#Middlebury #Veterans #PACTAct
VETERANS POST
By Freddy Groves
A half-million claims have been filed under the PACT Act for exposure to toxins. So far, over $1 billion has been paid in benefits. And that’s just since last August, when the act was signed.
Three million veterans have had their new screenings since then, and nearly half of them had exposures. Since last August, 215,000 veterans have signed up for Department of Veterans Affairs health care, a big increase over the previous year. And this fiscal year alone (starting last October), the VA has paid out over $65 billion on compensation benefits.
With the PACT Act, any subsequent illnesses are presumptive, meaning that it’s assumed that your health condition is caused by exposure to toxins if you were in certain locations at certain times. The act adds over 20 new presumptives to the list.
The list of illnesses from exposure to toxins are serious: cancers of the brain, head, kidney, neck, pancreas and many more. Less serious are allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis and others. Of the five conditions most frequently claimed via the PACT Act, hypertensive vascular disease tops the list, with 80% of claims granted.
To read more about the PACT Act, go to the dashboard at www.accesstocare.va.gov/healthcare/pactact. Info is updated there every other Friday. A recent issue of the dashboard says that wrapping up PACT claims is taking an average of 156 days. At that time, 45.6% of claims were at over 125 days of being completed, and the approval rate was 80%. Be sure to scroll down the page, as there is a lot of info. Additionally, you can check va.gov/pact or call them at 800-MYVA411.
Note: The VA wants us to sign up for PACT benefits. If we do this before Aug. 10, 2023, the benefits will likely be backdated a year, to Aug. 10, 2022. Mark that date on your calendar and don’t let it slip by if you intend to file for PACT benefits. In fact, why don’t you get started now?
© 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.
