Important Message for Women Vets from VA Deputy Secretary

Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Tanya Bradsher is urging women veterans to sign up now for VA health care. Speaking at the 2024 Women Veteran Conference in North Las Vegas last month, Bradsher explained the expansion of the federal PACT Act allows veterans to access VA health care right away. They don’t have to wait until their benefits claim has been fully processed. They don’t have to wait until they are sick to access VA health care. “Take your DD214, go to the medical center, call, connect, and get enrolled into VA health care,” she said.  

Bradsher made a surprise appearance, serving as the keynote speaker during the opening ceremony of the NDVS-hosted Women Veterans Conference. She said the number of women veterans accessing the VA for health care has tripled over recent years; however, she felt the VA still needed to connect with women vets to make sure these veterans saw the VA as a place that cares about them, serves them, and is geared toward their specific needs.  

She shared with the group, “We have no idea, those of us who have deployed, what we’ve been exposed to,” adding, “Even if you work for a corporation that provides you with phenomenal health care, you should still be connected with the VA because the VA does phenomenal research.” She explained having veterans connected to the VA enables the VA to see trends in 10, 15, 20 years out so if specific illnesses or conditions begin to surface, the VA can make veterans aware and offer screenings. “So that the VA can reach out to me and say, ‘Hey, we want to make sure you don’t have this. Why don’t you come in and get screened.’” 

She also urged women vets to watch out for and take care of each other. Bradsher said, “If you’re a woman vet who is already in our system, fabulous. But please, grab a battle buddy and bring her in too.”   

The 2023 Women Veterans Conference was held on March 9, 2024, at the Aliante Resort and Casino.