OpEd piece
A Nniston, AL A nniston, AL While I was a college student during the 60s my studies took me overseas to Great Britain. While in the UK, I fell sick. I went to the National Health Service, got treated, and left in good health. There were no charges or financial strain. This was in striking contrast to my own experience within America. U.S., where my parents had spent their money trying to pay for medical expenses due to a serious health problem.
The experience formed my lifelong determination to understand the significance of health treatment. The 30 years I spent as a member of the U.S. Navy furthered my interest. When I retired from the Navy my family members and friends serving in uniform are often neglected in terms of healthcare. That’s why on Veterans Day, I am soliciting the governor. Kay Ivey to close the coverage gap in Alabama.
I have come across many misconceptions about the health care coverage of our nation’s veterans. Through my work as a volunteer with my local church as well as other community groups I’ve met a number of veterans that don’t have access to healthcare or coverage. A lot of people don’t know that to be eligible for treatment at the VA with the rare exception of it is necessary to have an illness that you can prove has been present since your active-duty service. Actually, only around 20% of veterans who are insured receive insurance by the VA. In the meantime, a lot of veterans in Alabama require assistance. They’re falling into the gap in coverage, meaning they’re not eligible for Medicaid but are unable to afford or get coverage on their own. 400,000 veterans are in need of health insurance in the United States, and more than half are of them in states that have chosen not to increase Medicaid. This is why Alabama must act.
When I speak of the necessity of Medicaid expansion to our veterans, I am reminded of the man I met during my volunteer activities. He was discharged from the Navy due to mental health issues However, the Navy concluded that he been suffering from this condition prior to the time the time he joined. Thus, they dismissed the man without benefit. However, the service worsened his condition. So after he came back home his parents had to kick him out. He was homeless and trying to survive by securing part-time jobs. He was unable to put an apartment however, the state declared that it was because he “made more than” to be eligible for Medicaid. He’s one of 300,000 Alabamans who Medicaid expansion could assist.
Veterans are also more likely to be employed in trades that don’t offer health insurance when they are employed as well as being at greater chance of suffering from unique and complicated injuries or illnesses due to their experience in military service. In actual fact the results of a Congress-sponsored study completed in 2014 showed that just 40 percent of veterans were into the VA health system. If you are fortunate enough to be eligible to receive VA health care, VA hospitals can be difficult to get to. If, for instance, you reside in Anniston as I do, and you require treatment at the VA hospital, you will need to find a way get to Birmingham. While a van that is free is available from Oxford however, the time of departure and return may render it inaccessible to veterans without an own vehicle.
This Veterans Day, let’s pledge to end this as the last day that Alabama veterans have access to expanded Medicaid in the state of Alabama. We urge Governor. Ivey to increase the coverage of Medicaid right now, and to give my siblings and brothers in uniform the respect and dignity of health care they deserve.
Biography: Jim Williams is a retired Navy Captain who served for 30 years. He later worked for the Army as civilian. His wife and he reside in Anniston where he works for veterans, homeless and health issues. He wrote this piece of op-ed in conjunction with American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.
