VA expands health care to former service members with other-than-honorable discharges

The Department of Veterans Affairs is expanding its coverage starting in July, impacting hundreds of thousands of veterans.

Action News Jax first told you about the VA’s intention to expand its coverage. Now that change is happening and it will impact local veterans currently without benefits. They will now be able to receive some emergency mental health care.

The VA change applies to veterans with other-than-honorable discharges, of which there are an estimated more than 500,000 across the country.

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Normally, they don’t receive VA benefits, but starting July 5th they’ll be able to get emergency mental health care with the potential for more benefits as well.

“They pretty much set you free and you’re on your own,” Navy veteran Randy Wolffis said.

Wolffis is talking about the struggle many veterans face when they’re discharged other-than-honorable.

“They don’t get any benefits, any help at all,” Wolffis said.

But that’s now starting to change. VA Secretary Shulkin has announced starting in July, veterans with OTH discharges can go to VA medical centers and get emergency mental health care.

“I think it’s overdue,” Ret. Col. Len Loving said.

Loving is the CEO of the Five STAR Veterans Center, which has spent years helping veterans.

“Finally, the recognition that there are some veterans that got an other-than-honorable discharge only because of the post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury that was not diagnosed while they were on active duty,” Loving said.

Veterans like Vinnie Hernandez. In March Action News Jax sat down with Hernandez, who received an OTH discharge but was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury as a result of being involved in an IED blast.

“My story is not unique. It’s painful but it’s not unique,” Hernandez said.

A story that Loving and other veterans hope will become less common as the VA continues to make changes.

"This is a good step. This is the first step and I think if we see this progress in a positive way, maybe more can be pushed," Wolffis said.

Along with the emergency care, the VA will also work to see if the veteran’s mental health condition is a result of a service-related injury, which would make the veteran eligible for ongoing coverage.

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Loving said the push to help veterans with other-than-honorable discharges is long overdue, but still he has questions.

“I think the cost will definitely be the factor but I think that can be taken of. I think the question will be is the VA staffed well enough to handle the increase,” Loving said.

“Hopefully this will take, we can see this actually work but only time will tell,” Wolffis said.

The VA said that veterans in crisis should call the Veterans Crisis Line at 800-273-8255 (press 1) or text 838255. For more information on the expansion in coverage, visit the VA's website.

Cox Media Group