Comments on: Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2008

By: Christi Zelaya

Christi Zelaya — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:52:51 +0000

I was just wondering how they intend to address the issues in relation to the sexual trauma cases. Many of these women (and men for that matter) may have contracted STDs through these experiences, and as a result, many women will face infertility. But as it stands right now, those women may not be able to access full treatment and/or care for this situation if their only option to have a family is through IVF. IVF is the only treatment for infertility that is not covered by law, but the law sees fit to treat erectile dysfunction and to pay for prosthetics in relation to this male affliction. Are there any proposals made to address this significant inequity in medical care between men and women veterans?

By: Rachel

Rachel — Wed, 07 May 2008 19:15:05 +0000

Trish, that’s an excellent point, and the bill is a bit confusing on that point. One section specifies child care for women receiving maternity services through the VA, but another section talks about a pilot program of child care for “qualified veterans” receiving care through the VA – it doesn’t specify women, but the bill is obviously about women, so I’m not clear on who it would encompass.

By: Trish

Trish — Wed, 07 May 2008 19:03:22 +0000

I hate to take shots at any effort to make childcare easier to obtain, but if they are making it available for women vets, shouldn’t it also be available for men? I don’t believe that women or children ultimately benefit from childcare being framed, yet again, as only a woman’s issue.