VA expands health care to all veterans exposed to toxins, other hazards

COLUMBIA - On Tuesday, March 5, 2024, the VA announced 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. 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 Joe 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.

"If you're a veteran who may have been exposed to toxins or hazards while serving our country, at home or abroad, we want you to come to us for the health care you deserve," said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. "VA is proven to be the best, most affordable health care in America for veterans - and once you're in, you have access for life. So don't wait, enroll today."

"Today, we're making millions of veterans eligible for VA health care years earlier than called for by the PACT Act," said VA Under Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal, M.D., on Tuesday. "With this expansion, VA can care for 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. We can also care for veterans who never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards while training or on active duty here at home - by working with chemicals, pesticides, lead, asbestos, certain paints, nuclear weapons, X-rays and more. We want to bring all of these veterans to VA for the care they've earned and deserve."

"The staff at Columbia VA Health Care System are ready to serve our veterans who are now eligible to receive care under the expanded PACT Act. I encourage all eligible veterans to visit VA.gov/PACT or call 1-800-MYVA411 to apply for VA health care today. It is an honor to care for our nation's heroes and ensure they get the benefits they have earned," said Rebecca Strini, acting medical director of the Columbia VA Health Care System.

In addition to expanding access to VA care, this decision makes it quicker and easier for millions of veterans to enroll. Many veterans think 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 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: air pollutants (burn pits, sand, dust, particulates, oil well fires, sulfur fires); chemicals (pesticides, herbicides, depleted uranium with embedded shrapnel, contaminated water); occupational hazards (asbestos, industrial solvents, lead, paints including chemical agent resistant coating, firefighting foams); radiation (nuclear weapons handling, maintenance and detonation, radioactive material, calibration and measurement sources, X-rays, radiation from military occupational exposure); warfare agents (nerve agents, chemical and biological weapons); and more. 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, the creation of a one-stop-shop PACT Act website and more. This is the largest outreach campaign in VA history, which has one goal in mind: ensure that all veterans - and their survivors - get the health care and benefits they deserve under the PACT Act.

To get more information on eligibility and to apply for care or benefits today, visit VA.gov/PACT or call 1-800-MYVA411.

About the Columbia VAHCS

The Columbia VAHCS comprises the Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center and seven community-based outpatient clinics throughout South Carolina in Anderson, Florence, Greenville, Orangeburg, Rock Hill, Spartanburg and Sumter, serving more than 90,000 veterans annually in 36 of 46 counties in South Carolina. The Columbia VA is a level 1b teaching hospital, providing a full range of patient care services, with state-of-the-art technology, education and research. Comprehensive health care is provided through primary care, tertiary care and long-term care in areas of medicine, surgery, psychiatry, physical medicine and rehabilitation.