medicaid and veteran’s benefits in florida

It can be tough to make sense of Florida Medicaid and veterans’ benefits. Even if you qualify for these benefits, you may need legal help to secure them. Fortunately, you can partner with an experienced Medicaid and veterans’ benefits attorney in Florida who can help you get the benefits you deserve.

What Is Medicaid?

Medicaid refers to a program that provides healthcare coverage available to millions of Americans. This program is funded by state and federal governments. It offers coverage is intended for a wide range of people, including:

• Low-income adults
• Elderly adults
• People dealing with disabilities
• Pregnant women
• Children

Research indicates 84.8 million people were enrolled in Medicaid as of November 2022. Medicaid is the primary source of long-term healthcare coverage for many Americans. The coverage gives people access to healthcare services and support that they may struggle to obtain elsewhere. 

You can request Medicaid benefits in Florida at any time. When you apply for Medicaid, it is important to review the eligibility requirements and provide all requested information. If you need help evaluating your Medicaid eligibility or submitting a request for benefits, an attorney with Florida Medicaid benefits experience can help you do just that. 

What Is the Difference Between Medicaid and Medicare?

Medicaid helps people with limited resources and income cover their medical expenses. The federal government provides general rules for Medicaid coverage. Meanwhile, each state has its own Medicaid program. 

Medicare refers to health insurance available to people aged 65 and older but is sometimes offered to people under the age of 65 who meet certain criteria. It is a federal program and has the same standards for healthcare coverage and costs in place across the United States. Therefore, the Medicare coverage of someone in Florida will be the same in any other state.  

Medicaid and Medicare are similar, but there are notable differences between them. A Medicaid benefits lawyer in Florida can explain the differences between Medicaid and Medicare in detail. In doing so, the attorney can make sure you are well-positioned to get healthcare benefits. 

What to Expect When You Apply for Medicaid

You can submit a Medicaid application form online. When you do, you will need to provide your financial information and other relevant personal information. Once your application is complete, you will find out if your request has been approved within about 30 days. 

If your request for Medicaid is rejected, you will receive a denial notice. You can appeal the denial at a hearing. If you move forward with this option, it is often in your best interest to hire an attorney to assist. 

Hiring a lawyer who knows the ins and outs of the Medicaid denial appeal process ensures you can receive plenty of legal help as you get ready for your hearing. Your lawyer will explain what can happen during a hearing and help you establish realistic expectations. Most importantly, your attorney will do everything they can to ensure you can present a compelling argument during your hearing. 

The Steps Involved in a Medicaid Appeal Hearing 

Your attorney will make sure that you formally appeal the rejection of your Medicaid request. From here, a hearing date is scheduled. If you do not appear at your hearing, your appeal may be dismissed. 

In the time leading up to your hearing, your attorney helps you prepare as much as possible. Together, you and your lawyer can gather evidence to support your request for Medicaid benefits. If your Medicaid application was denied since there were concerns about whether you are actually disabled, you may need to complete a medical exam before your hearing as well. 

Your lawyer will advocate for you and present information to urge the hearing officer to rule in your favor. The officer will consider all the information provided by all parties involved in your hearing. If your attorney succeeds, you can get your initial denial of Medicaid benefits reversed.     

How Florida Disabled Veterans Benefits Work

Many Florida veterans benefits are available and include the following:

Veterans Homes

The Florida Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) runs six skilled nursing facilities and an assisted living facility. These facilities are managed under the supervision of Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and inspected annually by the AHCA and VA. They are also monitored 24/7 by licensed and registered nurses. 

To enter a veteran’s home in Florida, you must:

• Have received an honorably discharge from the military 
• Be a Florida resident
• Require assisted living or skilled nursing care as determined by a physician from the VA

If you need help getting into a veteran’s home in Florida, you can partner with an attorney. By hiring a Florida veterans benefits lawyer, you can present a compelling argument to get admitted into a veteran’s home. Plus, your lawyer can help you request other veterans’ benefits. 

Healthcare

The healthcare benefits available to veterans in Florida are extensive. These include:

• Medical Care: The VA offers hospital care and medical services to veterans at any VA medical center or clinic in Florida.
• Free Healthcare for Recent Combat Veterans: Combat vets discharged or released from active service on or after January 28, 2003 can request free VA healthcare benefits for five years from the date of their discharge or release.  
• One-Time Dental Treatment: After a vet separates or retires from service, this individual can receive a complete dental examination and treatment free of charge prior to their discharge.  
• Dental Insurance: Eligible veterans and their family members can purchase dental insurance at a discount rate from Delta Dental and MetLife. 

A veterans’ benefits attorney in Florida can get you up to speed on all of the healthcare perks you can receive. This lawyer can help vets who just moved to Florida and many others get the most value out of their healthcare benefits. On top of that, the attorney can make it easy to apply for veterans’ healthcare benefits and receive them right away. 

