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Today, there are more than 1.9 million women Veterans, and more than 600,000 women Veterans receive care at VA each year. At VA, you have access to a wide range of comprehensive health and gender-specific care (https://rly.pt/WomensHealthCare) including fertility services (https://rly.pt/3uJyW0j), mental health care (https://rly.pt/VAWomensMentalHealth), and maternity care (https://rly.pt/VAMaternityCare)
If you are a woman who served our country, you belong at VA. We see the achievements you made, we value your diversity, and we recognize all you have done for our nation and continue to do for your families and communities.
If you have not accessed your VA health care benefits or you haven’t been to a VA recently, we invite you to come give us a try. VA has been caring for women Veterans for 100 years and continues to enhance service offerings to ensure you receive the best care anywhere (https://rly.pt/VAWomensHealthcareVideo)
We invite you to attend the Center for Women Veterans upcoming events:
CWV Women Veterans Fireside Chat Webinar with a Dr. Sally Haskell, MD, MS, Acting Chief Officer, VHA, Office of Women’s Health with a Q&A period to follow on Thursday, March 7, 2024, 12:00 PM ET.
Registration:
https://veteransaffairs.webex.com/weblink/register/r3a50352cacdb4b4d8ba504b66759af11
VBA/OTED Women Veterans Virtual Outreach Symposium will take place on Thursday, March 7, 2024, 1:00 PM ET to discuss the following topics: Tailored resources for women Veterans, tips on #VA Benefit access, disability claims and avoiding denials, and the impact of the PACT Act.
Registration:
https://www.va.gov/outreach-and-events/events/65145
CWV Women Veterans Fireside Chat Webinar – with Jacqueline Hillian-Craig, Executive Director, Strategy and Analysis, Office of the Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs, NCA on Thursday, March 14, 2024, 12:00 PM ET.
Registration:
https://veteransaffairs.webex.com/weblink/register/r7e2385b52f602b89a6e3f5ce5c038bca
With RallyPoint, we’ve previously partnered to answer Veteran questions in March 2023 with the VetXL: Women Veterans Together event in honor of Women’s History Month Some of the questions included:
» “I believe the VA is particularly inaccessible to women with young children. Specifically in my circumstance, I am unable to even enter the VA facility with my 10-month-old as children under the age of 18 are not permitted in the facility (though all hospitals and doctor offices in my area do not operate in this manner). As someone who has a husband who works, and no family nearby, this is a severe limitation for me. I have brought this us to my VA in various forms to no avail, the answer is simply for me to pay for a babysitter. Is anything being done to change this?”
» “I am wondering when the VA will take a serious look into diseases that severely impact women such as endometriosis, PCOS, and fibroids? Many are living with these conditions and the VA is denying them compensation and more importantly proper Healthcare for these illnesses. The people who are doing the ratings and making decisions don't even understand the first thing about them. Ignoring them or downplaying them only serves to put the female veterans in more pain and incurring further damage to their bodies. I'm afraid to even go to the VA. People think because you can't see physical damage that it doesn't exist but what about mental health, back injuries, or stomach issues? You can't see some of those issues, can't pinpoint when they started; however, people are treated for them and compensated.”
» “Are there any benefits available to women who are dealing with infertility?”
We invite you to comment on these and the many more questions and feedback or ask new questions! Ask or comment here: VetXL: Women Veterans Together Q&A - Ask Questions Now on Women’s Health and Benefits Services! | RallyPoint (https://rly.pt/WomenVeteransVetXL)
Get the benefits and services you’ve earned:
If you have any questions about how to access your VA benefits, please call us at 1-800-MyVA411 or visit us at VA.gov. You may also be interested in VA’s Center for Women Veterans (https://rly.pt/CFWVETS)
Spread the word: Please use these outreach kits to share Veteran resources with your networks.
The outreach kit includes flyers, social media graphics and suggested corresponding language, radio public service announcements (PSA), newsletter content and a sample blog post to help you spread the word.
» What can VA health care do for you? (https://rly.pt/VAHealthcareOutreachKit)
» What can VA disability compensation do for you? (https://rly.pt/VADisabilityCompensation)
If you are a woman who served our country, you belong at VA. We see the achievements you made, we value your diversity, and we recognize all you have done for our nation and continue to do for your families and communities.
