How does this make the health care enrollment process easier for Veterans?

Many Veterans believe they have to file a claim for disability compensation benefits – and get their claim approved – to get access to VA health care. But with this expansion and other authorities, that is not accurate.

• If you served in World War II, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq, or Afghanistan, you can enroll.
• If you deployed to any combat zone after 9/11, you can enroll
• If you deployed in support of the Global War on Terror, you can enroll
• If you never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards here at home while training or serving on active duty – by working with chemicals, pesticides, lead, asbestos, certain paints, nuclear weapons, x-rays, and more – you can enroll.
• Even if none of these descriptions match your service, you may be eligible based on your other factors.
• And if you were previously deferred because of income, the PACT Act may create new avenues toward VA enrollment.

Bottom line: it’s now quicker and easier than ever for you to enroll.

Must Veterans meet the minimum active-duty service eligibility requirements when applying for VA health care under PACT Act authorities?

• Yes. To be eligible to enroll in VA health care, Veterans must meet the minimum active-duty service requirements, have a qualifying discharge, and meet one or more eligibility requirements specific to VA health care.
• VA encourages all Veterans to apply for VA health care to determine their eligibility.
• What are the minimum active-duty service requirements for VA health care?
• In general, Veterans must have served 24 months of continuous active duty or the full period for which they were called or ordered to active duty.
• Former members of the Reserves or National Guard are eligible for VA health care if they have qualifying service (as described above) and meet one of the health care eligibility requirements in the PACT Act. Former members of the Reserves or National Guard who only served for training purposes may not be able to establish Veteran status if they did not incur a qualifying disability during such training.
• Some exceptions apply. Please visit www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility for more information.

What are the exceptions to the minimum active-duty service requirements for VA health care?

• The minimum active-duty service requirement for VA health care may not apply if any of these are true:
• The Veteran was discharged or released for a qualifying reason (e.g., early discharge, hardship, medical discharge).
• The Veteran was discharged for a disability that was caused—or made worse—by active-duty service.
• The Veteran served prior to the early 1980s.

VA encourages all Veterans to apply to determine their enrollment eligibility. Please visit www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility for more information.