- Details
The Veterans Administration announced in March 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 healthcare.
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 healthcare 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 are eligible to enroll.
This expansion of VA healthcare eliminates the phased-in approach called for by the PACT Act — meaning that millions of veterans are becoming eligible for VA healthcare up to eight years earlier than written into law.
VA encourages all eligible veterans to visit va.gov/pact or call (800) MYVA411 to learn more and apply for VA healthcare.