The VA (Veterans Affair) Health Care System is one of the largest, most advanced health care networks in the U.S. The VA Health Care System is the provider for veterans, retirees and their dependents and manages all their health care. The VA Health Care is actually one part of the Department of Veterans Affairs. There is also VA Benefits Administration which has to do with compensations and pensions. Then the other part of the VA is the National Cemetery Administration which is in charge of the cemeteries and providing burial and memorial benefits. All these parts make up the Department of Veterans Affairs. (VA History)
In 1636 the “Pilgrims passed a law which stated that disabled soliders would be supported by the colony.” (VA History) This paved the way for veterans’ benefits and healthcare. It wasn’t until 1811 that the federal government authorized the first medical and domiciliary facilities along with benefits and pensions for the veterans and their families. When the United States entered World War 1 in 1917, Congress created a new system for veterans’ benefits such as disability compensation, insurance, vocational rehabilitation. These benefits were directed by three different agencies in the Federal Government, these branches were the Veterans Bureau, the Bureau of Pensions of the Interior Department, and the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. Ten years later congress authorized the president to “consolidate and coordinate Government activities affecting war veterans”; this action united the three component agencies into bureaus under the veterans’ administration. In the following six decades there were vast increases in the veteran population, and new benefits enacted by congress for veterans following Wo...
... middle of paper ...
...sites of care. To be eligible for VA health care you must have served in the active military and discharged or released on conditions other that dishonorable. As a reservist or National Guard member you would have to be called to active duty other than training. After 1980 the veteran would have had to serve 24 continuous months, this might not apply to you for hardship, early out or a service connected disability. There are four categories of veterans that are not required to enroll but are urged to so they can better plan their health resources. Those are; veterans with a service connected disability of 50 percent or more, veterans seeking care for a disability the military determined was service connected not yet rated by the VA, veterans seeking care for service-connected disability only, and veterans seeking registry examinations for thing such as agent orange.
The United States has the most comprehensive system and programs of assistance for Veterans of any nation in the world. The first domiciliary, a residential home for Veterans was authorized by the Federal Government in 1811. After the Civil War, President Lincoln made a promise to care for widows, orphans and injured soldiers; many State veterans homes were established to care for indigent and disabled veterans. When the United States entered World War I in 1917, Congress established a new system of Veterans’ benefits, including the addition of disability compensation and vocational rehabilitation. In the 1920s, the ever-increasing benefits were administered by three different Federal agencies: the Bureau of Pensions of the Interior Department, the Veterans Bureau, and the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. The establishment of the Veterans Administration came in 1930 when Congress authorized President Herbert Hoover to consolidate the programs for Veterans into one government bureau. The Veterans Administration took over the responsibility of the National Cemetery System from the Department of the Army in 1973, but in 1989, President Bush established the Department of Veteran Affairs as a Cabinet-level position. President Bush was quoted as saying; "There is only one place for the veterans of America, in the Cabinet Room, at the table with the President of the United States of America." (United States Department of Veteran Affairs, 2010)
Originally, assistance for veterans began in the 1600 where the colony passed laws where soldiers that became disabled while fighting with the Pequot Indians would be supported by the colony. The DVA was established as a cabinet-level position under the Bush administration in 1989. The agency mission is based on a commitment statement that was developed by President Lincoln, which commits the organization to excellence.
The federal government desire to help veterans by providing health medical services without any fee at any Veterans Hospital.
Prior to war and the passage of the GI Bill the average American could only dream about college and owning a home. Designed to be used for college, technical or vocational courses, apprenticeship/on-the-job ship/on-the-job training, certificate programs, flight training and correspondence courses and home loan guaranty, the GI Bill has been credited with establishing the foundation of today’s middle class. By 1984, when the GI Bill was revamped, 7.8 World War II Veterans had participated in education or vocational training programs. The updated program became known as the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB), after former Mississippi Congressman Gillespie V. “Sonny” Montgomery. His goal was to continue education programs and the VA home loan guaranty for the latest as well as, future generations ...
It was once assumed that the government would provide services for veterans, but nonprofit organizations and communities have been picking up the slack to help veterans get back on their feet after returning home. The government is dependent on nonprofit organizations to supply veterans and their families with the necessary goods and services. The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is an organization that provides services for veterans and their families. The WWP focuses on mind, body, economic empowerment, and engagement, all things that help veterans through post-war symptoms (The Wounded Warrior Project). The government is recommending giving less housing allowances, limiting pay raises, and having higher fees for health care benefits; other cuts would include stores being unable to give discounts to military families (Nissenbaum and Barnes). The amount of money veterans receive for housing, health care, and retirement is being cut left and right by the government and the money is being used and put towards other departments. In California, The County Veterans Service Officers Inc. plays a very important role in verterans’ lives (California Association of County Veterans Service Officers, Inc.) Many organizations help veterans who are in need of services because our government is not always able to provide...
