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LGBTQ+ Veterans Face Greater Health Disparities, Rand Study Finds
Most respondents were veterans over 55
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Veterans who identify as gay, lesbian and bisexual show poorer health conditions compared to their heterosexual peers, and transgender veterans showed even worse health outcomes, according to a new study from Rand, a nonpartisan, nonprofit research organization.
States with LGBTQ+-friendly policies had residents with better overall health, particularly due to easier health care access, the study concluded. To address these disparities, Rand recommended increasing awareness of Department of Veterans Affairs benefits, ironing out the process to upgrade less-than-honorable discharges under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and expanding LGBTQ+-friendly services within the department.
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Health disparities among older LGBTQ+ veterans
The report’s data included heterosexual, bisexual, lesbian, gay and other identities, with the most respondents being 55 or older. Since the ages of respondents can vary by sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, the report used “age-adjusted results” to ensure fair comparisons across different groups.
Among the findings:
- LGBTQ+ veterans reported more health problems than straight veterans.
- LGBTQ+ veterans were more likely to report being unable to afford medical care.
- Lesbian and gay women veterans were significantly more likely to smoke than their straight counterparts.
- Male and female sexual minority veterans were more likely to rate their mental health as “not good” for more than two weeks in the past month and elevated odds of reporting a lifetime history of depression, compared to their heterosexual peers.
- All LGBTQ+ veterans were more likely to have diabetes than straight veterans, with transgender veterans more likely to report a lifetime diabetes diagnosis than cisgender veterans.
Rand also found that living in a state with more LGBTQ+-friendly policies seemed to result in veterans’ having better overall health, especially among those with easier access to health care.
Rand’s recommendations
- Enhanced awareness: Many LGBTQ+ veterans might not know about the health care benefits earned through their service. Efforts are needed to make sure this information is clear and easy to find, and that affordable health care is accessible, the study concluded.
- Fair treatment: LGBTQ+ veterans who were less-than-honorably discharged from the military under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” need to have a simpler and faster way to get their full benefits, according to the study.
- More personalized care: The Department of Veterans Affairs needs to continue supporting and expanding health care services for LGBTQ+ veterans and make sure they feel comfortable seeking care within the VA system, the study recommended.
- More information needed: As more states pass laws that affect LGBTQ+ rights, researchers need to study how those laws affect health and other related outcomes for LGBTQ+ residents.
The data in the report was gathered from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2015 – 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance system, a nationwide phone survey that tracks health behaviors and preventive care in U.S. adults. More than 400,000 interviews are conducted each year, making it the largest continuously conducted health survey system in the world.
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