Summer 2006	VA News and Updates
Test Your Health Savvy Take this quiz to test your knowledge and learn more about staying well. Answers appear below. 1) Recent research shows that people ages 65 and older who frequently eat broiled or baked fish and avoid fried fish are up to 30 percent less likely to suffer from: allergies stroke asthma kidney disease 2) After age 65, both men and women are diagnosed with the following disease at the same rate: Alzheimer’s disease breast cancer osteoporosis colon cancer 3) In addition to calcium, vitamin D and phosphorus, the following vitamin, found in animal-based foods like meat and dairy products, can help prevent osteoporosis: B12 B6 folate magnesium 4) A new study shows that people between ages 55 and 85 who nap every afternoon for 30 to 120 minutes improve their: mental ability heart rate eye sight weight 5) A reduced, distorted or lost sense of taste or smell can be a risk factor for: heart disease troke diabetes all of the above 6) Stiffness, redness or warmth in your joints may be a sign of: tendonitis a torn ligament arthritis all of the above 1 b, 2 c, 3 a, 4 a, 5 d, 6 c Ensuring your VA health care status Each year, to remain eligible for VA health care, non-service-connected veterans and 0 percent non-compensable service-connected veterans must complete a means test/financial assessment form that includes family income, assets and debts. Depending on your financial situation, you may be required to make co-payments for your care, medications or both. If your income is below the pension threshold, you can take a co-pay test to waive co-payments. Hardship consideration is given for loss of employment, business bankruptcy or out-of-pocket medical expenses. If you do not complete the assessment, you will not be eligible for VA health care. However, you can agree to make co-payments without providing financial information. To do so, simply indicate on your assessment form that you want to automatically be put into a co-pay category. VA encourages you to maintain any health insurance plans you currently hold. Your current insurance status (insured or uninsured) has no bearing on your VA health care benefits. You’re eligible for care regardless of your current insurance status. In addition, your co-payments may be offset by the payments we receive from your insurance company. Often, you don’t have to pay any balances that aren’t covered by your insurance carrier. Many insurance companies apply the VA health care charges toward your annual deductible’s satisfaction. For more information, contact your local Veterans Service Center by phone or in-person, or call our Veterans Service Contact Center at 1-888-823-9656. Attention all patients VA Healthcare Network Upstate New York will be updating all veterans’ records during the upcoming months. This means we may contact you to verify or update your address; phone number; insurance information, including identification number; and other information. We won’t ask for your Social Security number, since we already have it on file. Someone from our Veterans Contact Center will call you and identify himself or herself as a VA employee. The caller will provide you with a call-back number if you feel more comfortable calling us back. If you prefer, you can also update this information on your next visit. Thank you for helping us keep your electronic records up to date!
Summer 2006 VA Health Care, Leading the Way | Caring for a New Generation | Stroke Alert A Diet to Protect Your Brain | Bye-Bye Back Pain | Get a Good Night's Sleep Health Fraud Alert! | VA News and Updates | Wellness Programs

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