They are much like shelters for other specific causes, however, this one is very much dedicated to helping veterans get back into the swing of an ordinary life. Veteran homeless shelters provide many things. One of the many things would be health benefits. According to the US Department of Veteran Affairs, “A person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable may qualify for VA health care benefits.” (2015) Another thing that these organizations do is help homeless veterans become more social among each other as well as provide them with hot meals, a place to sleep, shower, and a new pair of clothes. Places like the homeless shelters for homeless veterans even help them get a job and get their life back in order before they were
In order to be buried at Arlington, a person has to qualify for burial. Ones who have died on active duty and those who served for twenty or more years are permitted to be buried at Arlington. Others who qualify for burial at Arlington are veterans who suffered 30% or more disability and were honorably discharged from the military before October 1, 1949. Recipients of decorations such as The Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, or the Purple Heart also qualify for burial at Arlington. Burial for members of the president’s cabinet, other nationally elected officials, and Supreme Court Justices who served honorably in the military are also allowed. Burial is permitted for Presidents of the United States, who are also referred to as the Commander and Chief of the military (Reef 64).
Are veterans being taken care of medically, mentally, and financially? According to Steve Buyer, a member of the House of Representatives from Indiana's fourth district, "Because all of us believe and understand in the fabric of the common bond of why we call ourselves American is to care for the men and women who wear the uniform; and when they take off the uniform, we care for them when they are veterans." After men or women finish their time serving our country and take off their uniform, they still hold the title of Veteran. They are the brave ones who fought and served for America. The care for the veterans of America is a crucial part of giving back to those who risked their lives for our country.
“Factors Affecting Health Care” (50-55) Demonstrates the sacrifices and how difficult it is for veterans to receive healthcare from the Department of Veteran Affairs.
N.p., n.d. Web. The Web. The Web. 2 Dec. 2013. http://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/apply/veterans.asp>.
VA: Many of the VA centers are already prepaid through the military service. The VA in New York has 300 centers that many of their veterans can go to if they need help or any type of services. In New York there are 2 community-based outpatient clinics. One is located in Harlem and the other is in Staten Island. Also, there are counselor that are available at these community-based center, so that many of the veterans can be close to their families. In the United States there are 1,233 health care facilities that’s including 168 VA Medical Centers and 1,053 outpatients, serving more than 8.9 million Veterans each year. Looking at New York as a whole the veteran’s population is 862,805.
The DAV was founded when our country was struggling with the effects of World War I. American veterans that came home from World War I started the DAV in 1920. A lot has changed in the last ninety-one years, but the wounded and sick from the wars still need the DAV's help in life cope with their disabilities (Wars & Scars 1). In 1932 the DAV was deemed the official voice of the nation’s wartime disabled veterans (About Disabled American Veterans 1). The DAV have many missions in helping the veterans. Some mission statements are “Providing a structure through which disabled veterans can express their compassion for their fellow veterans through a variety of volunteer programs” (Mission Statement 1), “Extending DAV's mission of hope into the communities where these veterans and their families live through a network of state-level Departments and local Chapter” (Mission Statement 1), and “Representing the interests of disabled veterans, their families, their widows and spouses, and their orphans before Congress, the White House, and the Judicial Branch, as well as state and local government”(Mission Statement 1). “Providing outreach concerning its program services to the Am...
One of the most serious problems facing all veterans today is the lack of proper healthcare. Soldiers, sailors and airmen are leaving active duty without having proper healthcare to cover their physical or mental injuries. The department responsible for veteran’s healthcare is the Department of Veterans Affairs. (VA) According to The department of Veterans Affairs website, “The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is responsible for administering programs of veterans’ benefits for veterans, their families, and survivors. The benefits provided include disability compensation, pension, education, home loans, life insurance, vocational rehabilitation, survivors’ benefits, medical benefits and burial benefits. It is administered by the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs.” The VA, who was formerly called the Veterans Administration, was established 21 July 1930, to consolidate and coordinate government activities affecting war veterans. The VA encompassed the functions of the former U.S. Veterans' Bureau, the Bureau of Pensions of the Interior Department and the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. On 25 October 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed legislation creating a new federal Cabinet-level Department of Veterans Affairs to replace the Veterans Administration effective 15 March 1989 (V.A.)
Every day a man comes home from war. Most having left their families as boys or young men trained in tactics and combat but never being trained effectively on stress management or the dangers of PTSD. Going into war soldiers are instructed to choke it down and bury it deep. Once introduced back into civilian life, where emotions are acceptable and tactics are not the answer, how do these men survive? How do they learn to cope? And most importantly how does the U.S. government train them for the next portion of their lives? In October of 2001 Operation Enduring Freedom, OEF, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, OIF, began and since then over 1.8 million troops have served at least one term ("PTSD in Service Members and New Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars," 2009). The Veterans population has increased immensely since the war began in 2001 and the type of warfare witnessed is much different than that of any other previous war.
With the United Nations listing health care as natural born right and the escalating cost of health care America has reached a debatable crisis. Even if you do have insurance it's a finical strain on most families.