Alaska has the highest per-capita veteran population of any state making up more than 8% of Alaska’s population, over 59,000 Alaskans. Despite this, there is a common attitude among veterans that the state is not doing enough to help their group succeed, and that Governor Dunleavy is not listening to their concerns. With a state budget of roughly $60 million for state-operated veterans’ affairs, and additional underutilized federal resources available, Alaska needs to re-evaluate how it supports veterans and strengthen the systems that will help them thrive.
Although an estimated 59,000 veterans live in Alaska, federal agencies and VA programs recognize only about 35,000 (roughly 59%). This gap exists in part because some discharged veterans don’t know how to enroll, choose not to enroll, or simply delay or forget to sign up for VA health care and other benefits after discharge. Federal VA resources are often allocated state-by-state based on the number of veterans “in network” (enrolled/connected to the VA system), rather than the total veteran population identified through census estimates. As a result, every veteran who is not enrolled, reduces the level of federal services and investment Alaska receives.
This also has downstream cost implications. Some veterans may be receiving care through Medicaid or Medicare programs that can shift costs to the state when they could instead be served through the VA system, which would be more cost-effective and better tailored to veteran needs. For example, the Anchorage Tikahtnu Center offers a limited VA clinic rather than a full hospital, in part because the number of enrolled veterans is not high enough for the VA to justify a larger facility. If Alaska can implement a plan to increase VA enrollment and ensure veterans are recognized at the federal level, the state could reduce pressure on its budget while improving access to care and services that many veterans currently lack.
How can Alaska help veterans enroll in VA benefits? The state already identifies many veterans through the questionnaire included in the annual Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) application, where applicants indicate whether they have served in the military (reportedly, a nuance in asking this question as “have you served in the military” versus “are you a veteran” was developed due to female veterans being less likely to claim they are a veteran due to a feeling they do not deserve or wish to be recognized as having served our nation). The challenge is converting that knowledge into enrollment. One practical step is helping veterans complete VA form 10-10EZ, which enrolls them in VA health care. Submitting the 10-10EZ can connect veterans to VA hospitals, clinics, and related services, including care connected to service-related conditions. Once the form is submitted, the VA can follow up and help the veteran navigate available benefits and services beyond healthcare.
Alaska can further support veterans by helping ensure veterans and their families have essential documentation in place for emergencies, catastrophic events, and end-of-life planning. Many veterans, both those enrolled in VA care and those who are not, do not have easy access to their DD Form 214 (DD214), which documents military service and discharge status. The DD214 is often required to verify eligibility for benefits and to support survivors after a veteran’s death.
For example, if a veteran dies and the spouse or family cannot locate the DD214, they will be unable to access certain benefits, such as a military burial and costs resulting from death. Helping Alaskan families obtain, store, and locate DD214 records is a practical step that can reduce stress during crises and make funeral planning and survivor benefit processes much easier.
Finally, Alaska can also borrow a page from Florida’s playbook and examine how Florida attracts veterans to put down roots. Through workforce and community development programs, Florida has prioritized attracting veterans because of the positive impact they can have on the economy and on local communities through employment, entrepreneurship, and civic leadership. Alaska could adapt similar strategies to strengthen both veteran outcomes and statewide resilience. Florida has also developed the FireWatch program to ensure their state population of not only veterans know how to identify and help suicide prone veterans or assist in defusing an attempted suicide. Alaska’s next Governor can also take a stronger stand with fellow state governors in the “Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide” which is meant to help states understand the risks of veteran suicide and how to assist veterans reassimilate into civilian life.
I’m Matt Heilala, running for Governor.