Camp Lejeune: Past Water Contamination From the 1950s through the 1980s, people living or working at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, NC 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 Jan. 1, 1957 and Dec. 31, 1987 may be eligible for VA health benefits for 15 conditions: * Esophageal cancer * Breast cancer * Kidney cancer * Multiple myeloma * Renal toxicity * Female infertility * Scleroderma * Non-Hodgkins lymphoma * Lung cancer * Bladder cancer * Leukemia * Myelodysplastic syndromes * Hepatic steatosis * Miscarriage * Neurobehavioral effects VA published regulations for Veteran health care and interim final regulations for family member care Sept. 24, 2014. Veteran health care If youre already enrolled in VA health care, contact your local VA health care facility to receive care. Not yet enrolled? Apply online or call 1-877-222-8387 for help. Family member health care reimbursement VA is reimbursing family members for eligible out-of-pocket medical expenses related to the 15 covered conditions. We can only pay for treatment after you received payment from all your other health plans. Apply online for reimbursement or call 1-866-372-1144 for help. Youll need to submit 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. * You paid health care expenses for a covered condition on or after March 26, 2013, such as receipts. This is the date when Congress began to fund this program. You will be able to continue to receive health care from your providers. VA wont be providing you direct health care. Dont cancel your health insurance. This program only covers the 15 health conditions listed above. It doesnt meet the minimum standard for health coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Compensation benefits The Aug. 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 development of certain diseases. 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 more at: publichealth.va.gov/exposures/camp-lejeune/index.asp#sthash.flNj2qAo.dpuf
Posted on: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 11:50:23 +0000