Veterans commit themselves to protecting our nation and preserving our freedoms. Yet after their service, many face unfair obstacles when seeking the healthcare benefits they’ve earned. Limited access to VA facilities, long wait times for care, and a shortage of providers experienced in treating veterans all contribute to the challenges this system is meant to address.

According to a Mission Roll Call survey from August 2022, 86% of American adults believe that Congress has a responsibility to deliver high-quality, timely healthcare for veterans. As military service impacts every community across the country, it’s necessary we find practical solutions to ensure our nation’s former service members receive the care they deserve.

In this piece, we’ll take a closer look at:

• The healthcare benefits currently offered to veterans
• The barriers veterans often face in accessing care.
• The most pressing healthcare issues Congress and the VA should address
• Ways we can better support veterans in getting the medical attention they need

The healthcare benefits currently offered to veterans. 

Veterans enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may qualify for the Basic Medical Benefits Package, which covers a wide range of services, including preventive, primary, and specialty care, as well as diagnostic, inpatient, and outpatient treatments.

In addition to basic coverage, many veterans are eligible for specialized healthcare programs. These include general and specialized mental health services such as treatment for post-traumatic stress (PTS), substance use disorders, and military sexual trauma; available through outpatient and inpatient care.

Eligible veterans may also access outpatient dental services, which can include preventive care, diagnostics, surgeries, and restorative procedures.

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA), a division of the VA led by the Under Secretary for Health, is responsible for delivering healthcare to veterans. As the largest healthcare system in the United States, the VHA provides care to over 9.1 million enrolled veterans across 1,380 facilities, including 170 VA medical centers and 1,193 outpatient clinics.

Despite the breadth of services, many veterans, particularly those who are retiring or transitioning out of service, find the system confusing and difficult to navigate. The 9 million veterans currently enrolled in the VHA represent only about half of the total veteran population. As veterans experience higher rates of PTS due to the demands of military service, this leads to mental health challenges and quality of life. Furthermore, the RAND Center for Military Health Policy Research reports fewer than half of veterans who need mental health care receive it, and among those who do, less than one-third get evidence-based treatment. 

To address these systemic shortcomings, lawmakers must expand mental health services, improve access to providers in rural areas, reduce appointment wait times, and expand community-based care options.

The barriers veterans often face in accessing care.

When trying to access VA healthcare, some of the barriers veterans face are limited awareness of available benefits, navigating complex systems, inadequate mental health resources, long wait times, and poor access to VA facilities, especially in rural areas.

The VA reports 18 million veterans in the United States as of 2025. Yet just over 9 million are enrolled in the VA healthcare system. As nearly half of all veterans are not connected to VA services, one contributing factor is the difficulties of transitioning from military to civilian life. 

As veterans often face an overwhelming combination of tasks when transitioning to civilian life, the VA’s Transition Assistance Program (TAP) provides a comprehensive framework for supporting service members as they transition back into civilian life. However, many veterans have expressed that TAP doesn’t go far enough and a need for more targeted assistance in adapting to new work environments, finding affordable housing, and accessing both physical and mental healthcare.

These concerns are echoed in the Military Family Advisory Network’s 2023 report on family support services. In a survey of 10,149 military and veteran families, participants identified access to VA healthcare as one of their top concerns. Common issues included trouble booking appointments, delays in receiving care, negative experiences with providers, and dissatisfaction with the quality of services. Notably, the shortage of available appointments was a recurring and urgent concern, particularly in both general and mental health care.

The mental health crisis among veterans is especially alarming given that they are significantly more likely to die by suicide than nonveterans. According to America’s Warrior Partnership’s 2022 interim report, an estimated 40 to 44 former service members die each day from suicide or self-inflicted injuries.

While PTS and other mental health conditions are critical factors, they are only part of the picture. Research has identified additional contributors such as military culture, moral injury, and sexual trauma. Without adequate mental health support, many veterans in crisis may resort to harmful coping mechanisms, including self-harm.

Findings from the Wounded Warrior Project’s 2025 survey of post-9/11 wounded veterans highlight the severity of the issue:

76% reported experiencing symptoms of PTS

50% had moderate to severe symptoms of multiple mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety

28% had experienced suicidal thoughts within the past year

These statistics point to a clear and urgent need to expand and strengthen VA mental health services. In a February 2023 Mission Roll Call poll of 7,200 veterans, 94% said that former service members facing mental health challenges should be able to access care from the provider of their choice, even if they are outside the VA system.

