Underserved veterans can have difficulty accessing comprehensive, high-quality care, leading to health disparities among these communities.
More than four million veterans live in rural areas, and access to VA facilities, preventive care and emergency services is harder to access for many of these veterans. This is troubling, because more than half are over age 65, and rural veterans are more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and heart conditions.
Additionally, there are an estimated 160,000 Indigenous American Indian, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native veterans in the United States. They experience higher suicide rates than White veterans, caused by factors like cultural stigmas, substance use, social isolation, poverty, and limited access to health care and employment opportunities.
The VA is working to bring broadband access to more rural and tribal veterans, in order to allow telehealth access. But legislation is needed to increase outreach and assistance to underserved communities. Addressing their unique challenges requires a tailored and multi-faceted approach, including policy reforms, increased funding for community-based, veteran-specific programs, and stronger support networks.
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