Veterans Archives - DR News - News, Retirement, Finance

Veterans Fight for Expanded Fertility Benefits After Military Service

Birmingham, Alabama – After serving as a pilot in the Marine Corps for 11 years, Jacquelyne Nichols transitioned to the reserves to focus on starting a family. However, upon returning home from deployment in Qatar in 2018, Nichols encountered challenges in conceiving with her husband, who also served in the Marines. This led her on a prolonged journey to pursue fertility treatments. Despite qualifying for in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments with Department of Veterans Affairs …

Veterans’ Health Crisis: Dialysis Duopoly Endangers Lives and Fails Patients

Washington, D.C. – The federal government’s contracting system has long faced scrutiny for rewarding bad behavior from private companies with public funds, often resulting in costly consequences and little oversight. This dysfunctional pattern is particularly evident in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), where privatization schemes have led to inadequate access to care for veterans. Within the VA, privatization extends to various services, including the IT network and mental health treatment. These privatization efforts not …

Benefits Available for Veterans and Families to Cover Rising Cost of Living

Denver, Colorado – As the cost of living continues to rise, it is crucial for marginalized and at-risk communities to be aware of the benefits available to them. One group that can greatly benefit from existing programs is veterans and their families. For those who have served in the United States Armed Services, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers funding for various programs aimed at improving the quality of life and care for aging …

Veterans Affairs Expands IVF Coverage for Single and Same-Sex Veterans, Secretary McDonough Affirms

Washington, D.C. – The Department of Veterans Affairs is set to offer in vitro fertilization services to single veterans and those in same-sex marriages, a move that follows criticism regarding the lack of reproductive benefits for certain veterans. This decision comes after legal challenges in New York and Boston last year highlighted the exclusion of LGBTQ+ military members from certain VA policies, including IVF care. VA Secretary Denis McDonough emphasized that expanding reproductive care has …

Veterans Struggle for Healthcare Access as St. Bernards Ends UHC Relationship

POCAHONTAS, Ark. – Military veterans in Pocahontas are facing uncertainty after a business relationship between St. Bernards and United Healthcare came to an end. One veteran, Bill Carroll, found himself caught in the middle when St. Bernards decided to cease negotiations with UHC, causing him to be unable to undergo a heart procedure he had been awaiting for months. As a U.S. Army Veteran, Carroll had been relying on his VA health insurance, which was …

Veterans Affairs Budget Boosted by $24 Billion: Congress Votes on Funding for Health Care & Benefits

Washington, D.C. – Congress prepares to vote this week on a proposed fiscal 2024 budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs, which includes a significant increase of $24 billion for veterans’ healthcare and other benefits. This legislation, totaling $346.7 billion, also covers funding for military construction projects until the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30. The negotiation process leading to this bipartisan bill follows a series of short-term funding measures that have brought …