Wednesday, November 11, 2020
Texas Medicaid Serves Texas Veterans
By: Jamie Dudensing
Today on Veteran’s Day, we honor all those who served our country. We celebrate and honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love for our country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.
Veteran’s Day also reminds us of how important it is to give back to these amazing Americans and be there for them when they need us most. Medicaid is a critical source of comprehensive health coverage for veterans, including over 50,000 Texas veterans. In the United States, nearly 1 in 10 veterans have Medicaid coverage, and of those, 40% get their coverage only through Medicaid. Veterans with Medicaid coverage often have complex health needs: 42% have two or more chronic health conditions, 54% have a disability, 11% have a severe mental illness, and 12% have a substance use disorder. Today reminds us about the value of comprehensive coverage and the peace of mind it brings thousands of Texas veterans who need it most. Veterans with Medicaid are more likely to have a usual source of care and have seen a doctor than those without coverage.
One of these Veterans, Verta Daniels served our country in the U.S. Army for six years. Now, Texas Medicaid serves her and 50,000 other Texas veterans by helping them stay healthy and active while living independently in their homes and communities. Texas Medicaid provides veterans with much needed care and support, which often includes long-term care services not covered by Veterans Affairs (VA). These vital services allow Texas veterans to receive reliable, long-term care and coordination that would simply be out of reach and too expensive without Medicaid.
Verta suffers from multiple, complex conditions that affect her mobility. Although she lives with her sister and receives help and support from her family and the VA, Verta was having a difficult time living independently at home, getting around her community, and making it to her appointments at the VA, where she also receives care.
That’s when Texas Medicaid stepped in to connect Verta with the personalized care and support she needed to remain at home with her family and stay active in her community. Hear the story of how Texas Medicaid provides caring support for Texas Veterans and their families when they need it most.