Additional Benefits Available for Veterans under the PACT Act

Jason T. Strickland, chief communications officer for the VA Rocky Mountain Network, informs Colorado veterans that three new groups of veterans are now eligible for VA health care under Section 103 of the PACT Act. He states: “Veterans are now eligible if they were exposed to toxins or other hazards during military service, if they were assigned to certain duty stations in Southwest Asia or parts of Africa, and if they deployed in support of certain operations after 9/11.” He goes on to explain what this means is that “If you served in Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq, or Afghanistan [or] if you deployed to any combat zone after 9/11 [or] if you deployed in support of the global war on terror, you can enroll.”

Further, “even if you never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards while training or serving on active duty here at home — by working with chemicals, pesticides, lead, asbestos, certain paints, nuclear weapons, X-rays and more — you can enroll, too.” You can look into enrolling by visiting https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/ or call 800-698-2411. Strickland adds that even if you don’t think you need this care today, you might need it tomorrow or several years from now. (See more on the PACT Act benefits in our AgeWise Colorado article at https://agewisecolorado.org/blog/pact-act-gives-colorado-military-veterans-benefits-for-conditions-related-to-toxic-exposures/.)

Strickland reports on two other benefits available for Colorado veterans. These are:

• The VA Health and Benefits mobile app, which provides immediate access to your VA information. He calls it a must if you use VA health care or receive benefits — especially if you live in a remote or rural area. You can download the VA Health and Benefits app at the Apple App Store or through Google Play.
• The VA has a 24/7 clinical contact center that allows veterans to connect virtually with clinical and administrative experts. For instance, if you’re experiencing symptoms at, say, 2 a.m., a nurse can discuss your concerns and offer immediate recommendations on the best course of action. The contact center allows you to make, reschedule, or cancel appointments anytime. And the VA also offers pharmacy support for refills, renewals, tracking and other medication-related questions. Veterans in the Eastern Colorado Health Care System should call 303-399-8020. Veterans in the Western System should call 970-242-0731. Veterans in northern Colorado who receive their care from the Cheyenne VA Health Care System should call 307-778-7550.