How vets can navigate the health care system in and out of the VA

Veterans now make up only 5% of the population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. A study by the Rand Corporation, revealed that fewer than half of eligible veterans use VA health benefits.

to their service, veterans and their health care needs hold a special place in the heart of this country. Men and women who have worn the uniform face special challenges in finding, accessing and using our current health care systems.

It’s a popular belief that most veterans receive their health care from the U.S. Veterans Administration, or VA. And indeed the VA is vast. America’s largest integrated health care system provides care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites, serving 9 million enrolled veterans each year.

Veterans now make up only 5% of the population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. A study by the Rand Corporation, revealed that fewer than half of eligible veterans use VA health benefits. Those who do not use the VA, most likely see non-military health care providers. Yet, a small study of primary care physicians in 2015 indicated that most of the doctors didn’t ask patients whether they had served in the military.

So, whether you’re a veteran yourself or your loved one is, it’s important to let doctors know of your military background when seeking treatment. Why? Because military service can have a lifelong impact on a person’s physical and mental wellbeing.

For example, here are just some of the factors that might affect the health of a someone who served in Afghanistan, according to the VA:

n Toxic chemicals or other hazardous materials in the environment, including sand, dust and burn pits.

n Extreme heat and cold, noise and explosions.

n Infectious diseases, such as salmonella and malaria.

While advances in combat medicine has saved many lives, they also may result in amputations and other disfiguring surgeries. In addition, the VA says that one in three VA patients is diagnosed with at least one mental health disorder, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). To help them cope, many develop substance abuse disorders and a large number of those ultimately take their own lives.

You can see then why your civilian health care provider should know about these factors when they are diagnosing and treating physical or mental illnesses and prescribing medications. The American Medical Association is advocating for more education and training of medical personnel in veterans’ health issues, but you have to speak up.

If you’re advocating for a veteran’s health care, here are some things to keep in mind.

Take advantage of VA resources. For example, the VA offers a Veterans Crisis Line (dial 988 and press 1) for every veteran, whether or not they’re enrolled with the VA or receiving benefits. Free, confidential support is offered 24/7 to not only veterans, but also active service members, National Guard and Reserve members and those who support them. Through the Crisis Line you can be connected to local resources.

Use the Veterans Choice program. One criticism of the VA is long wait times for appointments. The purpose of the Choice Program is to give veterans faster access to health care through the private sector. You have to be enrolled with the VA and facing constraints such as a long wait time or distance to a VA facility.

Stay up on the news. An illness you’re suffering from today may have had its roots decades ago. For example, in August, President Biden signed the PACT (“Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics”) Act, which expands access to health care for veterans who were exposed to burn pits and subsequently diagnosed with rare cancers and respiratory illnesses. The PACT Act also allows those who were exposed to toxic water supplies at Camp Lejeune,

North Carolina, between 1953 and 1987 to file claims against the government. You may have seen actor, activist and political commentator Jon Stewart lobbying for it on his Apple TV program “The Problem,” social media and on the steps of the Capitol.

Use a patient advocate. The VA has patient advocates in all of its health care facilities to help vets frustrated with the quality or pace or their care. A private patient advocate with knowledge of the VA system may also help.