1. They don’t want to take medical care away from other veterans. (The VA receives more funding for every veteran that enrolls.)
2. Only veterans who were injured in service or have service-connected disabilities are eligible for VA healthcare. (Not true.)
3. Already having private medical insurance disqualifies veterans from enrolling in VA healthcare. (Not true.) Comanaged care is common. Community and VA providers work together to support veterans’ wellbeing. Veterans can use other plans alongside their VA healthcare including Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance.
4. Many veterans think they cannot enroll online – that they must travel to the VA to sign up. (Not true.) Enrolling is just a click away at VA dot Gov.
5. There is a waiting period following active duty before a Veteran can enroll in VA Healthcare. (Not true.)
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Always nice to have Steve Balco here.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
I tell you of all the times we've gotten together
from the Claremont County Veterans Association, all the times we've
been here. But looking over some of the notes that
you and Kenny Williamson put together to talk about today,
I think today might be one of the more interesting
conversations we're going to have because this deals directly with
getting v A healthcare benefits and some of the misconceptions
(00:33):
out there.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Okay, and the misconception is either by the VA, the public,
or the veteran themselves, all subjective to the party.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
All right, let's start with here's one of them, Okay,
that you've heard before. You don't want to take medical
care away from other veterans.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
False, right, it is absolutely false. But it's rooted somewhat
in history. If we went back to your grandparents, I
think we're about the same age, Tom. They probably as
children or teens twenties, came through the Depression, that's right,
and they were taught pick that nail up straight in it,
throw on the bucket, grab that penny goes in your pocket. Right,
(01:13):
There is nothing wasted, everything is reusable. Right, So then
they became such a self reliant part of community. We
went through World War Two, we had victory gardens. It's
do what you can sacrifice. Do without straighten that out,
reuse that that when it gets to the point where
they need hearing aids. Now at this age with their
(01:34):
self self reliance, just turn up the volume on a TV. Well,
three apartments down are listening to your TV coming to
the walls. But yet I can still hear it because
I'm afraid if I take that pair of hearing aids
for the VA, someone else is not going to get
their hearing aids and they may need them more than
I do. But the fact is the VA, this is
the federal government. We need to think about it that way.
(01:57):
To develop budget, you need to have expense, and if
people are not taking their hearing aids and or signing
up for healthcare with the VA, their budget is then reduced.
Try the VA location, yep, So sign up for the healthcare,
Go get your services, Go get your hearing aids.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Okay, hand in hand with that, Really, veterans, there are
many out there who believe that you had to be
injured in service or have service connected disabilities to be
eligible for VA healthcare.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Not true. No, no, not at all.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
And it is a misnomer that there's this impression that
I have to take my medical records from active duty
converted into an issue and how it's impacted my life
and my capabilities today, and that turns into compensation and benefits,
and that's what the VA is only going to treat
me for. But you can actually, as a veteran with
(02:53):
a D two to fourteen from active duty, can sign
up for VA healthcare just like you would a primary
care physician from someplace else. You may have a deductible
and that's based off your level of injury firm. Right,
so I'm at a If an individual is at fifty
percent or higher disability rating by the VA, your healthcare
(03:14):
is free from the VA. But you might be somebody
at nothanevity. I got a cold on active duty and
that was it. There's nothing wrong with me. Well, you
might pay a twenty dollars cold, pay a thirty dollars copay,
no different than what you do out in town. Sure,
but you just need to sign up for health care
and you can have a primary care physician through the
health care.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
And that does not mean strictly with the VA. Hospital.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
We have community based outpatient clinics. We call them c box.
There's one on thirty two in Claremont, over by our
church as one.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
And so this is.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Where I have outpatient care where I can do I
test hearing aids. I have a general physician in there
that's doing my wellness checks for me, flu shots, blood analyzation.
What have you so broaden your perspective veterans on how
you think about the VA.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Okay, we've got three other ones here, all of them
very important. Some might say, well, look, I already have
private medical insurance that has to disqualify then me as
a veteran from enrolling in the VA.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Again not true. Yeah, let's squash that rumor.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
So number one, I have retired from active duty, so
I have Tricare, so I get health care for the
rest of my life. Turns to Medicare at sixty five.
That's forced by the government as everybody else is right.
