Various forces outside the military service affect the veterans need for mental health services, hence making the requirement the newest challenge veterans have ever encountered. For diverse reasons, in addition to mental health challenges, veterans are facing the threat of instability in their homes, increased homelessness rates, and joblessness. Over 500,000 veterans within the U.S. find themselves without a home at certain instances. In any given night, around 300,000 veterans live in shelters or streets. In the case of veterans, they chances of being chronically homelessness around double. By contrast, whereas lacking education and lacking skills that can transfer from military to life of civilians serve as among the major forces behind the problems, mental and health issues together with absence of care serve as forces as well. In the case of veterans, their mental illness rates are disproportionate, particularly PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder), depression, substance abuse issues, military sexual trauma, as well as anxiety. Over half of veterans in leaving combat stipulate that they have experienced PTSD whereas around 40 percent stipulate they experience issues with abuse of alcohol. Others are involved in cases of suicide daily. Furthermore, studies reveal that between 56 and 87 percent of veterans suffering psychological stress after leaving the military lack psychological assistance. They face certain challenges when trying to access care. They are required to have a general or honorable discharge. Also, they are forced to wait for long time before receiving care because of lack of sufficient care providers in lie with poor practices related to scheduling. Furthermore, they witness social barriers related to seeking care, as it is the case with the culture of the military. These serve as the forces contributing to the growing need for care among veterans (APHA, 2014) .
In determining eligibility for services, veterans are evaluated by following certain processes. For instance, in case veterans served in active naval, military, or air services but discharged via other means rather than dishonorable, they are considered as qualifying for veteran’s affairs benefits. The present and prior members of the National Guard and Reserves required to serve in active duty as opposed to training purposes only by federal demand in line with competing the entire period they were called to serve, they are also eligible for receiving health care. Most of the veterans today are required to have served for at least 24 continuing months or the entire period they were required to serve to ensure they are eligible. Here, the minimum duty need might not be applicable to veterans who were discharged because of the disability they incurred or aggravated while serving. They are considered as having been discharged because of hardship. Since several other requirements prevail, Veterans Affairs encourages the different veterans to apply to determine whether they are eligible (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2017) .
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On the cost of the services to the veterans receiving them, it is vital to note that a large number are eligible for cost-free care services that revolves around compensable condition related to service or other services regarded as qualifying. For certain veterans, they might be needed to pay copays to allow them receive treatment in case their conditions are not related to service. Whereas certain veterans are eligible to receive free care that pertains to particular eligibilities, most of them needed to complete a financial evaluation when enrolling. This assists in determining if they qualify for enrollment as well as free care. In case the gross household income of the veteran, such as dependents and spouse exceeds the income levels of Veterans Affairs, individuals might be needed to pay a copay to allow them receive care services. The outpatient copays comprise of specialty care services ($50) and primary care services ($15). Furthermore, private healthcare insurance contributes toward the cost. For instance, offering health insurance might minimize or eradicate copays. Veterans having health insurance might opt to utilize private insurance to complement Veterans Affairs’ (VA) benefits. The payments received from private insurance assist in covering expenses associated with copays among veterans. Private insurance does not affect VA healthcare eligibility (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs b, 2017) .
The available services are not sufficient for the population served. For individuals enrolled in the VA healthcare initiatives, they have been complaining for a long time that the treatment they receive is insufficient particularly because the facilities are not funded adequately. Certain veterans are required to travel long distances to allow them receive the care they need. Around 25 percent of veterans reside in areas that are over 60-minute drive away from a healthcare facility that can cater for their needs. Others are also required to wait for appointments for considerably long hours, especially in the case of Florida, which houses a huge number of elder veterans. Also, homes that offer nursing services to veterans lack sufficient staff, hence posing challenges when it comes to addressing the needs of the veterans adequately (The Center for Public Integrity, 2014) .
When it comes to improving the existing services, it is vital to note that the VA (Department of Veterans Affairs) operates one of the biggest system of delivering care in the country, although the facilities seem to be failing tremendously. In improving the existing resources, it is vital to ensure that VA providers are capable of coordinating care. It would also be vital to engage case continuity, management, and consistency in the case of providers, particularly the ones showing vital needs. It would also be vital to boost access to mental health care among veterans while at the same time communicating with veterans concerning the existing VA health programs and capacity. Furthermore, it would be crucial to customize communications and provide comprehensive approaches that veterans can access in line with informing them regarding their choice of healthcare as well as outcomes (Miller, 2016) .
References
APHA. (2014). Removing barriers to mental health services for Veterans. Retrieved from https://www.apha.org/policies-and-advocacy/public-health-policy-statements/policy-database/2015/01/28/14/51/removing-barriers-to-mental-health-services-for-veterans
Miller, K. C. (2016). Right to care: Recommendations to improve VA systems. Retrieved from https://www.swords-to-plowshares.org/2016/07/21/right-to-care/
The Center for Public Integrity. (2014). Poor health care for veterans. Retrieved from https://www.publicintegrity.org/2008/12/10/6333/poor-health-care-veterans
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2017). Basic eligibility for VA health care. Retrieved from https://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/resources/publications/hbco/hbco_basic_eligibility.asp
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs b. (2017). Health benefits. Retrieved from https://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/cost/
