VetXL round up: Women Veterans get answers to questions about health and benefits

Ryan Callahan — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 16:16:40 -0400

Today about 2 million Veterans are women, representing 10% of the total Veteran population in the United States. But as the fastest growing segment of the Veteran population, female Veterans are on track to comprise 18% of all U.S. Veterans by 2040, according to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) data.

VA and other organizations have in recent years worked to expand outreach to and services for female Veterans, including by providing more specialized and reproductive care. On June 28, a digital audience of 161,000 tuned in to RallyPoint’s recent Veterans Experience Live (VetXL) event to hear more about what support is available to female Veterans.

The RallyPoint event, “Women Veterans! Do You Have Health and Benefits Questions?” assembled 17 federal officials and outside experts to answer questions. Among those attending were representatives from various VA offices and from private nonprofits such as the American Red Cross, Elizabeth Dole Foundation and Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS).

Here are highlights of the event, with links to more information and resources:

Finding coverage for health issues

One 100% service-disabled female Veteran noted that when she left service in the Navy in 1994, “no one told me I could file for medical issues that I had from my time in service,” and wanted to know if reimbursement is available for out-of-pocket for certain care needs.

Andi Martinez, a VA official, said that Veterans can file a claim for reimbursement for non-VA medical care and prescription costs through VA’s Community Care program, at https://rly.pt/3S5qCik
However, these filings must be submitted on a timely basis, and so care delivered long ago may not be eligible for reimbursement.

VA’s website notes that as a Veteran, you can enroll in VA care if you meet certain minimum duty requirements and were not dishonorably discharged. A variety of factors, especially length and time of service and whether care relates to service, determines whether you have to provide copays and other eligibility issues https://rly.pt/3PHZ0Oy

Ed McEvoy, National Outreach Specialist, said VA’s Vet Centers provide community-based social and psychological services, including counseling for Military Sexual Trauma. The program is open to eligible Veterans, active-duty service members, including those in the National Guard and reserves, and their families. If you’re not eligible, a Vet Center staff member may be able to refer you to non-VA support services in your community. Find a Vet Center near you by calling [login to see] or visiting http://www.vetcenter.va.gov.

You may as a Veteran be eligible for non-VA care as well through VA Community Care. Watch a video that explains this program at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9ac0FqO8To.

If you’re a caregiver to a Veteran or grieving the loss of one, you may be interested in the America Red Cross’s Military and Veteran Caregiver Network (https://www.redcross.org/get-help/military-families/services-for-veterans/military-veteran-caregiver-network.html), which offers peer-to-peer education, networking and encouragement; Elizabeth Dole Foundation (https://www.elizabethdolefoundation.org); Rosalynn Carter Institute (https://www.rosalynncarter.org) and TAPS (https://www.taps.org/mission).

Locating gender-related services

If you’re a transgender Veteran who identifies as a woman you are eligible for certain specialized services at VA, which are listed at https://www.patientcare.va.gov/LGBT/docs/va-pcs-lgbt-factsheet-transgender-female.pdf. Added Patty Hayes, chief officer of Women’s Health at VA, during the event: “Currently VA does not provide transition-related surgical procedures. VA is working on regulations to address gender affirming surgeries.”

Networking with peers and connecting to support services

One member of the military asked about ways that female service members and Veterans can connect with each other. A Veteran from the RallyPoint community responded by recommending the Military Sisterhood Initiative (http://www.militarysisterhoodinitiative.org). Billed as a safe space where military sisters can link up with peers in more than 20 countries, this free service is available exclusively to female service members and Veterans.

The following groups were also mentioned as providing social connectedness and other support to female Veterans:

• George W. Bush Institute Team 43, https://rly.pt/Team43
• Make the Connection, https://www.maketheconnection.net
• Student Veterans of America, https://studentveterans.org
• Team Red, White & Blue, https://about.teamrwb.org
• Team Rubicon, https://teamrubiconusa.org
• The Mission Continues, https://www.missioncontinues.org
• Travis Manion Foundation, https://www.travismanion.org
• Vets4Warriors.com, https://www.vets4warriors.com
• Volunteers of America, https://www.voa.org/veterans or https://www.voa.org, and search for Battle Buddy Bridge by state
• Wounded Warrior Project, https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org

Repairing or buying a home

A few comments and questions related to assistance for home repairs and home loans.

