Eligible Veterans can now submit and track “mileage-only” travel claims directly from their smartphones or mobile devices via the VA Health and Benefits mobile app.
According to a press release from the Department of Veterans Affairs, “[t]he app, which has more than three million downloads, automatically identifies when a Veteran’s appointment may be eligible for mileage reimbursement and displays a prompt on the home screen. Submissions require just a few taps to confirm details.”
Legacy paper claim submissions take longer for the VA to process. The agency hopes this new feature of the Health and Benefits app will shorten the time it takes for Veterans to get paid back for travel expenses and reduce errors.
Primarily, eligible Veterans are those who have a service-connected disability rating of 30% or higher. Other eligible scenarios include receiving a VA pension, having income below the maximum VA pension rate, or traveling for scheduled VA claims exams, service dog acquisition, or VA-approved transplant care. Those who are eligible qualify for health care travel reimbursement if they travel in their own vehicle from their home address to their VA medical appointment.
The VA points out that “[t]he Health and Benefits app, which has 1.4 million active users, provides Veterans access to a variety of VA health care and benefits information directly from their mobile phones, enabling users to:
- Refill and track VA prescriptions.
- Review appointments.
- Review claims and appeals status.
- Submit evidence for claims and appeals.
- Review VA payment and direct deposit information.
- Locate the closest VA facilities.
- Access the Veterans Crisis Line.
- Show proof of Veteran status”
