Veterans who deployed to a combat zone, have never enrolled in Department of Veterans Affairs health care and who left active duty between Sept. 11, 2001, and Oct. 1, 2013, are eligible to enroll directly in VA health care through 11:59 p.m. local time on Sept. 30, 2023.
The special enrollment period allows veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan and other combat zones an opportunity to enroll directly in VA health care without first applying for VA benefits, the department said in a release.
“Even if you don’t need this care now, you may need it in the future – and once you’re in, you have access for life,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough.
The special enrollment period is a part of the PACT Act, which expanded VA health care and benefits to veterans of all eras who were exposed to toxins as a result of their military service. Since President Joe Biden signed the bill into law on Aug. 10, 2022, more than 344,000 veterans have enrolled in VA health care and more than 4.2 million enrolled veterans have been screened for toxic exposures.
While the Sept. 30 deadline was written into law for this specific group of v
veterans, many other groups of veterans can enroll directly in VA health care without first applying for VA benefits – including many Vietnam veterans, Gulf War veterans, veterans who deployed to a combat zone and transitioned out of the service less than 10 years ago and more.
Those veterans who do not meet any of that criteria can often still access VA health care by filing for VA benefits or based on income. If a veteran is granted service connection for any health condition, they become eligible for VA care.
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Since the PACT Act was signed into law, VA has delivered more than $1.85 billion in PACT Act benefits to veterans and their survivors.
To apply for VA care or benefits today, visit here or call 1-800-MYVA411.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.
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