If you have not accessed your VA health care benefits or you haven’t been to a VA recently, we invite you to come give us a try. VA has been caring for women Veterans for 100 years and continues to enhance service offerings to ensure you receive the best care anywhere (https://rly.pt/VAWomensHealthcareVideo)
We invite you to attend the Center for Women Veterans upcoming events:
CWV Women Veterans Fireside Chat Webinar with a Dr. Sally Haskell, MD, MS, Acting Chief Officer, VHA, Office of Women’s Health with a Q&A period to follow on Thursday, March 7, 2024, 12:00 PM ET.
Registration:
https://veteransaffairs.webex.com/weblink/register/r3a50352cacdb4b4d8ba504b66759af11
VBA/OTED Women Veterans Virtual Outreach Symposium will take place on Thursday, March 7, 2024, 1:00 PM ET to discuss the following topics: Tailored resources for women Veterans, tips on #VA Benefit access, disability claims and avoiding denials, and the impact of the PACT Act.
Registration:
https://www.va.gov/outreach-and-events/events/65145
CWV Women Veterans Fireside Chat Webinar – with Jacqueline Hillian-Craig, Executive Director, Strategy and Analysis, Office of the Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs, NCA on Thursday, March 14, 2024, 12:00 PM ET.
Registration:
https://veteransaffairs.webex.com/weblink/register/r7e2385b52f602b89a6e3f5ce5c038bca
With RallyPoint, we’ve previously partnered to answer Veteran questions in March 2023 with the VetXL: Women Veterans Together event in honor of Women’s History Month Some of the questions included:
» “I believe the VA is particularly inaccessible to women with young children. Specifically in my circumstance, I am unable to even enter the VA facility with my 10-month-old as children under the age of 18 are not permitted in the facility (though all hospitals and doctor offices in my area do not operate in this manner). As someone who has a husband who works, and no family nearby, this is a severe limitation for me. I have brought this us to my VA in various forms to no avail, the answer is simply for me to pay for a babysitter. Is anything being done to change this?”
» “I am wondering when the VA will take a serious look into diseases that severely impact women such as endometriosis, PCOS, and fibroids? Many are living with these conditions and the VA is denying them compensation and more importantly proper Healthcare for these illnesses. The people who are doing the ratings and making decisions don't even understand the first thing about them. Ignoring them or downplaying them only serves to put the female veterans in more pain and incurring further damage to their bodies. I'm afraid to even go to the VA. People think because you can't see physical damage that it doesn't exist but what about mental health, back injuries, or stomach issues? You can't see some of those issues, can't pinpoint when they started; however, people are treated for them and compensated.”
» “Are there any benefits available to women who are dealing with infertility?”
We invite you to comment on these and the many more questions and feedback or ask new questions! Ask or comment here: VetXL: Women Veterans Together Q&A - Ask Questions Now on Women’s Health and Benefits Services! | RallyPoint (https://rly.pt/WomenVeteransVetXL)
Get the benefits and services you’ve earned:
If you have any questions about how to access your VA benefits, please call us at 1-800-MyVA411 or visit us at VA.gov. You may also be interested in VA’s Center for Women Veterans (https://rly.pt/CFWVETS)
Spread the word: Please use these outreach kits to share Veteran resources with your networks.
The outreach kit includes flyers, social media graphics and suggested corresponding language, radio public service announcements (PSA), newsletter content and a sample blog post to help you spread the word.
» What can VA health care do for you? (https://rly.pt/VAHealthcareOutreachKit)
» What can VA disability compensation do for you? (https://rly.pt/VADisabilityCompensation)
Women in the Military
Veterans Affairs (VA)
Benefits
Edited 2 y ago
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 10
12
12
0
I’m glad the VA has greatly improved care for our sister vets. On and onsite providers are routinely part of VA facilities. This was not always the case.
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SrA Cecelia Eareckson
Except it has not improved. Would you like to share why you think you are qualified to make that statement?
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1SG John Millan
SrA Cecelia Eareckson the Asheville VA is providing full obgyn care. Basic in house and out pay referral for special needs. My doc (female) said AL VA hospitals are and outpatient clinics are doing full community care. I’ve talked to a lot of female CA patients eating around, who say it has dramatically improved in the past 10 years. It was so bad before. I’ve seen the women’s health clinic expand and female restrooms expanded. Long over due.
