AARP Launches Digital Tool to Help Idaho’s Veterans Access Health Care

Health Benefits Navigator will update in real-time with information on new benefits and changes to existing benefits

AARP has  launched an interactive, mobile friendly Veterans and Military Families Health Benefits Navigator to bring together valuable information and resources in real-time to help veterans, military families and their caregivers navigate their health care options.

The Navigator has been expanded to help veterans and their families understand and access new PACT Act benefits and the recently announced new life insurance program from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), VALife. The PACT Act, named after a decorated combat medic who died from a rare form of lung cancer, provides additional VA benefits and health services to more than 5 million veterans who were exposed to toxins during Vietnam, the Gulf War and post 9/11 eras. VALife, which is also expected to extend eligibility to millions of veterans, will begin processing applications beginning January 1, 2022.

“These new VA benefits will provide critical health care services to millions of veterans,” said AARP Idaho state director Lupe Wissel. “AARP’s free Veterans Health Benefits Navigator tool can help make the often-challenging application process seamless for veterans and military families as they navigate the new programs to find best path for their health care needs.”

Frustration with the application process and confusion about qualification requirements keep many veterans from receiving their service-related benefits. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, of the 119,000 veterans living in Idaho, only 40% have utilized their earned VA health care benefits. AARP provides Idaho’s veterans with critical information about what is required to qualify for health care benefits from VA, the Department of Defense (DOD) and even Medicare.

Upcoming health care enrollment deadlines:

• Tricare: Dec. 13, 2022
• Affordable Care Act: Jan. 15, 2023, is the last day to enroll in or change a 2023 health plan.
•  PACT Act-related health care or benefits: Rolling enrollment; VA will begin to process PACT Act-related benefits in January 2023.

AARP’s Veterans and Military Families Health Benefits Navigator is available at www.AARP.org/VetsHealthNavigator. For more information and other resources for veterans, visit www.aarp.org/veterans.