District residents register for federal benefits
While area Veterans Affairs personnel work to convince the VA to open an outpatient clinic in the Uniontown area, they also are trying to sign up veterans for benefits they could use at such a facility. Local veterans gathered Thursday at the Amvets Post 103 in Hopwood to register for VA federal benefits and to try to understand the system and the current status of a proposed clinic for the area.
During the workshop, sponsored by the Steel City Branch 253 of the Fleet Reserve Association, about 75 local veterans asked questions and heard from speakers about the benefits they and their spouses can claim.
“We are here to enroll veterans in the system so that the VA realizes that we need a clinic in Fayette County,” said Robert Hixson, Fayette County Veterans Affairs director. “I’m trying to make the veterans in Fayette County aware of all the benefits they qualify for.”
In most cases, the benefits would include some coverage for doctor visits and prescription drugs, but other benefits are administered on a case-by-case basis, Hixson said.
The VA is realigning its assets to help meet the changing needs of the veteran community, and Hixson said he is concerned that if area veterans don’t act, the VA may not recognize the overwhelming need for its services and benefits in the county.
According to the Fleet Reserve Association, more than 80 percent of the care provided through the VA is outpatient care, but decades ago, the system was focused primarily on inpatient care. The realignment also is causing funding to be cut in some cases and in others redistributed, Hixson said.
“We are trying to make sure they don’t forget us,” he said. “The squeaky wheel gets the oil. Right now there is a clinic in Greensburg and one in Washington, but that is still 45 minutes to an hour away.”
Hixson said about 3,400 local veterans are signed up to receive federal health-care benefits, but as many as 13,000 others have not applied for any benefits.
He said the disparity in the numbers in Fayette County exists because many area veterans are not willing to travel for their care, and some have been late for scheduled appointments and had to wait six months for the rescheduled one. Others simply are not sure what they are eligible for.
Hixson said that nearly all veterans could receive some type of benefits.
“There is some type of benefit that can fit for nearly every veteran’s status,” he said.
The guest speaker at the workshop, John Querio from the Southwestern Pennsylvania Veterans Center, agreed, saying that the veterans should sign up even if they are not having problems.
“Whether you want to use the VA or not, it is good to have your name on the books,” Querio said.
Milton Kronick, a World War II veteran who served on the battleship USS Massachusetts, said he too thought all veterans should be “on the books,” and for that reason he attended the event.
“I wanted to get registered for the system. I don’t have any major problems right now…and this is preparation for the future,” Kronick said. “I think all veterans should do it. It is like insurance: You don’t know when you are going to need it.”
The Steel City Branch Association will host another workshop Feb. 13 at the American Legion Post 51, Gallatin Avenue, Uniontown, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. All area veterans are invited to attend.