One of the largest expansions of VA Health Care and benefits in US history, the PACT Act of 2022, extended VA Health Care eligibility to Veterans exposed to toxins or hazards while training or on active duty. You’re eligible to enroll now — without needing to apply for disability benefits first — if you meet the basic service and discharge requirements and any of the following descriptions are true for you:
- You served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, or any other combat zone after 9/11, or
- You deployed in support of the Global War on Terror, or
- You were exposed to toxins or other hazards during military service at home or abroad
Specific toxins and hazards include burn pits, sand and dust, particulates, oil well or sulfur fires, chemicals, radiation, warfare agents, depleted uranium, herbicides, and other occupational hazards. Find more military exposure categories on the Public Health website.
Key Information, Resources, and More
To learn more, check out just some of our resource articles on the PACT Act:
- Your PACT Act Questions Answered: Key Insights from VA Executive Steven Miska
- Agent Orange Exposure: Tips for Getting Your Claim Approved
- Ensuring Your Post-9/11 Veteran Spouse Gets Benefits for Airborne Hazard Exposure
- What VA Benefits Are Vietnam Veterans Who Suffer from Agent Orange and Other Toxins Entitled To?
To learn more about the PACT Act, visit the VA dedicated PACT webpage or call 1-800-MYVA41.
Applying for VA Health Care
If you don’t qualify for VA Health Care under the PACT Act, you should still check whether you meet the eligibility requirements based on your service.
Once you decide to apply, you can do so:
Health Eligibility Center
PO Box 5227
Janesville, WI 53547
- In person: Go to your nearest VA health center to apply.
- With a professional: Submit your application through accredited attorney, claims agent, or a VSO Representative.
Please note that if you need to apply using a Power of Attorney, you will need to submit a copy of the Power of Attorney with your application.
For more information about VA healthcare and other Veterans' benefits, please visit the VA website. For access to more resource articles like this one, subscribe to Armed Forces Mutual’s Learning Hub.
This article was originally published May 26, 2022.
Photo Credit
Official USMC photograph by Cpl. Samuel D. Corum
Sgt. Robert B. Brown from Fayetteville, N.C. with Regimental Combat Team 6, Combat Camera Unit watches over the civilian Fire Fighters at the burn pit as smoke and flames rise into the night sky behind him on May 25th, 2007.
The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.