The Department of Veterans Affairs reported that it had beaten its 2022 goal of housing 38,000 homeless Veterans by 2,400.
In a recent post on LinkedIn, VA’s Under Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal congratulated Executive Director of VA’s Homeless Programs Office Monica Diaz alongside other VA representatives working to combat Veteran homelessness:
Some analysts and officials have attributed this success to HUD-VASH, a collaborative housing program between VA and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Under HUD-VASH, eligible veterans may receive a voucher that can be used to pay a portion of their monthly rent. This is indicative of the broader shift toward a philosophy of “housing-first,” along with increased funding and case management, when addressing homelessness.
Many are hopeful that these numbers from last year mark a decisive turning point in Veteran homelessness. Despite an approximate 50% reduction in the overall number of homeless Veterans since 2009, there are still an estimated 40,056 unhoused Veterans on any given night according to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. Furthermore, over 80,000 Veterans will experience homelessness over the course of a year. While only about 7% of the U.S. population are Veterans, they account for nearly 13% of the population of homeless adults.
These worrying statistics demonstrate that, despite the promising results of last year’s efforts, there is still much work to be done. However, VA and other service organizations have shown no signs of relenting. VA officials have affirmed as much, with Ms. Diaz quoted as saying, “If there is even one [homeless Veteran], I say we need to do more.”
In keeping with the work being done to combat Veteran homelessness alongside our efforts to support Veterans and their families in every chapter of their lives, TeamVetCV has added a section dedicated to housing in the Resource Library. There, we have assembled tools, tips, and trusted resources for those in need of permanent housing, renters, home buyers, and anything Veterans and their families may need involving housing.
TeamVetCV and Our Patriot Teaming Partners Wish You and Your Family a Safe and Happy Holiday Season
As 2022 comes to a close, take the time to appreciate the people closest to you. It’s easy to forget the little things when you’re busy getting things done. The holiday season is the perfect time to step back and take stock of what’s most important.
This year, VetCV will take part in Wreaths Across America Day at Barrancas National Cemetery in our hometown of Pensacola, FL. Wreaths Across America coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery along with over 3,400 other locations across the U.S. and abroad in cooperation with local organizations. The ceremony at Barrancas will be organized by the Marine Corps League, Cpl JR Spears Detachment. TeamVetCV encourages everyone to participate in Wreaths Across America Day on December 17th with an organization near you.
It’s common knowledge that periods of transition can be the most stressful and difficult times in a person’s life. Any major change in direction or focus can leave you vulnerable to unexpected circumstances. Veterans understand this more than anybody, having made the transition from military service to civilian life. One major problem associated with changing your career path or even being unemployed, is the possibility of being without health coverage. Additionally, having limited income sources to cover medical bills only adds to the problem. It’s clear that any major life change requires planning and preparation.
Luckily, there are ways to mitigate your medical and financial risks as you look for a new job, are uninsured or underinsured, or don’t qualify for VA healthcare benefits that are both accessible and affordable to you and your family. One such resource that is becoming increasingly popular is telehealth and remote healthcare subscription services. While these services are not a replacement for health insurance, they offer convenient and inexpensive access to healthcare whenever and wherever you need it.
Don’t Qualify for VA Healthcare Benefits? Don’t Worry, You’re Not Alone.
Did you know that about 40% of U.S. Veterans do not qualify for VA healthcare?1 Or that about 30% of Veterans with service-connected disabilities do not qualify for healthcare benefits through Tricare?2 This leaves many veterans reliant on their employers or spending more on high deductible health plans for coverage—or forgoing health insurance entirely.
Is It Possible to Survive Without Health Insurance?
In short, yes; at least until you get really sick or injured requiring in-person care or hospitalization. Though going without traditional healthcare coverage is definitely not a good idea, there are many resources to help mitigate the risks while being uninsured. There are, of course, medical emergencies and major medical events with high costs that can only be lowered by having traditional health insurance coverage. For this reason, we strongly suggest you find at least catastrophic or high co-pay and high deductible coverage if your situation allows. If that is your scenario, low-cost telehealth services may be a sensible option, most notably because maintaining regular doctor appointments and preventative care will improve your overall health and thus reduce the likelihood of more expensive medical problems in the long run.
