Veterans Day – An Ideal Time for Veterans to Discover the Benefits They Have Earned
Monday was Veterans Day, a day that always caused me to reflect on my service and the service of those I served with. As a B-52 crew member in the Vietnam War, I grew very close to many I flew with and grieved for those friends I lost due to inflight accidents. I have a special connection with those who served there. This experience gave me a sense of the sacrifice gifted to us by those who serve and fight for us today, and I relish the chance to thank them for their service. It is also comforting to know that our country also supports veterans by offering healthcare support and financial assistance for any service-related disabilities. I want to use this blog as a chance to review how the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) supports our country’s veterans.
Our country has certainly evolved in its support of veterans. While I didn’t experience it personally, our Vietnam veterans were often treated with disrespect by those dissatisfied with our nation’s involvement in the Vietnam War. Thankfully, our country’s citizens now recognize that our brave soldiers don’t set policy and are risking their lives to protect us and our freedoms as directed by their Commander and Chief. Our government has also evolved somewhat and has recognized that it needs to support and help those who have sustained service-related health problems. It seemed like it was a long-drawn-out battle for our government to recognize the health problems caused by Agent Orange in Vietnam, but they have made great strides, including recent legislation called the PACT Act. This bill offers added support to those affected by toxic substances during their service. I’d like to discuss my experience a little further, both personally and from a policy point of view, about how our nation continues to support our veterans.
My experience with Washington’s support for veterans came through working with the leaders of several Vietnam Veterans associations as they attended health policy meetings and lobbied for some of the same issues I did since Vietnam veterans were getting older and were quickly becoming part of the senior population. At that time, the service at VA hospitals was lacking and inconsistent across VA regions. That has greatly improved as legislation and rules have made access to VA healthcare much easier and consistent. One problem that still exists is the relatively small formulary (list of supported prescription drugs) offered under the VA drug benefit and the lack of close VA-supported pharmacies. 15 years ago, it was estimated that 40% of veterans also chose to sign up for Medicare Part D to offset these access problems. The small formulary at the VA is still a problem, and yet some lawmakers would like to adopt the VA’s formulary and pricing for Medicare. This continues to not be a viable solution for improving seniors’ access to prescription drugs.
I do want to stress that while there are still some problems with VA healthcare, it is an important benefit for those who have served their country. It was just a few years ago that I first met with someone at the VA, and I’m glad I did. Being a B-52 bombardier at a time when we didn’t use earplugs or any type of hearing protection, I suffered hearing problems, both hearing loss and tinnitus. The VA recognized this service-related disability, and I have recently received excellent hearing aids at no cost, access to base commissaries, and, most importantly, access to a nearby Air Force golf course. Here is my assessment of my experience with the VA. You must be your own advocate. While I have stressed this in past blogs, it is especially important with the VA healthcare providers. It is not their job to work the system on your behalf. You must be proactive and diligent in supplying information and health records and scheduling appointments. It might be weeks before you can get in to see a healthcare provider and you shouldn’t miss an appointment or forget to cancel the appointment, it could add months to your evaluation. Be careful of third-party businesses that offer to get huge benefits and disability payments from the VA. Their cost may not be worth the value you get. Myself and my veteran friends have found the VA healthcare providers knowledgeable and efficient. While there are places for improvement, it is a valuable and well-deserved benefit for veterans.
One thing I found out through this experience was how important it is to keep copies of my own health records. It took 8 months for the VA to get access to my service health records, and then it took time for them to get access to my recent health records. It is noteworthy that often the only way to have access to older records, especially when you move, is if you have copies of the records yourself. It continues to be difficult to get copies of my own health records but it’s worth the trouble, and not just for the VA. When you have copies of old blood work, MRIs, stress tests, etc., it gives doctors a baseline for comparison that can be invaluable when assessing changes in your health.
The important message I want to leave to fellow veterans is . . . If you haven’t contacted the VA yet, take the time to do so. You won’t know what benefits you qualify for unless you sit down with a VA counselor. You can start by clicking here to begin the process or calling 800-698-2411. Find out what benefits you earned through your honored service.
Best, Thair