It Might Be Memorial Day, But Are We Supporting Veterans?
Memorial Day is here and what better way to support our veterans is there than to advocate for them. With the Trump administration working to cut federal spending, veteran’s access to affordable healthcare is in jeopardy.
There are over a million veterans enrolled in Medicaid, which is currently facing possible devastations from the newly proposed Republican healthcare bill. To learn more about this bill and what it will do, take a look at our article “What to Know About the Proposed Republican Healthcare Bill” that came out last Tuesday. Veterans in particular will be hurt by these Medicaid funding cuts because of the complexity of their healthcare service needs, which can include not just physical health service needs but also mental health.
Furthermore, they are likely to be hurt by the new work requirements of 80 monthly hours needed to be eligible to receive Medicaid coverage. Veterans often do not have work experience outside of the military and can additionally suffer from physical or mental health conditions from their time of service which can lead to a harder time finding suitable jobs.
The Trump administration isn’t just cutting federal spending though, they are also enacting mass layoffs of over 80,0000 federal workers at Veterans Affairs, including workers at the Veterans Health Administration, which takes up around 90 percent of the entire number of workers at Veterans Affairs. The Veterans Health Administration has also recently been receiving increased enrollment meaning these cuts will make it harder for the newly eligible veterans to receive their needed care.
These cuts will not only create disrupted benefits affecting veterans' ability to receive quality and timely care, but also affect thousands of veterans’ jobs, as nearly 30 percent of federal employees are veterans.
There is federal law requiring employers to give veterans a hiring advantage over those who have not served, it is the recognition of the government’s obligation to help their veterans, especially those who have become disabled during their time serving. Cutting thousands of federal workers, who are also veterans, from their jobs means creating the economic loss this law was also trying to counteract.
Additionally, there will be cuts to social services including the de-staffing of the Veterans Crisis Line, a suicide and crisis prevention line made specifically for veterans and their loved ones who might be struggling with mental health. Suicide is currently the second leading cause of death among veterans that are under 45 years old. De-staffing this crisis line will mean longer waiting times and possibly improper care due to high volumes of calls mixed with lowered staff numbers. De-staffing the crisis line made specifically to help veterans will likely cause even more devastation on top of the spending cuts and other federal worker layoffs.
These spending cuts and layoffs are a direct disrespect to the veterans who have served our country. It is the loss of care for thousands of U.S. veterans created by the U.S. government, the very government they fought for. Show support for your veterans, support non-profits like Veterans Health and Wellness Foundation and The Headstrong Project, call your local representatives (especially if they are Republican!), and make your concerns known.
