AARP has expanded its 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 expanded tool is now equipped to help families comprehend and access the VA’s latest benefits: including the PACT Act, along with the new life insurance program from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), VALife. 

The PACT Act, signed into law by Pres. Joe Biden on Aug. 10, provides additional VA benefits and health services to more than five million veterans who were exposed to toxins during Vietnam, the Gulf War and post 9/11 eras.

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 nearly 193,000 veterans living in Kansas, only 34% have utilized their earned VA health care benefits. 

AARP provides Kansas veterans with critical information about what is required to qualify for health care benefits from VA, and even Medicare, and helps them find their way through the maze of health care benefits.  

“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 the best path for their health care needs.” said Glenda DuBoise, AARP Kansas State Director.

AARP’s Veterans and Military Families Health Benefits Navigator can be found at www.AARP.org/VetsHealthNavigator.

Upcoming health care enrollment deadlines:

  • 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: As of Dec. 12 the VA has been processing PACT Act claims for terminally ill veterans.  They will not begin processing other claims until Jan. 1, 2023.  Priority of processing claims will continue to go to the terminally ill veterans and to claims by veterans with: cancer, experiencing homelessness, older than 85 years old, experiencing financial hardship and Medal of Honor and Purple Heart recipients.  Claims that cannot be granted immediately will be held for further evaluation after publication of sub-regulatory guidance implementing the PACT Act.

For more information and resources for veterans, visit www.aarp.org/veterans.