I was recently contacted by someone at the Mesothelioma Cancer
Alliance and asked to share some important information. I’d heard of
mesothelioma; when I browse the community bulletin boards at the VA there are
usually flyers advertising support groups or research studies for afflicted
patients. Because I am not an afflicted patient, my interest has never moved beyond
curiosity.
It turns out mesothelioma is a rare but aggressive cancer affecting the lining
of the lungs or abdomen. The cancer is caused primarily by asbestos exposure, and
because veterans who served between the WWII and Vietnam era were at risk for
increased exposure, more than one third
of all mesothelioma patients are veterans. Family members and colleagues of
those directly exposed have also been infected due to secondary exposure.
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| Mesothelioma.com |
The disease can lie dormant for decades, so many veterans are just
now being diagnosed. The VA is struggling to play catch-up and provide sufficient care.
More healthcare changes are on the horizon with the implementation
of the Affordable Healthcare Act. How do these changes impact veterans battling cancers like mesothelioma? Mesothelioma.com reports:
“The Veterans’ Administration says that if you are enrolled in the
veteran’s healthcare program; the Civilian Health and Medical program
(CHAMPVA); or the spina bifida health care program, you are square with the
ACA. The new law will not change your benefits or out-of-pocket costs.
Further, you don’t have to sign up or enroll in any other program.
Go ahead and use your benefits just as you have in the past. If you are
combining VA benefits with Medicare or other insurance, you can continue to do
that, too.
In fact, some VA hospitals and clinics are trying to get the word
out to all uninsured veterans — sign up for VA benefits! If you do, you won’t
have to pay a penalty for being uninsured, and you won’t have to deal with the
glitchy federal insurance website. If you think you might be eligible for VA
benefits, you can go to the VA Health Benefits Explorer page and find out for
sure.”
Read the full article: How Will the New Health Care Affect Cancer Treatment and Veterans
Read more about Veterans & Mesothelioma
See the VA Public Health Asbestos Exposure page for information on associated health problems and disability and health care eligibility.