Despite the need, many veterans still struggle to receive proper care. Other barriers to accessing timely and effective healthcare remain persistent. Long wait times, for example, have plagued the VA system for years. A 2014 audit revealed that more than 1,700 patients were placed on secret waitlists at the Phoenix VA, with some reportedly dying before being seen. Though reforms have been introduced since, an April 2022 audit by the VA Inspector General found ongoing issues with how wait times are reported, often masking the actual delays veterans face.

Part of the problem lies in how appointment wait times are calculated. Previously, wait time began from the “request date” provided by either the provider or the patient. But under the current Access to Care system, launched in 2017, wait times are measured from the “create date”, the day a scheduler books the appointment. 

For example, in one audit, a veteran referred to a cardiologist had their appointment scheduled a month later. Due to the way VA calculates wait times, the system recorded a 43-day wait instead of the actual 66-day delay.

Furthermore, geographic disparities further complicate access. Nearly 25% of U.S. service members return to rural areas after serving, and today, an estimated 2.7 million veterans live in these communities. According to a February 2023 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, VHA officials confirmed that rural veterans face distinct challenges due to staffing shortages and transportation difficulties.

The GAO also analyzed 2021 data and found that only 21% of rural veterans used VA outpatient services, compared to 79% of urban veterans, highlighting a stark imbalance in access to care.

The most pressing healthcare issues Congress and the VA should address

To honor the service of our veterans, Congress and the VA have introduced several bills in the first months of 2025 to better serve veterans and provide for post-traumatic growth.

• The MISSION Act, 
  • Originally enacted in 2018, the law was designed to improve access, transparency, and quality within the VA healthcare system. In 2025, Congress introduced an updated version of the MISSION Act that includes stronger oversight mechanisms, increased funding for mental health programs, and improved care coordination for veterans using both VA and non-VA providers. It also focuses resources on underserved rural areas and reinforcing recruitment efforts for medical professionals trained in veteran care.

• The passage of the Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act in early 2025 expanded home and community-based care opportunities for veterans, including provisions for caregiver wellness and support.  

• Veterans Mental Health Crisis Referral Enhancement Act
  • Introduced in February 2025, this bill would increase mental health care accessibility by launching a pilot program in which the VA must provide veterans experiencing mental health emergencies with referrals to approved non-VA mental health care providers.

• Building Resources and Access for Veterans’ Mental Health Engagement (BRAVE) Act
  • Introduced in April 2025, this bill looks to strengthen the mental health workforce, infrastructure, and services provided by the VA by taking actions such as extending the Fox Gordon Suicide Prevention Grant Program and improving veteran outreach efforts by vet centers.

• TBI and PTSD Treatment Act
  • Introduced in January 2025, this bill aims to provide hyperbaric oxygen therapy to veterans with TBI (traumatic brain injury) or PTSD through the Veterans Community Care Program.
• The VA expanded benefits eligibility to over 3.5 million veterans after the PACT Act was passed in August 2022. The VA also launched a mobile application called VA: Health and Benefits, meant to centralize veterans’ health and benefits information and streamline navigation of VA services.

These legislative efforts reflect a growing recognition that supporting veterans extends beyond meeting basic medical needs to also fostering long-term wellness and opportunities after service. As Congress and the VA continue to make progress, their continued focus must remain on removing barriers, expanding access, and prioritizing mental, emotional, and physical health to ensure every veteran has a path to healing and growth.

Ways we can better support veterans in getting the medical attention they need. 

If looking to support the veterans in your life, one of the most impactful things you can do is help them access accurate information about VA healthcare benefits and available providers. You can also advocate on a broader scale by contacting your congressional representatives via email, phone, or letter, urging them to prioritize access to veteran healthcare and reform.

Veterans represent a vital and honored segment of our nation. Their service and sacrifice have helped shape the freedoms we enjoy today, and in return, they deserve efficient, accessible healthcare and robust mental health support.

At Mission Roll Call (MRC), we are committed to expanding healthcare access for veterans nationwide. Through a bipartisan approach, we work to ensure that policymakers in Washington are actively considering the day-to-day realities veterans face.

We also strive to keep our community informed and connected to resources. MRC has partnered with organizations like America’s Warrior Partnership, Patriot Paws, Panhandle Warrior Partnership, Black Ops Rescue, Sierra Delta, Higher Ground, Camp Southern Ground, and Boulder Crest Foundation to expand support networks and access to care.

Through ongoing outreach, polling, and media engagement, MRC continues to advocate for meaningful solutions. By raising awareness and speaking out in our communities, we can help drive the changes our veterans deserve.