Pension

Veterans can receive a pension if they meet various age or non-service-related disability requirements. They may also be able to get aid and assistance, which increases the monthly pension amount paid to them or a surviving spouse. Aid and assistance are available to veterans that require help with daily living tasks such as bathing, feeding, and dressing. 

The survivors of military service members who died during active duty or due to a service-related injury or disease may qualify for dependency and indemnity compensation. To receive this compensation, a survivor must be able to provide a death certificate that indicates a veteran’s death was related to their service. It is important to note that if a veteran dies due to a service-related condition, the condition does not need to be classified as this individual’s immediate cause of death.   

For help with veteran pension benefits, consult with an attorney.  Luhrsen Goldberg is committed to helping veterans connect with a lawyer that can allocate the time, energy, and resources required to help you maximize your pension benefits.  

Education

Florida veterans have many opportunities to earn certifications or degrees following a discharge or release. Some of the veterans’ education benefits you can receive in Florida include: 

• Montgomery GI Bill: Eligible veterans who enlisted after June 30, 1985 can receive educational assistance if they were honorable discharged and if they elected to participate in an education program within their first 12 months of service. 
• Post-9/11 GI Bill: Veterans that transitioned out of the military after January 1, 2013, and have received the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship no longer have a 15-year delimiting date to utilize their awarded education benefits.
• STEM Program: The Edith Nourse Rogers Science Technology Engineering Math (STEM) Scholarship provides up to $30,000 to post-9/11 or Fry Scholarship students who have exhausted or will exhaust their entitlement within 180 days. 

Check out veterans benefits attorneys and find one that can teach you about education benefits. The ideal veterans’ benefits lawyer keeps their clients up to date on veterans’ education benefits. This attorney will make sure you can quickly and easily pursue any education benefits. 

Veterans’ Survivor Benefits

In Florida, there is a $75,000 death benefit to the beneficiaries of active service members killed in the line of duty. The beneficiaries of a service member that dies outside the line of duty can receive a $25,000 death benefit. Florida has rules and regulations in place to ensure only eligible beneficiaries can receive veterans survivor benefits. 

For a deceased service member’s family to receive a death benefit, they must show that their loved one was a Florida resident or this individual’s duty assignment was in Florida when they died. The deceased veteran’s cause of death cannot be from suicide or have been intentionally self-inflicted. Otherwise, the deceased veteran’s family is ineligible for the death benefit. 

Any time you have concerns or questions about Veterans Administration benefits, you should seek out help from veterans’ benefits lawyers. You can hire a veterans’ benefits lawyer that can explain all aspects of the veterans’ death benefit in Florida. The attorney will take the guesswork out of veterans’ benefits and help you apply for any you can receive. 

How to Request Veterans Disability Benefits in Florida 

You can submit a request for veterans’ disability benefits in Florida at any time. Each request is taken seriously, so you need to plan accordingly. If you do not submit required information or provide inaccurate information, your request for benefits can be denied. 

The VA has claims examiners you can contact for help with disability claims. Even if you work with a claims examiner as you prepare your application for disability benefits, there is a chance your request will be rejected. At this point, it can be beneficial to hire a Florida veterans benefits lawyer. 

A Florida veterans’ benefits attorney can guide you through the process of submitting an appeal. The lawyer will ensure you provide sufficient evidence to support your appeal.

What It Takes to Appeal a Rejection of Veterans Disability Benefits in Florida

After you submit an application for veterans’ disability benefits, the VA assigns a disability rating. You are given this rating based on the severity of your disability. This rating can be raised or lowered depending on the medical reports and other evidence you provide to the VA when you request your disability benefits. 

You can appeal your disability rating through the VA. When you do, it is crucial to have an attorney at your side. Your lawyer will make sure your rights are protected as you try to secure your veterans’ disability benefits. 

A veterans’ benefits lawyer can help you appeal any other VA decisions regarding your benefits. The appeal process can involve a hearing in which your lawyer may need to present evidence and testimony on your behalf. With help from your attorney, you can put yourself in the best position to achieve your desired result during your hearing. 

Why You Should Hire an Attorney to Help You with Medicaid and Veterans’ Benefits in Florida

You can select an attorney that knows the complexities of the legal system and what needs to be done to appeal Medicaid and veterans’ benefits denials. This lawyer makes sure you understand the appeal process for Medicaid and veterans benefits denials. The attorney guides you through this process and makes sure you can avoid mistakes along the way. 

It helps to meet with an attorney to share your legal concerns and questions. Medicaid and veterans’ benefits can be difficult to understand. The best lawyer can respond to your questions about these subjects easily so you can make informed decisions about them.   Luhrsen Goldberg is committed to helping those appealing Medicaid and veterans’ benefits denials connect with experienced attorneys who can assist them through the process.