MARQUETTE COUNTY, Mich. (WZMQ) – This week, the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center Outreach and Enrollment team is traveling around Marquette County to spread its available benefits with local veterans.
In 2022, eligibility for Veterans Affairs benefits jumped substantially, after the passing of the PACT Act. This allowed for care towards over 20 new preemptive illnesses and exposures caused during service. While this change has opened the doors for more veterans, some may still be unaware of the care they now have access to, even if they were denied in the past.
On Tuesday, outreach and enrollment began at posts in Ishpeming and Gwinn.
“Our big push this summer is to make sure that every veteran in the U.P. and northern Wisconsin who’s eligible for healthcare at the very least knows they’re eligible, if not getting them enrolled,” said Oscar G. Johnson VA Public Affairs Officer, Timothy Ellison. “They’ve earned these benefits, so we want to give them a chance to use them.”
On Wednesday, the team will be at the Chocolay Township Hall (5010 US 41 South, Marquette, MI) from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., and at the Marquette American Legion Post 44 (700 West Bluff Street, Marquette, MI) from 3 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., but will stay available until every veteran has been helped.
Veterans should bring their DD214, income from the previous year, if married, date of marriage to their spouse, date of birth of any dependents and social security number of any dependents. For more information, the Public Affairs Office can be reached at 906-774-3300 ext. 32001.
