(TNS) — The Veterans Administration announced Tuesday that all veterans who were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving in the military — at home or abroad — are now eligible to enroll directly in VA health care.
This means that all veterans who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Global War on Terror, or any other combat zone after 9/11 are eligible to enroll in VA health care without first applying for VA benefits, according to a press release.
Additionally, veterans who never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards while training or on active duty in the United States are eligible to enroll.
As directed by President Biden, 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. 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.
Additionally, VA health care is often more affordable than non-VA health care for veterans.
VA encourages all eligible veterans to visit VA.gov/PACT or call 1-800-MYVA411 to learn more and apply for VA health care. Since President Biden signed the PACT Act into law on August 10, 2022, more than 15,994 Pennsylvania veterans have enrolled in VA health care.
In addition to expanding access to VA care, this decision makes it quicker and easier for millions of veterans to enroll, according to the release. Many veterans believe they must apply to receive VA disability compensation benefits to become eligible for VA health care, but this is not correct. With this expansion and other authorities, millions of eligible veterans can enroll directly in VA care — without any need to first apply for VA benefits.
This expansion of care covers Vietnam veterans, Gulf War veterans, Iraq War veterans, Afghanistan War veterans, veterans who deployed in support of contingency operations for the Global War on Terror (Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, Operation Inherent Resolve, and Resolute Support Mission), and more.
This expansion also covers many veterans who never deployed as a part of a conflict but were exposed to toxins or hazards while serving in the U.S. Specifically, under this expansion of care, any veteran who participated in a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) — at home or abroad — is eligible for VA health care. VA has determined that veterans who were exposed to one or more of the following hazards or conditions during active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training participated in a TERA:
VA will use all available information to determine if veterans participated in a TERA, including military records and service connection.
VA is executing a nationwide campaign to ensure that as many veterans as possible enroll. To date, VA’s PACT Act outreach campaign has included more than 2,500 events nationwide, $13 million in paid advertising, 88,000 earned media clips, more than 400 million emails and letters to Veterans, VA’s first-ever text messaging campaign, and the creation of a one-stop-shop PACT Act website.
For more information about how the PACT Act is helping veterans and their survivors, visit VA’s PACT Act Dashboard.
To apply for care or benefits today, visit VA.gov/PACT or call (800) MYVA411. More information on eligibility can be found at VA.gov/PACT.