Telehealth and remote healthcare programs can offer those without health insurance or those with high deductible and high co-pay catastrophic coverage an inexpensive way to manage their healthcare and mitigate many routine or unexpected medical costs. By making healthcare more convenient and accessible, as well as providing a way for doctors and patients to streamline appointments that don’t necessarily need to be in person, remote healthcare/telehealth helps bring medical costs down for everyone.
How Remote Healthcare Keeps You Covered When and Where You Need It Most
In recent years, both employers and employees have come to realize that if there’s work that can be done from home, then it should be. It saves everyone time and money, along with many other benefits. Similarly, telehealth and remote healthcare works to bring down overall healthcare costs by tailoring the right level of care to each individual situation.
Imagine you or a family member are having a minor medical issue. Often it becomes a choice between waiting several days or weeks for a doctor’s appointment or going to the nearest urgent care center or emergency room. Urgent care centers are generally a quicker option than even emergency room visits but will still require a considerable wait time and often a long drive to get there. All three choices are likely to be expensive, with or without insurance.
Of course, for genuine emergencies, going to the emergency room should be your first and only option. Remember, every Emergency Department in every hospital in America must see you, irrespective of your ability to pay. However, there are situations where ER visits are not necessary and do not result in any treatment that couldn’t have been performed by a scheduled appointment. According to a study conducted by the National Institute of Health, a little over 10% of emergency room visits are classified as non-urgent.3 Another systemic review published in The American Journal of Emergency Medicine found a median of 32% were categorized as non-urgent.4 Ultimately, the decision to go to the emergency room will depend upon your best judgement. The point is to determine the right level of care with the right level of urgency based on the specific medical issue.
Remember, your goal is to be seen, get treatment, and get your prescriptions with minimal stress.
When confronted with the choice between the ER, an urgent care center, or scheduling a doctor’s appointment weeks or months out, there’s only one decision that is always wrong: avoiding being seen entirely. After weighing their options, many people will opt to simply ignore the issue until it either gets better or becomes too difficult or severe to avoid treatment. This is not an ideal solution, for obvious reasons.
If you are not having a medical emergency, then why burn your time and gas along with the high cost of a medical bill or copay, when you could get the same services from your smart phone, all without leaving your home? With remote urgent care, a qualified medical provider can see you on your time. No time wasted; no money spent—and no reason not to seek medical care.
What to Look for When Selecting a Remote Healthcare Solution
If you decide to go with a remote healthcare service, you need to make sure they offer more than just urgent care, though. You should be able to manage your health in nearly the same way you would with a traditional primary care physician—just over the phone or through video chat. You should also determine if they offer prescriptions, check-ups, diagnostics, and preventative care. It’s also worth your time to check for any additional features included in a plan you’re researching—many services include surprising discounts and promotions that you may not have previously considered.
Of course, certain procedures cannot be performed remotely. This shouldn’t be an issue though, as long as you’ve planned properly and done your research. Many remote healthcare programs will offer discounts for these services, so it’s worth it to check what each program includes when comparing the different plans and service providers. However, focusing on the things that can’t be done remotely is losing sight of your objective. Keep in mind, the point is to take care of the appointments that can be done remotely. For most of us, this includes the majority of our standard appointments. As long as a remote healthcare program allows you get these appointments taken care of as part of your plan—ideally at no additional cost and without sitting in a waiting room for endless hours—then you stand to manage your health while saving time and money—even without insurance or as a supplement to it. Remember, your goal is to be seen, get treatment, and get your prescriptions with minimal stress.
So, Here Is What We’ve Done to Help Solve This Problem:
Thanks to advances in communication and information technologies, subscription-based remote healthcare has rapidly become a viable option for anyone who finds themselves uninsured that not many people are aware of. Finding these kinds of resources and making them available to Veterans and their families is core to TeamVetCV’s mission. Therefore, we’ve partnered with Health Karma to create VetCV Remote Healthcare Services as a way to provide greater access to care to VetCV members at the best possible price we could do it for.
