Obstacles to Adequate Medical Care for Veterans
For one in five of those that served in combat in Iraq or Afghanistan, another challenging battle awaited them at home: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). And among those who suffer, only half seek out treatment for their symptoms.
PTSD is difficulty enough, with flashbacks, night sweats and depression, among other symptoms, but it also has an association with additional difficulties, including homelessness and substance abuse.
Many veterans also struggle with physical injuries, with 94% of those affected listing their injuries as severe.
The obstacles can become especially challenging for women, who represent 20% of active-duty, armed veterans. They are at an increased risk for pre-term birth and preeclampsia, and their risk of suicide is double that of non-veteran women.
A Gap in Treatment
Many of these mental and physical health difficulties improve with treatment, but veterans often don’t receive the care they require. There are two critical categories in which these challenges fall:
Accessibility:
The U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs strives to offer quality care, and they have expanded access through community-based mental health clinics. But dead zones of care remain, with 41% of veterans residing where veterans’ resources are thin. Many veterans live in rural areas, with 50 miles or more between them and the nearest VA services. With 54% of veterans earning less than $36,000 per year, that distance is compounded by the monetary resources necessary to travel to receive care.
VA healthcare providers are aware of these challenges, and there are efforts being pursued to provide telehealth options for veterans that aren’t located near a healthcare facility.
Frequency
Even when veterans receive treatment for mental or physical health conditions, they may not be getting the frequency of care they require. For instance, a veteran may be “in treatment” for PTSD, but if that treatment amounts to only one appointment per month, the veteran may not be receiving the level of care required to improve symptoms.
Thankfully, there is an increased focus on collaboration between VA services and other healthcare providers who recognize the need for improved frequency of care for veterans and have come alongside VA hospitals to provide necessary services.
An Opportunity for You
If you find the above statistics troubling, and wonder if there is anything you can do to close the gap in veterans’ care, the answer is yes. When you get MIL tokens at Military.Finance, your money doesn’t just earn returns for you. It also helps fuel the important organizations serving veterans. Learn more about how to get started.
