Texas A&M Central Texas hosts veteran benefit expo amid fears of rising healthcare costs
KILLEEN, Texas (KWTX) - With some people worried about the cost of their healthcare going up soon, the Veterans Benefit Expo that took place at Texas A&M Central Texas is highlighting the importance of veterans taking advantage of the benefits they earned.
Anthony and Dioresa Martinez are both veterans who served in the Army and utilize VA benefits.
“We’re both utilizing the G.I. Bill,” said Anthony Martinez. “We’re also utilizing a VA home loan and healthcare. Yeah, thankfully we’re fortunate enough to have VA healthcare.”
They didn’t use these benefits until they had been out of the Army for a few years.
“The VA healthcare is really important,” said Martinez. “I wish I would have known about it because I paid for healthcare through my job, which was over $700 a month, and I had VA healthcare the entire time.”
That is why the Veterans Benefits Expo at A&M Central Texas is educating veterans about taking advantage of their benefits.
“So, that we can educate ourselves more on what we weren’t educated on when we were in service,” said Martinez.
They also take advantage of disability benefits.
Something the DAV says veterans have been concerned about lately and why they were a vendor at the expo.
“One of the big things we do hear is, they’re worried about the Government shutdown right now and how it’s affected disability,” said David Jaramillo, National Service Officer with the DAV. “Luckily the disability compensation is on a different funding.”
Other vendors like the Texas Veterans Commission say now more than ever, veterans need to apply for everything they can and events like this can help them do it.
“Talk to Texas Veterans Commission,” said Jamie Melendez, a Supervisor with Texas Veterans Commission’s Healthcare Advocacy Department. “Find one of our representatives. Whether it’s a claims representative, and appointment representative, healthcare, entrepreneur. We have 8 different programs. One of them is going to be able to assist you and direct you to the right spot.”
If you are a veteran, don’t wait to take advantage of your benefits.
Even if you have a Less Than Honorable Discharge, you could still qualify for things like disability.
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