United States military personnel are devoted to serve and to protect the American people, however their quality of life after combat deployment still remains an area that is not greatly understood. In that case, this phase focuses on the social assessment of veterans’ quality of life in the United States. There are approximately 21,369,602 veterans in the U.S. of which 7.3 percent are females (U.S. Census Bureau, 2016). The age distribution for veterans in the U.S. varies in the sense that roughly 45% are 65 years or older, nearly 23% are 55 to 64 years, about 17% are 45 to 54 years, 16% are 30 to 44 years, and almost 7% are 18 to 29 years (U.S. Census Bureau, 2016). The U.S. Census Bureau (2016) also indicates that the period of service for
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For example, all combat veterans can receive no-fee VA care for 5 years following discharge from active duty (Reisinger et al., 2012; CDC, 2012). Approximately 29% of veterans use VA health care, about 18% have a service-connected disability rating and roughly 7% is uninsured (U.S. Census Bureau, 2016). Most veterans use multiple providers such as VA and Medicare due to the increase cost of health care (Hynes et al., 2007; NIH, n.d.). The dual use of multiple providers enhances access, flexibility, and choice in health care (Hynes et al., 2007). However, individual-level characteristics impact health care use among veterans such as gender, age, residence in an urban or rural area, distance from a VA facility, and whether or not the veterans are required to pay a copayment (Hynes et al., 2007; NIH, n.d.). Studies have shown that homeless veterans contribute largely to the increased demand for long-term care through the VA given their heightened susceptibility to chronic health problems and lack of housing (Kinosian et al., 2007). A similar study highlights that an increased use of VA care differs among VA patients who were younger, black, female, lived in a rural area, lived in a high poverty area, and lived close to a VA hospital (Hynes et al., 2007; NIH, n.d.). Since, Black veterans are more likely to use the VA for their health care, this means that policy initiatives aimed at reorganizing VA services may excessively affect black veterans (Hynes et al., 2007; NIH,
For example, all combat veterans can receive no-fee VA care for 5 years following discharge from active duty (Reisinger et al., 2012; CDC, 2012). Approximately 29% of veterans use VA health care, about 18% have a service-connected disability rating and roughly 7% is uninsured (U.S. Census Bureau, 2016). Most veterans use multiple providers such as VA and Medicare due to the increase cost of health care (Hynes et al., 2007; NIH, n.d.). The dual use of multiple providers enhances access, flexibility, and choice in health care (Hynes et al., 2007). However, individual-level characteristics impact health care use among veterans such as gender, age, residence in an urban or rural area, distance from a VA facility, and whether or not the veterans are required to pay a copayment (Hynes et al., 2007; NIH, n.d.). Studies have shown that homeless veterans contribute largely to the increased demand for long-term care through the VA given their heightened susceptibility to chronic health problems and lack of housing (Kinosian et al., 2007). A similar study highlights that an increased use of VA care differs among VA patients who were younger, black, female, lived in a rural area, lived in a high poverty area, and lived close to a VA hospital (Hynes et al., 2007; NIH, n.d.). Since, Black veterans are more likely to use the VA for their health care, this means that policy initiatives aimed at reorganizing VA services may excessively affect black veterans (Hynes et al., 2007; NIH,