I also work for the County of Clarmont, so I
have County of Clarmont's health insurance. I also have VA
(04:36):
health insurance because at my rated disability, the VA takes
care of my health. Now, the interesting thing is the
VA wants to work in concert with you. There's not
a set level like if Johnny reaches this point, then
will help take care of them. If you have a
(04:57):
DD two to fourteen from active duty, the VA, you
can even enroll online for healthcare. It's whether there's a
co payment amount or every service is free through the VA.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Okay, Well, you just brought it up about a lot
of people think, well, I can't sign up anywhere locally.
I live out in Claremont County. There's no way I
can sign up there. I have to go all the
way to Virginia to do that. Right.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
No, true, I don't want to go to downtown Cinnattie
right VA dot gov.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
And sign up for healthcare.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
But there's also you know, sometimes there's there may be
a I don't talking to capitalist sense. But if I'm
working for another employer out in town, okay, and I'm
getting health care through that employer, yep, well then I
can't get via healthcare.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
That's a misnumber. Yes you can.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
The capitalist side of my heart says, hey, mister employer,
I've got health care through the VA. If I decline
your health care, will you bump my yearly comp by
six seven?
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Thousand. You're gonna pay for my healthcare anyway?
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Perfect, yep, right, why not bring that home to the
family because you already have a healthcare.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
That's a hell of an idea. Yeah, I mean, it
really is. And here's the one that I found.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
All of these I think are just so interesting because
I know there are so many men and women who
served our country out there, and we talk about them
all the time and thank them for their service. Who
just think some of these things just because the reasons
you mentioned a little while ago that there is a
quote unquote here's another one waiting period following active duty
before a veteran kennen roll in VA healthcare.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Yeah, not true. Yeah, where's the blank message? Right? Where's
that dumb button? That's right? There is.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
The day after active duty you're eligible to sign up
for VA healthcare.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
And I would imagine while on active.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Duty in your last ninety days that you could submit
the paperwork that it's a seamless transition into the VA healthcare.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
You know, you just brought up something that I think
is a nightmare for anybody. You don't have to be
a veteran for this, but paperwork. I mean, my god,
you know and I'm curious that's part of what you
guys do to help some of these veterans, right is
to NAT because man to navigate through some of Our
daughter just bought a car and she's going through it
(07:16):
for the first time, just got it yesterday. Some of
the paperwork just for that, I can't imagine what it's
like if you're trying to get into VA healthcare.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Buying a car is half a day of your life.
It was a half a day of her life yesterday.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
It takes time, right, and to sign up for VA healthcare,
there is a sequence, a synchrony, a matrix of how
you file for healthcare and benefits. And if you get
it wrong, if you use the wrong form, if you
use an old form, the VA kicks it back. Use
(07:48):
your county Veteran Service officers. They know the current forms,
they know the routing, They have a direct link to
the VA. Everything we do is free for the veteran
and they know the proper process and who to call
if it gets stuck in the process.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Well, and you mentioned maybe two or three times ago
when we got together that you're actually bringing in more
and more people out in Claremont County that can help
specifically with many things, but things like that as well.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
Right right, Yeah, we added a new service officer, so
we grew by twenty percent. We had four, we now
have five. Yeah, so, which is phenomenal. We've hired new drivers.
I've had to purchase a new vehicle. So we're up
to a fleet of five. Now we're shuttling upwards of
one hundred and thirty veterans a month.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
No kidding, door to door service to the VA and back.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
And if you've ever been to the VA parking lot
downtown Cincinnati, you will appreciate the fact of door to
door service.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
You know, let me ask you this. And you don't
work for the VA. I mean in some way, it's
sort of all tied together. But I'm just curious of
this because you know, as a layman out there, I
can read these articles about the VA.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Is this, and boy, it's in.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Terrible shape there and we're not treating our guys rights,
so on and so forth. What is the experience for
a veteran going to the VA for the first time.
Is it a positive experience?