VetCV and Health Karma teams worked together to solve this problem
During TeamVetCV’s collaboration with Health Karma, we’ve taken into consideration the specific needs of Veterans and their families along with the advantages of remote healthcare to create what we think will be a life-changing resource for the many families who need it most. So, as you research and compare different healthcare solutions, consider what we’re offering and keep VetCV Remote Healthcare Services in mind.
Subscribers to VetCV Remote Healthcare Services have 24/7 access to healthcare for themselves, their family members, and even their pets—Yes, even your pets!—so they can focus on completing the next step in their lives with peace of mind. Thanks to the efficient and low-cost nature of remote care, VetCV Remote Healthcare Services plans are available for $29.50/month for individuals and $49.50/month for families (up to 7 household members). Each plan has access to all features and services, including:
Immediate Access → With VetCV Remote Healthcare Services, the average time to privately speak with an Urgent Care Provider is as little as 21 minutes. Speak with your personal Primary Care Provider in less than 24 hours, NOT weeks or months.
Healthcare Wherever You Are → It doesn’t matter if you’re in the city center or the middle of nowhere, manage your health at home using your smartphone, computer, or tablet. Get your appointments taken care of over the phone or through video chat.
$0 Copay & No Surprise Expenses → All appointments are included with your membership.
Affordability → VetCV Remote Healthcare Services’ unique membership model is an affordable way to ensure that you and your family have access to care.
Primary, Urgent, and In-The-Moment Mental Healthcare → 24/7/365 access to treatment whenever you or your family need it.
No Cost Care for Pets and Service Animals → 24/7/365 access to remote veterinary care at $0—all appointments are included with your membership.
Free & Discounted Medications → Get the 37 most common medications at $0. For the rest, you can get discount of 60% on average and in some cases, 80% or more.
Special Discounts → Get up to 50% off on dental, hearing, and even vision and eyewear.
Click Below to Learn How You Can Receive Special Pricing on a Subscription to VetCV Remote Healthcare Services.
1Farmer, Carrie M, et al. “Balancing Demand and Supply for Veterans’ Health Care: A Summary of Three RAND Assessments Conducted under the Veterans Choice Act.” RAND Health Quarterly, vol. 6, no. 1, 2016, https://doi.org/10.7249/rr1165.4.
2Erickson, W., Lee, C., von Schrader, S. (2022). Disability Statistics from the American Community Survey (ACS). Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Yang-Tan Institute (YTI). Retrieved from Cornell University Disability Statistics website: www.disabilitystatistics.org
4Durand AC, Gentile S, Devictor B, et al. “ED patients: how nonurgent are they? systematic review of the emergency medicine literature.” Am J Emerg Med. 2011;29:333–345.
We at VetCV thank you for trusting us to continue to do our part in supporting our Nation’s active military, Veterans, and their families.
If your organization is hiring – Post your Jobs on VetCV. Email or call us at teamvetcv@vetcv.com, 850.441.2008 – We’ll help get the word out!
VetCV users told us about their frustrations around healthcare. You have enough to deal with. You shouldn’t have to worry about the time, distance, and availability of healthcare when you just need to see a doctor.
That’s why we’re proud to partner with Health Karma to work on these issues and bring this solution to you. Together, we have been working hard to help build out their platform to specifically cater to Veterans, Active Duty Military, and their Families.
VetCV users can look forward to special pricing for Health Karma’s individual and family plans. Members will have access to benefits, discounts, and virtual services including:
Affordable virtual care for you and your family.
Up to 80% discounts on most prescription medications. New Updated Formulary of 37+ free medications included in your plan being released soon!
Convenient & accessible virtual primary care appointments with urgent care available 24/7.
$0 co-pay & $0 deductible for all services.
In-the-moment behavioral & mental health services.
