA Clinic are located at 1970 East Third Ave. The office phone number is 759-0117. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays except holidays. Appointments are encouraged. To schedule an appoint­ment, call 382-6150. For clinic appointments, call 247-2214.
Help for vets
The Veterans Crisis Line offers free, confidential support to veterans, family and friends. Call (800) 273-8255 and press 1. You also can text professional responders at 838255 or chat online at www. VeteransCrisisLine.net.