Speaker 3 (09:05):
I will tell you we are in my opinion. This
is Steve Belzo's personal opinion coming from Columbus, coming from Georgia,
from Columbus, Ohio, the VA here in Cincinnati.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
I don't want to call it an anomaly.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
But what I do know is that the leadership of
our VA location in Cincinnati is aggressive at tackling problems.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
They're positive.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
I have many friends personally, none that I've even participated with,
who've had cancer treatment to the VA and said, everybody
is positive, They're welcoming. It is really a great experience,
which is why you probably see their parking lot so
full downtown and it's hard to find a parking space.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
But I will tell you Cincinnati VA is doing a
great job. So I am just so thrilled to hear that.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Hats off indeed to them, and hats health to everything
you guys are doing out there and Clairemont County.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
How was before I let you go?
Speaker 2 (10:04):
I'm curious and I always I think of so many people,
those less fortunate, the poor, the needy, veterans around the holidays.
It's a broad question, but did you get a sense
of good things during the holidays for so many veterans
out there?
Speaker 3 (10:22):
We did, and I'm glad you threw that one out there.
There's the American Legion has a gentleman that works with
us who presents to my board. I have a board
of five commissioners. For the past two years we have
presented funds so that we can underpin those that were
(10:42):
food deprived, sure and families. There's other other five to'
one c three organizations that we will vet out veterans
that need toys or gifts for children. And so this year,
I don't know how many Thanksgiving and Christmas meal packages
were handed out to veterans and their family.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Fantastic to include.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
And then over Christmas jackets presence, each kid got two
presents from a veterans family. So they get vetted out
through the VA. Where are they at in this process?
Are they in a certain type of program with the VA?
Are the Claremont County residents? So we spend our money
on Claremont County veterans, right, so I can't cross borders
there and we don't but yet to offer that veteran family.
(11:26):
Let me help you, John, stand up your family as
a dad wants to do.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
Amen for his kids. Amen, Steve, you're the best. Kenny.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Great to see you, and we'll get together again next month.
It's always a pleasure and an honor to have you
in here. Thank you for your service and good to
see us.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Say Tom, thank you for you. This is the connection
and you're the man, so I appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Steve Belzo and Kenny Williams and kind enough to join us.
And we love having these guys in here and a
part of the morning show.
Always nice to have Steve Balco here.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
I tell you of all the times we've gotten together
from the Claremont County Veterans Association, all the times we've
been here. But looking over some of the notes that
you and Kenny Williamson put together to talk about today,
I think today might be one of the more interesting
conversations we're going to have because this deals directly with
getting v A healthcare benefits and some of the misconceptions
(00:33):
out there.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Okay, and the misconception is either by the VA, the public,
or the veteran themselves, all subjective to the party.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
All right, let's start with here's one of them, Okay,
that you've heard before. You don't want to take medical
care away from other veterans.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
False, right, it is absolutely false. But it's rooted somewhat
in history. If we went back to your grandparents, I
think we're about the same age, Tom. They probably as
children or teens twenties, came through the Depression, that's right,
and they were taught pick that nail up straight in it,
throw on the bucket, grab that penny goes in your pocket. Right,
(01:13):
There is nothing wasted, everything is reusable. Right, So then
they became such a self reliant part of community. We
went through World War Two, we had victory gardens. It's
do what you can sacrifice. Do without straighten that out,
reuse that that when it gets to the point where
they need hearing aids. Now at this age with their
(01:34):
self self reliance, just turn up the volume on a TV. Well,
three apartments down are listening to your TV coming to
the walls. But yet I can still hear it because
I'm afraid if I take that pair of hearing aids
for the VA, someone else is not going to get
their hearing aids and they may need them more than
I do. But the fact is the VA, this is
the federal government. We need to think about it that way.
(01:57):
To develop budget, you need to have expense, and if
people are not taking their hearing aids and or signing
up for healthcare with the VA, their budget is then reduced.
Try the VA location, yep, So sign up for the healthcare,
Go get your services, Go get your hearing aids.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Okay, hand in hand with that, Really, veterans, there are
many out there who believe that you had to be
injured in service or have service connected disabilities to be
eligible for VA healthcare.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Not true. No, no, not at all.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
And it is a misnomer that there's this impression that
I have to take my medical records from active duty
converted into an issue and how it's impacted my life
and my capabilities today, and that turns into compensation and benefits,
and that's what the VA is only going to treat
me for. But you can actually, as a veteran with
(02:53):
a D two to fourteen from active duty, can sign
up for VA healthcare just like you would a primary
care physician from someplace else. You may have a deductible
and that's based off your level of injury firm. Right,
so I'm at a If an individual is at fifty
percent or higher disability rating by the VA, your healthcare
(03:14):
is free from the VA. But you might be somebody
at nothanevity. I got a cold on active duty and
that was it. There's nothing wrong with me. Well, you
might pay a twenty dollars cold, pay a thirty dollars copay,
no different than what you do out in town. Sure,
but you just need to sign up for health care
and you can have a primary care physician through the
health care.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
And that does not mean strictly with the VA. Hospital.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
We have community based outpatient clinics. We call them c box.
