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VA New England Healthcare System

 

Veterans' Healthy Living, Fall 2015

Spouses of LGBT Veterans Now Eligible For VA Benefits

Following the Supreme Court decision earlier this year to permit same-sex couples to legally marry in all U.S. states and territories, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released a statement on June 29 that it would begin recognizing same-sex marriages of Veterans and extend marital benefits to their spouses.

The new policy lifted restrictions on Veterans’pensions and disability compensation, home loans, education assistance, and burial rights to name a few. For example, Veterans in same-sex marriages are now eligible as a couple to apply for a VA home loan. It also means the same-sex spouse of a Veteran can no longer be denied survivor benefits or the opportunity to be buried with a Veteran spouse in a national cemetery.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Veterans now may designate beneficiaries of their choosing, regardless of sexual orientation, for Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (SGLI), Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI), Post Vietnam-era Veterans Assistance Program (VEAP), and Post 9/11 GI Bill.

To have those benefits available now for same-sex spouses has made a world of difference for couples like the McLaughlins.

Massachusetts Army National Guard Maj. Shannon McLaughlin and her wife Casey were among the lead plaintiffs in the 2013 case that challenged treatment of gay and lesbian servicemembers and their families by the Department of Defense and VA. Their goal was to achieve equality for same-sex spouses like Casey, giving them the same military benefits and recognition as part of the family unit like opposite-sex spouses.

The McLaughlin Family
Maj. Shannon McLaughlin (at right) with wife Casey and their children, twins Grace and Grant and baby boy Gabriel. (Photo provided)

Maj. McLaughlin is a Navy Reserves Veteran who served during Operation Enduring Freedom and receives a modest yet meaningful VA disability. While her children—twins Grant and Grace—were able to benefit from her disability compensation, Casey was not because the VA didn’t recognize her as a dependent.

“There’s a reason these benefits exist,” Maj. McLaughlin said. She explained that for the LGBT Veteran who is 100% disabled and can’t work, his or her same-sex spouse needs that added disability compensation, health care benefit, or school stipend to better and/or support their family.

The Veterans Health Administration is committed to addressing the health needs and providing health care for LGBT Veterans and their families. This includes providing patient visitation rights for LGBT family members and respectful delivery of health care to transgender and intersex individuals.

Maj. McLaughlin said she was pleasantly surprised recently to walk into a Boston-area VA center and notice LGBT-inclusion pamphlets were readily available to aid Veterans and their spouses.

“We’ve come so far,” she said. LGBT Veterans now can openly talk to their VA doctors about their home life without fear, and their spouses, like Casey, can accompany them to appointments without reprisal.

The inclusion is the main reason why Maj. McLaughlin agreed to stand in the gap for other LGBT Veterans on the lawsuit—the intangible VA benefits of recognition and respect. “A ton of people have come up to me and told how they felt like they were part of the community for the first time, part of the VA family,” she said.

For more information about spousal eligibility of VA benefits, go to http://www.va.gov/opa/marriage/ or call (800) 827-1000.

To file a claim for VA benefits, Veterans can contact the VA directly or stop by a local, state, or regional Veteran service organization such as American Legion, American Veterans (AMVETS), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), or Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA).

Two wedding rings

VA Boston Meets Leadership Status for LGBT Patient Care in 2015-2016

VA Boston Healthcare System has met all of the Core Four Criteria and has achieved 2015 and 2016 Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equality Index status! The Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) asks healthcare organizations whether they meet four foundational criteria for LGBT patient-centered care known as the “Core Four.”

The annual HEI report indicates, for each rated organization, which of the Core Four criteria were met. Organizations that meet all Core Four criteria are awarded the status of “Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equality.” The HEI also provides healthcare organizations with a unique opportunity to assess themselves against 30+ additional best practices in LGBT care. Responses to these questions are returned to the participants in a comprehensive document for their use in needs assessment and strategic planning, and are shown in aggregate in the annual HEI report. VA Boston will be featured as an Equality Leader in the HEI 2016 report online and in print. The HEI 2016 report will be released in March of 2016 during LGBT Health Awareness Week.

We thank VA Boston staff and everyone for their support! VA Boston is very much committed to LGBT patient-centered care.