Unlimited access to consultations with licensed veterinarians for pets & service animals.
The American Economy Needs YOU to Get a Great Job at a Great Company
It’s no secret that some economic difficulties are likely ahead of us. Some might complain while others will be angry, butTeamVetCV will continue to tackle the issue head-on.We believe that you, the Veteran Community, are the American Workforce’s greatest resource.Every industry, company, and public service needs workers like you.
Employers Want to Hire Veterans, It’s as Simple as That
Part of what makes Veterans great employees is their drive for constant improvement and the ability to self-motivate. A natural aversion to complacency is an integral part of Military and Veteran culture.TeamVetCVknows this because we’re Veterans ourselves. Ask any employer and they’ll tell you that many of their best employees are Veterans—and that they’re looking to hire more. So if you’re looking for work or feel like your skills and potential are being underutilized, now is the time to explore new work opportunities.
Trained to Be Trainable
We encourage you to challenge yourself and be curious. Learn something new. Expand your horizons. AtVetCV, we work to educate employers on the benefits of hiring Veterans and they’ve listened. Our mantra has always been thatVeterans are trained to be trainable.Employers know this,so there’s no such thing as ‘not enough experience,’ and it’s never too late to start something new.
There’s Work to Be Done. You Are the Best and Brightest America Has to Offer. Can We Count on You to Get Us Back on Track?
As a Veteran or Transitioning Service Member, You are in the Best Position to Take Advantage Of the High Workforce Demand
We atTeamVetCVwant to emphasize how much employers want to hire Veterans and how often they seek them out. That’s why we’re excited to tell you aboutContinue the Mission, a Florida initiative to actively recruit Veterans, military spouses, and former law enforcement officers to be Child Protective Investigators, case managers, and Mentors for the Florida Department of Children and Families. This partnership between the Department of Children and Families, The Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, and Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis will provide lucrative and flexible career opportunities to Veterans and former LEOs while allowing them to further serve their community and the public good by supporting families and children in need.
Military spouse Angela Nandin speaking during the launch event
At the request of Florida State Rep. Michelle Salzman,VetCVCEO Niels Andersen was in attendance at the program’s launch event. “It’s an excellent opportunity,” Andersen said. “When I was a Navy corpsman, a lot of the toughest guys I knew had a huge soft spot for kids, especially kids needing help. Many Veterans struggle after separating, some of which feel that they’re lacking a purpose or direction. Sometimes, the best thing for someone struggling is to provide them with an opportunity to help someone else.Continue the Missionis a win for Florida’s children and families, but it’s also a huge win for Veteran employment and mental health.”
Casey DeSantis chose Eglin AFB to announce Continue the Mission
Continue to Missionis a great opportunity for members of theVetCVcommunity looking for career opportunities and who want to do good things in their community. To learn more about the program, click below and keep an eye out for our updates.
The Veteran Community and The Nation have lost a true hero, marking a grim milestone as the last WWII Medal of Honor recipient passes away.
A Statement from the Woody Williams Foundation reads:
Yesterday at 3:15 a.m., Hershel Woodrow Williams, affectionately known by many as Woody, went home to be with the Lord. Woody peacefully joined his beloved wife Ruby while surrounded by his family at the VA Medical Center, which bears his name.
Details about the funeral and memorial services will be shared as that information becomes available.
Woody’s family would like to express their sincere gratitude for all of the love and support. They would also like to share that Woody’s wish is that people continue to carry on his mission.
All correspondence and condolences may be sent to the Woody Williams Foundation via email at contact@woodywilliams.org or via mail at:
Woody Williams Foundation 12123 Shelbyville Rd. Suite 100 Louisville, KY 40243
Honor-Recognize-Serve,
-The Woody Williams Family and Foundation
His passing is personal toTeamVetCV and our hometown of Pensacola, FL. Back in 2020, Hershel Williams attended the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument dedication ceremony atVeterans Memorial Park Pensacola, of whichVetCVCEO Niels Andersen is a foundation board member. Members of theVeterans Memorial Park of Pensacola Foundation Boardand the Veteran Community of Northwest Florida are grateful to have met a warfighter with such a noble and generous spirit as Hershel “Woody” Williams.
