MOAA Highlights Women Veterans Issues at Recent Hearing
Mar 10 2010
I was privileged to testify last week before the Senate and House Veterans Affairs Committees on MOAA’s 2010 priorities for veterans, including women veterans.
The opportunity to highlight women veterans’ issues is particularly meaningful since this is National Women’s History Month.
Women are joining the ranks of the military as never before. As of September 30, 2008, 14 percent of the members of the armed forces were women—1.7 million veterans in the U.S. were women.
Women are also accessing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical and veterans’ benefits at higher rates than their male counterparts. Yet, women veterans are 3-4 times more likely to be homeless—health being a contributing factor.
VA has done some creative workarounds in their medical centers to meet the increased demand of care for women veterans, but more must be done to remove current barriers to care.
As a VA user of over 6 years it’s frustrating to be farmed out to numerous clinics in VA medical facilities or to be sent to civilian providers to get my health care. I end up managing my own care because it appears as though no one is in charge.
MOAA commends VA Secretary Shinseki for his leadership and progress in transforming VA into a veterans-centric agency.
But, there’s more to be done to help women veterans and the VA in general. MOAA looks forward to continuing our efforts to advocate on behalf of women veterans.
I hope you will join us this month and reach out to a female member in the military or veteran and thank them for their service and sacrifice.
If you are a woman in the military or a woman veteran who would like to share with us your experiences in using VA health care or applying for benefits we’d love to hear from you.
MOAA salutes all women who are serving or have served. We thank you for making possible the success of future generations.
2 Responses to “MOAA Highlights Women Veterans Issues at Recent Hearing”
The VA hospital is a great example of government ran health care. I have had 7 seven years of their “care” and found that I was better before I ever set foot in their doors. Doctors don’t care, nurses are unfeeling, and administration there, only worried about “How much longer until 4pm?”, while ignoring the very veteran there for care, with whom without, they’d have no job there to worry about.
Thanks so much for your comment Carol.
Very insightful.
Am curious if you still use VA health care and if you see any differences in how male and female veterans are treated in the system where you get or have gotten care?
Really appreciate you sharing your thoughts. Take care,