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Her life slowly but dramatically started to change because of prescription medications, and she would never have guessed where she and her husband would end up 14 years later. During a visit

with her doctor in 2010, she was discussing the new medication he was prescribing. Jo-Ann Belanger was stunned when she found out how much it was going to cost each month despite having

health insurance. They began to discuss other options. That was the day her private sector doctor changed Jo-Ann and her husband, Ken’s, lives by pointing out something they had been

overlooking. He said, “Jo-Ann, you are both Veterans, you should be able to get some help from the VA.”  That was how Jo-Ann and Ken Belanger started receiving health care benefits from the

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to bring down the cost of their expensive prescription medications.  HONORED SERVICE OVERLOOKED Jo-Ann and Ken, like other Veterans, assumed they weren’t

entitled to VA benefits because they only served a few years at a stateside location.  The young couple left the Air Force in 1965, started a family, raised their son, and lived their lives

until 2010. Jo-Ann worked in the health care industry as a nurse for nearly 20 years. She left in 1979 to help Ken with his small business until it closed in 2018. Ken was ordained a Deacon

in the Catholic Church in 1988 and is still active in the church today.  Through 45 years of bumps, bruises, illnesses, and life altering medical diagnoses, they relied on their private

health insurance policies, but that slowly changed after Jo-Ann and Ken signed up for their VA benefits in 2010. STARTING WITH PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS  Although Jo-Ann and Ken started using

the VA to pay for their prescription medications, the longer they used the VA, the more benefits they realized they could access. After 20 years in nursing, Jo-Ann knows what good health

care looks like.  “Our pharmacist, Brianna, is wonderful. When I call, she always gets back to me. My questions are always answered. They are always there for me. Nothing is too much for

them.” In a recent example, Belanger shared that it took several phone calls over 15 days to get their private sector doctor to fax the VA a prescription. Once the VA optometrist received

the fax, he had it sent over to the pharmacy within 15 minutes, and the pharmacy had the medication in the mail that day. “That should explain why I am in love with the VA and why we won’t

change ─ I’m telling you that from the bottom of my heart.” THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH VA DEEPENS Early on, they came for their annual physicals, but Jo-Ann soon needed physical therapy and

acupuncture services. Over the years, their needs grew and so did their reliance on Coatesville VA.  In retirement, they rely on overlapping safety nets of her Medicare, a supplemental

health insurance, and VA benefits to cover their increasing need for health care services.  Now in their 80s, they regularly see a private sector doctor for services when Medicare and

insurance cover it. They come to Coatesville VA for everything else. They schedule VA appointments for podiatry, optometry, audiology and physical therapy. “I love it here. Everybody is

great. I get care that I never thought I could get. The people suggest things that I didn’t even know I could do or have.” Along with great service, some of the things they have appreciated

are the affordable equipment VA provides, “I get one free pair of shoes from podiatry every year. And the hearing aids. And eyeglasses.” She lists off the items she received from the VA that

their insurance would have charged them for following a recent surgery. “They gave us blood pressure cuffs, the commode, the shower, and the walker.” It arrived in two days. “It is such

good care. I never expected that we would have such good care.” If you know a Veteran who has not yet applied for their VA health care benefits, or it’s been a while since they have applied,

 apply for VA Health care now through Coatesville VAMC by calling 610-383-0265.