In one of the largest-ever expansions of veteran health care, all veterans exposed to toxins and other hazards during military service – at home or abroad – are now eligible for VA health care.
The Veterans Administration (VA) is expanding health care eligibility to millions of veterans, including all veterans who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan or any other combat zone after 9/11, years earlier than called for by the “Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act.”
These veterans will be eligible to enroll directly in VA health care without first applying for VA benefits. Additionally, veterans who never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards while training or on active duty in the United States will also be eligible to enroll.
This expansion of VA health care eliminates the phased-in approach called for by the PACT Act, meaning that millions of veterans are becoming eligible for VA health care up to eight years earlier than written into law. VA encourages all eligible veterans to visit the PACT Act website at https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/ or call (800) MYVA411 to learn more and apply for VA health care, beginning March 5, 2024. Since the PACT Act went into federal government law on Aug. 10, 2022, more than 500,000 veterans have enrolled in VA health care.
If you’re a veteran who may have been exposed to toxins or hazards while serving our country, at home or abroad, the VA wants you to come to them for the health care you deserve. VA is proven to be the best, most affordable health care in America for veterans. And once you’re in, you have access for life. So don’t wait, enroll today. This is a critical step forward because veterans who are enrolled in VA health care are proven to have better health outcomes than non-enrolled veterans, and VA hospitals have dramatically outperformed non-VA hospitals in overall quality ratings and patient satisfaction ratings. And VA health care is often more affordable than non-VA health care for veterans.
Veterans can apply for VA health care by registering (1) online at https://www.va.gov/health-care/apply/application/introduction or by (2) calling the VA toll-free hotline at (877) 222-8387, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. or by (3) mailing their Application for Health Care Benefits (VA Form 10-10EZ)” to the Health Eligibility Center, PO Box 5207, Janesville, WI 53547-5207 or (4) calling the Brown County Veteran Services Office (VSO) at (812) 988-5600 or visiting the VSO in the Brown County Veterans Hall at 902 Deer Run Lane, Nashville, IN 47448.
