Asbestos-related diseases are estimated to kill at least 15,000 Americans per year. An alarming number, especially when considering how many military veterans are diagnosed with mesothelioma per year.
Why Is Diagnosis Prevalent In The Military?
Approximately 30 percent of Americans seeking treatment for mesothelioma were first exposed to asbestos while they were in the military. Until the late 70's military construction used this cancer causing material in building products for its heat and fire resistant properties.
The military previously used asbestos in the following buildings and means of transportation:
• Aircraft
• Automobiles
• Building materials
• Housing
• Ships
• Tanks
Unfortunately, each branch (Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, National Guard, and Navy) used materials containing asbestos. While veterans have access to the Veterans Administration (VA) the organization continues to have problems despite recent improvements.
Continued Problems Within The VA
In April 2016, Concerned Veterans for America spokesperson, John Cooper made the following remarks:
"The VA is still struggling with a lack of accountability, an inability to properly manage a budget rapidly approaching $200 billion, and a failure to provide veterans with timely access to care and benefits. The VA is broken, and if we want veterans to be assured of a VA that works, we need to systemically reform it."
In October 2016, two years after initial scandals concerning the VA broke it was found that approximately 38,000 veterans had been waiting over 125 days for an appointment. That number was around 3,000 more found during reporting in 2014.
A watchdog report chronicling the actions of the VA in Phoenix stated the following after a 58-year-old veteran died after complaining about chest pain:
"Timely testing may have indicated that the patient had significant disease and could have prompted further definitive testing and interventions that could have forestalled his death."
The veteran never had an appointment made and unfortunately, he was found a month later died due to advanced heart disease. These concerns are relevant due to veterans needing treatment due to asbestos exposure complications.
The VA website cautions against those canceling their enrollment in favor of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) stating:
If you choose to cancel your VA health care enrollment, you may reapply for enrollment at any time; however, acceptance for future VA health care enrollment will be based on eligibility factors at the time of application, which may result in a denial of enrollment.
What Does The Future Hold For Veterans
The option to enroll in the ACA may not be present for much longer. Newly elected President Trump and the Republican-controlled congress want to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which could cause a possible conundrum for veterans.
With the VA continuing to have issues, if the ACA is repealed and states put in a program that has minimal coverage, it may be impossible for veterans to receive their needed treatment.
The proposed Patient Freedom Act would not guarantee protections for veterans or other patients living in states that could decide to scrap the Affordable Care Act. Depending on upcoming actions by congress, thousands of veterans could be left without the healthcare they need.
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