Thanks to recent federal legislation, all military veterans who were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving, either in the U.S. or abroad, are now eligible for health care through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). But of the more than 13,000 veterans in Whatcom County, around 70% aren’t receiving the benefits owed to them.
“It still surprises me how many people are out there in our community that are unaware of these benefits that are there for them,” said Brent Waggoner, the VA veteran outreach coordinator at the Bellingham Veteran Center.
The PACT Act, adopted in 2022, expanded health care and disability benefits for military toxic exposure issues. It’s the largest piece of VA legislation in modern history. The law laid out an eight-year roll-out, but in March 2024, health care enrollment was enacted earlier than originally planned.
“I cannot stress how huge it is,” said Liz Witowski, a veterans specialist with Whatcom County Health & Community Services, about the PACT Act and the early expansion. “I’m trying to think of the word to use. Enormous, historical. It’s just so incredibly big. And I’m afraid folks are missing it.”
In addition to the dangers of exposure to warfare agents such as Agent Orange and nuclear radiation, the PACT Act recognizes the long term health impacts of air pollutants and chemicals that veterans were exposed to during service, abroad and at home, in recent decades.
On military sites in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan, service members lived and worked next to huge burn pits, where everything from plastic trash and rubber to human feces and medical waste was burned with jet fuel or diesel fuel. Veterans who breathed the fumes coming off burn pits, as well as microplastics and fine airborne dust, have since experienced a range of respiratory illnesses.
Witowski wants every veteran in Whatcom County to participate in a toxic exposure screening, which is a quick interview to determine eligibility for health care enrollment.
“Even if you never went to Vietnam or the Persian Gulf, and you don’t have an illness, when you call the VA to enroll and say ‘I was exposed to jet fuel on the flight deck’ or ‘I was exposed to PFAS [forever chemicals] when I was on the USS Enterprise,’ you are now eligible for health care,” Witowski explained.
Chris Diaz, the veterans service specialist in Skagit County, is in the same boat, working to get information out about the PACT Act to the more than 10,000 veterans of Skagit County.
“Luckily we have the Mount Vernon VA Clinic located here in the county and that gives our veterans a close option to get more information face to face as well,” Diaz said in an email.
The Skagit County Commissioners will host a work session with Public Health and community partners on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 3 p.m. to provide updates about veteran services. The public meeting will be held at 1800 Continental Place, Mount Vernon, and televised on TV21.
Not only is VA health care available to more veterans than ever, it’s free and covers a wide range of medical services like physical therapy, acupuncture and dietary health in addition to general care.
Witowski knows many older veterans who were previously denied coverage by the VA because their income was too high, and young university students unaware that their Coast Guard duty qualifies them for health care. The PACT Act removed income limits for all veterans who were exposed to toxins and meet the basic service and discharge requirements.
“I really want to reach those folks who either had a bad taste in their mouth from the VA or have never engaged with the VA to make sure they know, today, in 2024: you have health care coverage,” Witowski said.
Waggoner said he gets calls every week from the family members of older veterans who are experiencing health issues but aren’t enrolled for health care or benefits. To enroll, a veteran must provide his or her discharge papers, which can delay the process. That’s why he emphasizes that veterans and their loved ones should “get in the system” as soon as possible, before a medical emergency arises.
The specialists who work with veterans in Whatcom and Skagit counties are veterans themselves, which Witowski believes helps them communicate with people who have served.
“We understand the military language, we understand the military culture,” Waggoner agreed.
For a full rundown of the expanded PACT Act coverage visit va.gov or stop by the Bellingham Vet Center at 3800 Byron Avenue, Suite 124 in Bellingham or the Mount Vernon VA Clinic at 307 S 13th St #300 in Mount Vernon.
Julia Tellman writes about civic issues and anything else that happens to cross her desk; contact her at juliatellman@cascadiadaily.com.
