Health Care Eligibility Under PACT Act

More Veterans are eligible for VA health care

A Veteran telling a friend about expanded health care eligibilityYou might already know how the PACT Act impacted your care and benefits. But did you know it also expands health care eligibility for many Veterans? The PACT Act began one of the largest expansions of VA benefits in history.

If a Veteran you know hasn’t enrolled in VA health care before, here are some details you can share to help them get the care they’ve earned and deserve:

Vietnam Era Veterans

Vietnam Era Veterans who served in these locations and time periods are eligible to apply for enrollment now:

  • Republic of Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975

  • Thailand at any U.S. or Royal Thai base between January 9, 1962, and June 30, 1976

  • Laos between December 1, 1965, and September 30, 1969

  • Certain provinces in Cambodia between April 16, 1969, and April 30, 1969

  • Guam or American Samoa (or their territorial waters) between January 9, 1962, and July 30, 1980

  • Johnston Atoll (or a ship that called there) between January 1, 1972, and September 30, 1977

For Veterans who discharged or separated within the last 10 years

Veterans who meet the below requirements are eligible for enhanced VA health care eligibility for up to 10 years from the date of their most recent discharge or separation. This means they can access free VA health care for any condition related to their service during this time. 

To qualify, at least one of the following must be true:

  • You served in a theater of combat operations during a period of war after the Persian Gulf War, or

  • You served in combat against a hostile force during a period of hostilities after November 11, 1998

Are any other Veterans eligible for VA health care under the PACT Act? 

Additional windows of PACT Act health care eligibility will be opening soon – stay tuned for more information. However, we encourage all Veterans to apply, regardless of it they meet the criteria above. There are many other factors that impact health care eligibility, such as disability rating and income.  

What to know about VA health care

  • Enrollment is free, and health care may be free too.

  • VA health care for any illness or injury that is determined as “service connected,” or related to your military service, is free. The PACT Act also expanded VA benefits for millions of Veterans, making more than 300 health conditions “presumptive” for service connection. 

  • Tell your friends to apply for VA health care in 1 of 4 ways:

    1. Online

    2. By calling the toll-free hotline at 877-222-8387

    3. By mailing VA Form 10-10EZ to: Health Eligibility Center 2957 Clairmont Rd., Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30329

    4. In person at their nearest VA medical center or clinic

My HealtheVet and your health care

If you’re already enrolled in VA health care and have questions about what the PACT Act might mean for you, VA can help. Sign-in to your Premium account and send your doctor a Secure Message. With My HealtheVet, you can also view and organize your health information, like your providers and closest VA facility.

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