Gaps Remain in VA Health Care for Veterans Raising Children with Special Needs

Although the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers free or low-cost health care to millions of eligible veterans and their families, many face significant challenges—especially those raising children with permanent disabilities such as cerebral palsy and other special needs. For these families, accessing consistent and specialized care is often more complicated than simply having coverage. While the VA has expanded services through initiatives like the 2019 MISSION Act, which allows veterans to seek care from non-VA providers under certain conditions, gaps remain—especially when it comes to pediatric and disability-related care.

A promise that doesn’t always deliver "The system works well if you’re a veteran with straightforward health needs," said Sarah Delgado, a Navy veteran and mother of a child with spastic cerebral palsy. "But when it comes to finding a pediatric neurologist or specialized therapy for my son, the VA system just isn't built for us. “Delgado, who lives in a rural part of Texas, says she’s often had to drive several hours to find a provider qualified to treat her son. Even with the MISSION Act in place, families like hers face obstacles.

The MISSION Act was signed into law to give veterans more options, allowing them to receive care from civilian doctors if they meet certain criteria—such as living more than 30 minutes from a VA facility or facing long wait times. But the process isn’t automatic. Veterans must receive prior authorization from the VA, which can involve bureaucratic delays, additional paperwork, and sometimes denials.

The invisible burden on veteran families: Pediatric care, especially for children with lifelong conditions, often involves a team of specialists—neurologists, physical and occupational therapists, speech pathologists, and more. While the VA may provide comprehensive care for veterans themselves, it does not directly provide pediatric services for their children. Instead, veterans are left to navigate a complex web of benefits and community programs, often with little guidance. “Veterans raising children with special needs are falling through the cracks,” said Dr. Carla McIntyre, a social worker who assists military families. “They need better access to information, resources, and support—not just for themselves, but for their children’s long-term care.”

Geography and wait times, persistent barriers: Despite its good intentions, the MISSION Act hasn’t solved everything. In rural areas, where VA facilities and community providers are few and far between, wait times can stretch well beyond the intended limits. Even in urban settings, finding specialists who accept VA referrals or understand the system’s billing procedures can be difficult. “Many community providers aren’t familiar with the VA’s referral process,” said McIntyre. “That leads to delays, missed appointments, and confusion over who’s paying the bill.” Veterans must often advocate fiercely for their children’s care, juggling time-consuming administrative hurdles alongside the emotional and financial strain of raising a child with disabilities.

Looking Ahead: A call for reform, advocates say that more must be done to modernize the VA’s support for veterans with families—especially those managing complex caregiving roles. “There’s a disconnect between what the VA promises and what families actually experience on the ground,” said Delgado. “We served our country. Now we need a system that serves us—and our kids—with the same commitment.” Several bipartisan efforts in Congress have proposed expansions to VA coverage, including better coordination with Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and more streamlined access to pediatric care for veteran families. But progress remains slow. As policymakers debate the future of veterans' health care, families like the Delgado’s continue to navigate a system that—despite its good intentions—often leaves them feeling like they’re fighting a second war at home. If you or someone you know is a veteran raising a child with special needs, resources are available through the VA Caregiver Support Program and various nonprofit organizations such as the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP), Cerebral Palsy Guide  and Easterseals.