Melissa Comeau, director of the American Red Cross’s Military and Veteran Caregiver Network, recommended that female Veterans check out Operation Finally Home (https://www.operationfinallyhome.org). The program assists ailing, injured or wounded Veterans and first responders and their families with the mortgage-free purchase or improvement of homes. According to the national nonprofit, your application is considered on a case-by-case basis, but you must meet specific criteria, including having a 70% or above combat-related injury rating from VA or the Department of Defense (DOD).

VA also provides up to $101,754 in funds to qualifying Veterans to buy, build or modify homes through its Specially Adapted Housing Grant program (https://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/disability-housing-grants).

The VA home loan guarantee is another way to get homebuying assistance, and it’s a program that female and other Veterans can tap into more than once, noted Jennifer Dane, CEO of the Modern Military Association, which represents the LGBTQ military and Veteran community.

“You can either convert your current home to another loan and pay off the VA loan or you can sell your home and use the VA loan once again,” Dane said in response to question from a Veteran asking if she could reuse the VA loan program to buy a larger home. “It isn’t too stressful of a process and there are great lenders who can assist with more precise question/concerns.”

Get a primer on the program at https://www.rallypoint.com/command-post/looking-to-slide-into-home-get-the-facts-about-the-va-home-loan-program. You can also call a VA Regional Loan Center at [login to see] to ask questions about getting a Certificate of Eligibility or learn more about homebuying or underwriting assistance. Visit https://benefits.va.gov/homeloans.

Other RallyPoint members suggested female Veterans check into housing assistance available from local Habitats for Humanity, which has “Women Build,” “Veterans Build” and other housing-related volunteer, homeownership and employment opportunities. Search for your local Habitat here: https://rly.pt/3S57gtN

Another source of housing assistance mentioned is Home Depot, which operates a foundation providing grants ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 to Veteran-serving nonprofit “partners” to build or rehabilitate Veterans’ homes (https://corporate.homedepot.com/page/home-depot-foundation). The foundation recommends that if you’re an individual Veteran, seek support through a funded partner, listed at https://rly.pt/HomeDepotPartnerships

Relocating

If you’re relocating from a military base, check out these assistance programs:
https://www.militaryonesource.mil/moving-housing/moving/planning-your-move/military-relocation-assistance-program-benefits.

Starting a women-owned business

If you’re a female Veteran entrepreneur, seek assistance through Women Veteran-Owned Small Business Initiative (WVOSBI), which offers programs in small business development, financial education and training, and other areas. Find links to VA’s female Veteran business programs at https://rly.pt/3S8XIh8

Unlocking Veteran benefits

Ann Duff, VA’s director of the Office of Survivors Assistance, reminded female Veterans that the DD214 is the “golden ticket” that unlocks any VA benefit. Request these at https://rly.pt/3PWMDhx

VA benefits for those in the National Guard and reserves are listed in this fact sheet: https://rly.pt/3zdtWiX

Experts recommended you start the benefits application process at https://rly.pt/3biIF3X, with or without the help of a free Veterans service officer, available at https://www.va.gov/vso.

If you have more female Veteran-related questions, call or text VA’s Women Veterans Call Center at [login to see] .

Learn more

Check out the full Q&A session: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/women-veterans-do-you-have-health-and-benefits-questions-need-peer-support-ask-questions-now

VA.gov | Veterans Affairs

Apply for and manage the VA benefits and services you’ve earned as a Veteran, Servicemember, or family member—like health care, disability, education, and more.

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Jul 29 at 2022 10:18 AM

CW5 Sam R. Baker — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 10:18:57 -0400

Amazing contribution and having been an MP and now an aviator, women were always a part of my career as professionals.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 17 at 2022 10:54 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 22:54:18 -0400

Thanks for the post.

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Aug 25 at 2022 11:26 PM

SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 23:26:27 -0400

More work needs to be done for.our women in.uniform who are integration in fields and career that excluded them before.