Even though USNA69 answered Zaphod's question about VA I'll expound a little on that as well as the insurance aspect. Midshipmen/Cadets who are medically dis-enrolled from an academy are not eligible for VA care or disability. Not sure exactly what this falls under, but it’s there.
As for the insurance, having had to play w/Tricare with Midshipmen when it was first rolled out, there was/is a lot of confusion by the Midshipmen (I don't know if its covered a little more clearly now in briefings or not) about how they go about getting civilian medical care if injured while at home on vacation/leave. These are smart kids (that’s how they got to the academies in the first place) but you get them home with Mom and Dad and they tend to forget a lot of stuff . For non-emergent care (i.e. threat to life or limb) they have to contact their primary care manager (PCM) or the 24 hour nurse line (they get a card with the numbers on it, and most throw it away) to request authorization for civilian care. If it’s an emergency then they have to contact their PCM or the nurse line within 24 hours of receiving care. If not, the Midshipman/Cadet can be found responsible for the medical bills.
If a Midshipmen/Cadet is still being carried on their parents insurance, the above rules still hold true, as Tricare will pay a portion of the bill and the private insurance will pick up the rest (all coordinated through Tricare). On I/R-day the Midshipmen/Cadets are asked about private insurance. If they are still being carried, then Tricare will bill a portion of any medical care they receive at the academy to the private insurance company, again, Tricare does all the paperwork.
If I get time today I'll dig around and see what I can find about the VA thing. Something in the back of my brain says it has to do with the fact that they are not really considered on active duty, but I'll dig around some more, or if someone who has that information please post it.
As for the insurance, having had to play w/Tricare with Midshipmen when it was first rolled out, there was/is a lot of confusion by the Midshipmen (I don't know if its covered a little more clearly now in briefings or not) about how they go about getting civilian medical care if injured while at home on vacation/leave. These are smart kids (that’s how they got to the academies in the first place) but you get them home with Mom and Dad and they tend to forget a lot of stuff . For non-emergent care (i.e. threat to life or limb) they have to contact their primary care manager (PCM) or the 24 hour nurse line (they get a card with the numbers on it, and most throw it away) to request authorization for civilian care. If it’s an emergency then they have to contact their PCM or the nurse line within 24 hours of receiving care. If not, the Midshipman/Cadet can be found responsible for the medical bills.
If a Midshipmen/Cadet is still being carried on their parents insurance, the above rules still hold true, as Tricare will pay a portion of the bill and the private insurance will pick up the rest (all coordinated through Tricare). On I/R-day the Midshipmen/Cadets are asked about private insurance. If they are still being carried, then Tricare will bill a portion of any medical care they receive at the academy to the private insurance company, again, Tricare does all the paperwork.
If I get time today I'll dig around and see what I can find about the VA thing. Something in the back of my brain says it has to do with the fact that they are not really considered on active duty, but I'll dig around some more, or if someone who has that information please post it.