There's one on thirty two in Claremont, over by our
church as one.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
And so this is.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Where I have outpatient care where I can do I
test hearing aids. I have a general physician in there
that's doing my wellness checks for me, flu shots, blood analyzation.
What have you so broaden your perspective veterans on how
you think about the VA.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Okay, we've got three other ones here, all of them
very important. Some might say, well, look, I already have
private medical insurance that has to disqualify then me as
a veteran from enrolling in the VA.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Again not true. Yeah, let's squash that rumor.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
So number one, I have retired from active duty, so
I have Tricare, so I get health care for the
rest of my life. Turns to Medicare at sixty five.
That's forced by the government as everybody else is right.
I also work for the County of Clarmont, so I
have County of Clarmont's health insurance. I also have VA
(04:36):
health insurance because at my rated disability, the VA takes
care of my health. Now, the interesting thing is the
VA wants to work in concert with you. There's not
a set level like if Johnny reaches this point, then
will help take care of them. If you have a
(04:57):
DD two to fourteen from active duty, the VA, you
can even enroll online for healthcare. It's whether there's a
co payment amount or every service is free through the VA.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Okay, Well, you just brought it up about a lot
of people think, well, I can't sign up anywhere locally.
I live out in Claremont County. There's no way I
can sign up there. I have to go all the
way to Virginia to do that. Right.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
No, true, I don't want to go to downtown Cinnattie
right VA dot gov.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
And sign up for healthcare.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
But there's also you know, sometimes there's there may be
a I don't talking to capitalist sense. But if I'm
working for another employer out in town, okay, and I'm
getting health care through that employer, yep, well then I
can't get via healthcare.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
That's a misnumber. Yes you can.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
The capitalist side of my heart says, hey, mister employer,
I've got health care through the VA. If I decline
your health care, will you bump my yearly comp by
six seven?
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Thousand. You're gonna pay for my healthcare anyway?
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Perfect, yep, right, why not bring that home to the
family because you already have a healthcare.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
That's a hell of an idea. Yeah, I mean, it
really is. And here's the one that I found.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
All of these I think are just so interesting because
I know there are so many men and women who
served our country out there, and we talk about them
all the time and thank them for their service. Who
just think some of these things just because the reasons
you mentioned a little while ago that there is a
quote unquote here's another one waiting period following active duty
before a veteran kennen roll in VA healthcare.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Yeah, not true. Yeah, where's the blank message? Right? Where's
that dumb button? That's right? There is.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
The day after active duty you're eligible to sign up
for VA healthcare.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
And I would imagine while on active.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Duty in your last ninety days that you could submit
the paperwork that it's a seamless transition into the VA healthcare.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
You know, you just brought up something that I think
is a nightmare for anybody. You don't have to be
a veteran for this, but paperwork. I mean, my god,
you know and I'm curious that's part of what you
guys do to help some of these veterans, right is
to NAT because man to navigate through some of Our
daughter just bought a car and she's going through it
(07:16):
for the first time, just got it yesterday. Some of
the paperwork just for that, I can't imagine what it's
like if you're trying to get into VA healthcare.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Buying a car is half a day of your life.
It was a half a day of her life yesterday.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
It takes time, right, and to sign up for VA healthcare,
there is a sequence, a synchrony, a matrix of how
you file for healthcare and benefits. And if you get
it wrong, if you use the wrong form, if you
use an old form, the VA kicks it back. Use
(07:48):
your county Veteran Service officers. They know the current forms,
they know the routing, They have a direct link to
the VA. Everything we do is free for the veteran
and they know the proper process and who to call
if it gets stuck in the process.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Well, and you mentioned maybe two or three times ago
when we got together that you're actually bringing in more
and more people out in Claremont County that can help
specifically with many things, but things like that as well.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
Right right, Yeah, we added a new service officer, so
we grew by twenty percent. We had four, we now
have five. Yeah, so, which is phenomenal. We've hired new drivers.
