This is why I care so deeply about veteran advocacy.

Thank you, Shirley Baez, for continuing to use your voice to educate and fight for those who served. Your service didn’t end when you took off the uniform.

As someone who spent years navigating the VA healthcare system, this part stopped me in my tracks: veterans should never have to fear losing the benefits they earned simply because they’re following their doctor’s recommendations or pursuing the treatment path that’s best for them.

For me, that path eventually meant seeking additional opinions and, under the care of my physicians, weaning off medications that I later realized weren’t serving me. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for my health. Someone else’s path may look completely different, and that’s okay.

The point is this: veterans deserve options. We deserve the freedom to make informed decisions with our healthcare providers without wondering if prioritizing our health will cost us the benefits we earned through our service.

Read Shirley’s post. Learn what’s being proposed. Stay informed. Whether your treatment includes medication, alternative therapies, or a combination of both, no veteran should ever feel punished for pursuing the care that’s right for them.

Our service earned these benefits. Our healthcare decisions shouldn’t put them at risk.