Hershel “Woody” Williams at Veterans Memorial Park Pensacola in 2020
Williams joined the U.S. Marine Corps in May 1943 and was present at Guadalcanal, Guam, and Iwo Jima with 1st Battalion, 21st Marines, 3rd Mar Div. For his actions on the fourth day of the Battle of Iwo Jima, he received the Congressional Medal of Honor.
His Citation reads as follows:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Demolition Sergeant serving with the First Battalion, Twenty-First Marines, Third Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Island, 23 February 1945. Quick to volunteer his services when our tanks were maneuvering vainly to open a lane for the infantry through the network of reinforced concrete pillboxes, buried mines and black, volcanic sands, Corporal Williams daringly went forward alone to attempt the reduction of devastating machine-gun fire from the unyielding positions. Covered only by four riflemen, he fought desperately for four hours under terrific enemy small-arms fire and repeatedly returned to his own lines to prepare demolition charges and obtain serviced flame throwers, struggling back, frequently to the rear of hostile emplacements, to wipe out one position after another. On one occasion he daringly mounted a pillbox to insert the nozzle of his flame thrower through the air vent, kill the occupants and silence the gun; on another he grimly charged enemy riflemen who attempted to stop him with bayonets and destroyed them with a burst of flame from his weapon. His unyielding determination and extraordinary heroism in the face of ruthless enemy resistance were directly instrumental in neutralizing one of the most fanatically defended Japanese strong points encountered by his regiment and aided in enabling his company to reach its’ [sic] objective. Corporal Williams’ aggressive fighting spirit and valiant devotion to duty throughout this fiercely contested action sustain and enhance the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
/S/ HARRY S. TRUMAN
Williams, 98, was the last of the 473 American service members who received a Medal of Honor in WWII. Of combat and his service, Hershel told The Washington Post in 2020,
“It’s one of those things you put in the recess of your mind. You were fulfilling an obligation that you swore to do–to defend your country. Anytime you take a life, there’s always some aftermath to that if you’ve got any heart at all.”
We at VetCV thank you for trusting us to continue to do our part in supporting our Nation’s active military, Veterans, and their families.
If your organization is hiring – Post your Jobs on VetCV. Email or call us at teamvetcv@vetcv.com, 850.441.2008 – We’ll help get the word out!
TeamVetCV wishes a happy birthday to the United States Army
Today marks the 247th birthday of the U.S. Army.TeamVetCVis proud to support the U.S. Army, its veterans, and their families. We hope you can take the time to contact the friends you served with as you take pride in your service.
We at VetCV thank you for trusting us to continue to do our part in supporting our Nation’s active military, Veterans, and their families.
If your organization is hiring – Post your Jobs on VetCV. Email or call us at teamvetcv@vetcv.com, 850.441.2008 – We’ll help get the word out!
Memorial Day is a time set aside for remembrance of those we’ve lost in the service of our nation. Many of us will be thinking of friends or family members who are no longer with us, while others will reflect on the freedoms we enjoy thanks to those sacrifices. These themes of sacrifice and the rebirth of freedom are at the foundation of why we observe Memorial Day. It’s us holding up our end of the bargain–the sacred promise made by a nation and her citizenry to those who risk their lives in its defense. A promise that a grateful nation will provide for those who return and will honor and remember those who do not.
ThisMemorial Day,TeamVetCVhopes that no matter how you celebrate, whether through quiet reflection or by getting together with friends and family, you keep the people we’ve lost with you as you do so. We live in freedom because of them. Let us enjoy that life and freedom for them.
Respectfully,
TeamVetCV
We at VetCV thank you for trusting us to continue to do our part in supporting our Nation’s active military, Veterans, and their families.
If your organization is hiring – Post your Jobs on VetCV. Email or call us at teamvetcv@vetcv.com, 850.441.2008 – We’ll help get the word out!
