AARP Idaho hosting veteran town hall

Nearly 60% of all veterans are eligible for VA health care services.

A RAND study, however, found that less than half of those veterans use VA health benefits. 

To help veterans access needed information and services, AARP Idaho will host a statewide telephone town hall Wednesday, June 21, with the Idaho Division of Veterans Services. The event begins at 11 a.m. local time.

Among those answering questions will be Bill Heyob, Bureau Chief and State Service Officer with the Office of Veterans Advocacy; and retired United States Air Force Command Chief Master Sergeant Tom Ressler, AARP Idaho Executive Council member.

Heyob and Ressler will discuss benefits veterans have earned, who qualifies, and how to access those earned benefits, including the recently passed Patient-Aligned Care Teams Act. The discussion will also include information regarding the Vietnam Veteran Healing Wall, scheduled to be in Meridian on June 29.

“Since its passage last summer, the PACT Act has provided new benefits and services to more than 5 million Vietnam, Gulf War and post 9/11 veterans,” said Lupe Wissel, AARP Idaho state director. “There are still so many questions about the new benefits and services and, unfortunately, it is also being used in scams targeting veterans who are now eligible for these benefits. This call will be a great resource about how to apply for benefits while staying protected against PACT Act scams.”

Participants can join the town hall toll-free at 1-866-767-0637; registering in advance, vekeo.com/aarpidaho; or streaming live, facebook.com/AARPIdaho.