Above / This sign marks the spot of the Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873, with plenty of parking out back, located at 908 W. Jackson Avenue, where Veterans can sign up for VA healthcare services on the first Tuesday of the month.
UPDATE Nov. 30, 2019 / Hines Outreach monthly visits on first Tuesday
If it’s the first Tuesday of the month, the Hines Community Outreach Team (HCOT) will be at Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873 from 9AM to 1:30PM. That means on Tues., Dec. 3, the team from Hines will be in the upstairs hall, ready to help get veterans signed up for VA Healthcare, help schedule appointments and answer questions.
A Veteran Service Officer (VSO) also will be there to help any Veteran file claims and answer your questions about VA benefits and compensation.
Make sure you bring a copy of your DD-214 or Discharge Papers.
If you are enrolling in VA healthcare, make sure you have an idea of your out-of-pocket medical expense. That includes all insurance premiums.
The nurse will be giving flu shots. if you are enrolled in VA Healthcare, stop by and get your flu shot for the year.
Naperville VFW is located at 908 Jackson Ave., just west of downtown Naperville. The spacious room upstairs with ADA is available for rental for meetings, banquets, wedding receptions and other special events. Plenty of parking is at the rear of the building.
Looking back… Since December 2015, Veterans’ advocate and PN contributing columnist Mike Barbour has been pitching the merits of signing up for services via the Hines Medical Team at the Judd Kendall VFW Post 3863.
During that first 12-month period, more than one hundred Veterans signed up for VA Healthcare. Many of those Veterans were able to file claims with the VSO’s (Veterans Service Officers) present every month. Appointments were made for Veterans, questions answered and flu shots given, according to Barbour.
What has changed since 2015 is the following:
· The team will determine your eligibility and if you qualify they will get you in the system.
· At that point one of the team members will make an appointment for you to get a vetting physical at either Hines or the closest CBOC (which for us is in Aurora)
· The team will not be doing the vetting physicals at the Post like they did in the past.
Bring DD-214 or discharge papers and last year’s income figures
Veterans should have in hand DD-214 or discharge papers as well as last year’s income figures. Veterans can deduct all medical expenses from their gross income, including insurance premiums and all out of pocket medical expenses, Barbour said, adding that the Hines Medical Team will be inside the VFW Hall with opportunities for Q&A.
“This monthly visit by the Hines Medical Team is a great event that truly helps our Veterans,” noted Barbour. “Start the new year off right. Come to the Naperville VFW Post at 908 West Jackson in Naperville on January 3. … If you are signing up for VA Healthcare, make sure you bring your Discharge papers or DD-214. Also, since VA healthcare is income-based you will need to bring financial information that shows your gross income from last year. Make sure that you deduct all medical expenses including all insurance premiums (Medicare, Supplemental, etc.) Any out-of-pocket medical expenses are deducted. I don’t care if you bought an aspirin at the drugstore, that is deductible.”
Help spread the word about this service to Veterans in need
Barbour is encouraging all residents to help spread this information about monthly visits to anyone who may qualify.
“Pass on to any of your friends, family members and even enemies that are Veterans,” he urged. “All Veterans in the Aurora, Lisle, Naperville, Plainfield, Bolingbrook, Downers Grove and Westmont areas could benefit from this visit by the Hines Medical Team.”
Barbour is the Service Officer for American Legion Post 43 and Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873, and he aims to help.
For more information, contact him at mbarbour@wowway.com or (630) 240-1645.
The Judd Kendall VFW is located at 908 W. Jackson Ave. marked by the street sign “V.F.W. Drive / Judd Kendall.”
More Year-round Veterans’ Initiatives
For more information about all the programs, services and socials provided by local Veterans for the community, click here for the Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873 and here for the American Legion Post 43.
RELATED POSTS / Archive of stories by PN Columnist MIKE BARBOUR / Veterans in Touch
Original Post in December 2015 about VA Mobile Medical Unit and Services by Mike Barbour
