When the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was created in 1930, its main purpose was to help veterans adjust to civilian life and provide them with benefits like healthcare and education. The VA also provides home loans, life insurance, and other programs to help veterans and their families. In recent years, the VA has come under fire for its handling of several issues, including the wait times for medical appointments and benefits claims.
The VA is the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States, with over 1,700 facilities and 9 million enrolled veterans. In 2014, the VA spent $50 billion on direct medical care and $6 billion on prescriptions. The majority of VA patients are over the age of 65 (78%), and most are men (91%).
The average wait time for a first appointment at a VA facility is 30 days, but some veterans have reported waiting months or even years for an appointment. The VA has been struggling to reduce its appointment wait times, which rose from 21 days in 2014 to 30 days in 2015. In 2016, the average VA appointment wait time was 26 days.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has come under fire in recent years for its handling of several issues, including the long wait times for medical appointments and benefits claims. The VA is the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States, with over 1,700 facilities and 9 million enrolled veterans. In 2014, the VA spent $50 billion on direct medical care and $6 billion on prescriptions. The majority of VA patients are over the age of 65 (78%), and most are men (91%).
The average wait time for a first appointment at a VA facility is 30 days, but some veterans have reported waiting months or even years for an appointment. The VA has been struggling to reduce its appointment wait times, which rose from 21 days in 2014 to 30 days in 2015. In 2016, the average VA appointment wait time was 26 days.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has come under fire in recent years for its handling of several issues, including the long wait times for medical appointments and benefits claims. The VA is the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States, with over 1