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SrA Cecelia Eareckson
There may be a few bright spots, but that is not reason for any blanket statement regarding how VA treats women. Battle Creek, MI/Lansing CBOC refused to refer me to specialty care for months. Neither decision maker is qualified in gynecology or urology. Finally got referral after months, then months more to get consultation. I am a survivor of MST and attempted murder on active duty. VA treats me like the criminal.
Also, and this applies to all veterans who use the VA exclusively, they are not keeping up with advances in diagnostics. My outside provider referred me for CT lung scan, which detects lesions while still treatable, four years before the VA began offeing that.
So, why don't I get that pelvic floor referral from my outside provider? Because there will be an extensive diagnostic workup, with potentially significant copays. I had a bladder sling over a decade ago, so I know how it goes. I was on Mass Health at the time, zero copays, because the VA refused to supply insulin despite blood sugars in the blindness and amputation range. Went to Boston Medical, saw an endocrinologist, walked across the street to their pharmacy, and left with insulin, syringes, and alcohol wipes. (BTW, VA did not routinelt supply alcohol wipes.). I would be dead if I had stayed in the VA.
Also, and this applies to all veterans who use the VA exclusively, they are not keeping up with advances in diagnostics. My outside provider referred me for CT lung scan, which detects lesions while still treatable, four years before the VA began offeing that.
So, why don't I get that pelvic floor referral from my outside provider? Because there will be an extensive diagnostic workup, with potentially significant copays. I had a bladder sling over a decade ago, so I know how it goes. I was on Mass Health at the time, zero copays, because the VA refused to supply insulin despite blood sugars in the blindness and amputation range. Went to Boston Medical, saw an endocrinologist, walked across the street to their pharmacy, and left with insulin, syringes, and alcohol wipes. (BTW, VA did not routinelt supply alcohol wipes.). I would be dead if I had stayed in the VA.
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I thought I would add my two cents worth. (some may think that is all my opinion is worth, but that's OK.)
My wife served, US Army WAC, 1971 - 1974. Honorably Discharged. She signed up with the VA after seeing how well I was treated, in 2004.
Last year she injured herself while we were on a trip. MEDICARE and Tricare took care of the ER costs. Once we returned to AZ, she was seen at our local VA (Prescott, AZ). She has been getting great support there and getting the necessary referrals to the areas that the VA is not staffed for, including neurology, cardiology, and physical therapy. We found the non-VA medical system is as shorthanded as the VA and appointments take just as long.
I believe the VA has saved us thousands of dollars, perhaps over $100K.
I am sorry to see some of our service women were not treated as they expected to be, but my wife's experience with the VA has been generally satisfactory.
My wife served, US Army WAC, 1971 - 1974. Honorably Discharged. She signed up with the VA after seeing how well I was treated, in 2004.
Last year she injured herself while we were on a trip. MEDICARE and Tricare took care of the ER costs. Once we returned to AZ, she was seen at our local VA (Prescott, AZ). She has been getting great support there and getting the necessary referrals to the areas that the VA is not staffed for, including neurology, cardiology, and physical therapy. We found the non-VA medical system is as shorthanded as the VA and appointments take just as long.
I believe the VA has saved us thousands of dollars, perhaps over $100K.
I am sorry to see some of our service women were not treated as they expected to be, but my wife's experience with the VA has been generally satisfactory.
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SrA Cecelia Eareckson
Here's the thing. Neither of you know what you are missing, literally. My outside pc provider sat down and calculated my risk of breast cancer. It is elevated. He referred me to an oncologist, whose prescribed low dose tamoxifen to cut my risk in half. VA has never done that. It's not just women's health where the VA come up short. I am an exsmoker over 65. My same outside pc provider ordered CT lung scans that can detect lesions while still treatable - four years before the VA.
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MSG Stan Hutchison
SrA Cecelia Eareckson - I stand by my support for the VA. I am sorry you have had negative experiences.
Best wishes.
Best wishes.
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Perhaps this post should also enlighten female veterans that “women care” is hard to come by. Waitlists are out months and months, you do not have options, they providers are ever changing because just like normal VA services they are either overworked due to staffing issues or just unprofessional rude people. Kudos for writing these VA articles that give a false impression of reality.
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SrA Cecelia Eareckson
Thank you! Yes, I am in constant pain. Pelvic floor referral and related Rx denied by Dr and NP with no credentials in gynecology or urology. MST survivor, so this is truly egregious.
(2)
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