Did you wear the uniform? Be sure to tell your doctor
While the Veterans Health Administration remains the main provider of healthcare for veterans, the VA reported in 2022 that 44% of services available in both VHA and community care settings were delivered by private-sector, non-VA providers.
Because veterans represent about 6% of the U.S. population, it’s less likely that your primary care provider has a military background. So your doctor, physician assistant or nurse practitioner may not think to ask you if you served, though there’s a national campaign encouraging them to do so. It’s top of mind for me because I’m the daughter of a career Marine, and many of my siblings are vets, too.
If health care providers don’t ask, you should inform them because military service can affect your overall health.
Veterans can face more complex medical conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and long-term disabilities sustained during service. Women and LGBTQ+ veterans often deal with additional complications.
The VA recognizes that veterans may have encountered a range of hazards during service, and some exposure-related conditions ― both physical and psychological ― are important to identify and monitor.
Mention when and where you served, your job or duties, and any known exposures or service-related health concerns. That information can help your civilian doctor ask more targeted questions, consider appropriate screening and coordinate care if needed.
Your service history may point to exposures such as burn pits, Agent Orange, chemicals, radiation or hazardous dust ― as well as physical and psychological stresses ― that could be relevant to current symptoms. Certain cancers, respiratory disorders and PTSD may be the result of military service.
Meanwhile, the Veterans Community Care Program was established to give veterans faster access to health care through the private sector. A vet must be enrolled with the VA and facing constraints such as a long wait time or a far distance to a VA facility.
To access community care, the VA recommends that, even if a veteran is eligible for VA health benefits, vets over 65 should sign up for Medicare.
Yes, the Medicare Part B premium is expected to go up to about $210 a month next year, which takes a significant chunk of the average Social Security benefit. But if a health concern arises and the nearest VA facility is an hour and a half away, you may want to make an appointment with a doctor closer to home. Without Part B, the patient is on the hook for the payment.
A veteran who lives near a full-service VA Medical Center carries a smaller version of this risk. One whose closest VA hospital is a long drive away carries all of it. Having Medicare coverage would also make it easier to get a second opinion.
Another important reason for telling your doctor about your service is that more illnesses presumed to have been the result of military service are eligible for benefits under the PACT Act, which expanded benefits for Gulf War-era and post 9/11 veterans.
Between the act’s passage in 2022 and 2024, more than 1.2 million claims by veterans and their survivors were approved for PACT Act benefits. A civilian provider who’s acquainted with your military record may be able to connect the dots from a current illness or condition to your service.
To honor Veterans Day, which was Wednesday, many ceremonies and events recognize and thank the men and women who have worn the uniform in defense of our country. Though many vets say they don’t like talking to civilians about their service, please make an exception for your doctor.
• Teri (Dreher) Frykenberg is a registered nurse and board-certified patient advocate. She is the author of several books on advocacy and founder of Nurse Advocate Entrepreneur, which equips medical professionals with the knowledge and skills to start their own advocacy businesses. Contact her at Teri@NurseAdvocateEntrepreneur.com.