I've had to purchase a new vehicle. So we're up
to a fleet of five. Now we're shuttling upwards of
one hundred and thirty veterans a month.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
No kidding, door to door service to the VA and back.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
And if you've ever been to the VA parking lot
downtown Cincinnati, you will appreciate the fact of door to
door service.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
You know, let me ask you this. And you don't
work for the VA. I mean in some way, it's
sort of all tied together. But I'm just curious of
this because you know, as a layman out there, I
can read these articles about the VA.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Is this, and boy, it's in.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Terrible shape there and we're not treating our guys rights,
so on and so forth. What is the experience for
a veteran going to the VA for the first time.
Is it a positive experience?
Speaker 3 (09:05):
I will tell you we are in my opinion. This
is Steve Belzo's personal opinion coming from Columbus, coming from Georgia,
from Columbus, Ohio, the VA here in Cincinnati.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
I don't want to call it an anomaly.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
But what I do know is that the leadership of
our VA location in Cincinnati is aggressive at tackling problems.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
They're positive.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
I have many friends personally, none that I've even participated with,
who've had cancer treatment to the VA and said, everybody
is positive, They're welcoming. It is really a great experience,
which is why you probably see their parking lot so
full downtown and it's hard to find a parking space.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
But I will tell you Cincinnati VA is doing a
great job. So I am just so thrilled to hear that.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Hats off indeed to them, and hats health to everything
you guys are doing out there and Clairemont County.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
How was before I let you go?
Speaker 2 (10:04):
I'm curious and I always I think of so many people,
those less fortunate, the poor, the needy, veterans around the holidays.
It's a broad question, but did you get a sense
of good things during the holidays for so many veterans
out there?
Speaker 3 (10:22):
We did, and I'm glad you threw that one out there.
There's the American Legion has a gentleman that works with
us who presents to my board. I have a board
of five commissioners. For the past two years we have
presented funds so that we can underpin those that were
(10:42):
food deprived, sure and families. There's other other five to'
one c three organizations that we will vet out veterans
that need toys or gifts for children. And so this year,
I don't know how many Thanksgiving and Christmas meal packages
were handed out to veterans and their family.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Fantastic to include.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
And then over Christmas jackets presence, each kid got two
presents from a veterans family. So they get vetted out
through the VA. Where are they at in this process?
Are they in a certain type of program with the VA?
Are the Claremont County residents? So we spend our money
on Claremont County veterans, right, so I can't cross borders
there and we don't but yet to offer that veteran family.
(11:26):
Let me help you, John, stand up your family as
a dad wants to do.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
Amen for his kids. Amen, Steve, you're the best. Kenny.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Great to see you, and we'll get together again next month.
It's always a pleasure and an honor to have you
in here. Thank you for your service and good to
see us.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Say Tom, thank you for you. This is the connection
and you're the man, so I appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Steve Belzo and Kenny Williams and kind enough to join us.
And we love having these guys in here and a
part of the morning show.
Popular Podcasts
Two Guys, Five Rings: Matt, Bowen & The Olympics
Two Guys (Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers). Five Rings (you know, from the Olympics logo). One essential podcast for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Bowen Yang (SNL, Wicked) and Matt Rogers (Palm Royale, No Good Deed) of Las Culturistas are back for a second season of Two Guys, Five Rings, a collaboration with NBC Sports and iHeartRadio. In this 15-episode event, Bowen and Matt discuss the top storylines, obsess over Italian culture, and find out what really goes on in the Olympic Village.
iHeartOlympics: The Latest
Listen to the latest news from the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Milan Cortina Winter Olympics
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina are here and have everyone talking. iHeartPodcasts is buzzing with content in honor of the XXV Winter Olympics We’re bringing you episodes from a variety of iHeartPodcast shows to help you keep up with the action. Follow Milan Cortina Winter Olympics so you don’t miss any coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics, and if you like what you hear, be sure to follow each Podcast in the feed for more great content from iHeartPodcasts.