Veterans died at lower rates in 2020 compared to the general population

By the numbers: The study, based on Veterans Health Administration data, showed 426,069 deaths among veterans from March–December 2020, a nearly 17% increase compared to previous years.

• The excess deaths — 51,436 in all — were mostly in Alaska, the Great Plains, South Atlantic and West South Central regions of the U.S.
• The U.S. had an excess mortality rate of 23% in the same time frame.

The big picture: While there's no specific explanation as to why deaths were lower for this at-risk population, the study authors point out veterans were able to keep their health insurance coverage.

• "Many in the U.S. lost or were forced to switch health insurance plans due to layoffs — while in the VA access isn't conditional on employment," Yevgeniy Feyman, a doctoral candidate at Boston Unversity and co-author, said in a statement.
• The VA also had existing telehealth infrastructure compared to private companies that had to build theirs out.

The bottom line: When hospitals and ICUs are full, patients die at higher rates for most diseases.

• The VA system was better at preventing deaths related to the pandemic, per the study.