(Chelsea Update would like to thank Cathleen Simlar for the information in this story.)
On Monday, Oct. 3, Michigan veterans and military family members are invited to participate in a free virtual event hosted by AARP Michigan on how to apply and access healthcare benefits consistently underutilized by those who earned and deserve them.
Nationally, nearly 60% of all veterans are eligible for VA health care services, yet less than half use them, according to a RAND study. Of all veteran groups, the VA Center for Women Veterans reports that women veterans age 50-plus are the least likely to take advantage of earned benefits. This underutilization of benefits is reflected in Michigan where just 24% of the state’s 672,213 veterans take advantage VA healthcare center services, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
“It’s paramount, especially during these inflationary times, that the men and women who kept our country safe are rewarded with the services and benefits promised to them,” said AARP Michigan Director Paula Cunningham. “We cannot allow frustration with the application process and confusion about qualification requirements to derail veterans and military families from receiving their benefits. Through this event and our online tool and resources, we hope to remove those hurdles.
AARP will feature its Veterans and Military Families Health Benefits Navigator during the Oct. 3 event scheduled from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Topics will include the application process for different healthcare options and how to access specialty care programs and services for mental and emotional health, dental, hearing, vision, women’s health and family caregiver assistance. This event also features an overview of the AARP Ride@50+ program, including a special limited-time offer of free rides for veterans in Washtenaw County.
Registration for this virtual, free event is required. To register, visit https://events.aarp.org/vets103.
