Deadline approaching for Area Combat Zone Veterans to enroll in VA St. Louis Health Care System without first applying for VA Benefits

This special enrollment period affords 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.

“We encourage all Veterans to visit VA.gov/PACT or call 1-800-MYVA411 to learn more and sign up for VA health care before the September 30, 2023 deadline,” said Candace Ifabiyi, CEO and Medical Center Director of VA St. Louis Health Care System. “It’s been proven time and again that Veterans who are enrolled in VA’s health care system have better health outcomes than non-enrolled Veterans, and VA hospitals have dramatically outperformed non-VA hospitals.”

Citing overall quality ratings and patient satisfaction ratings, Ifabiyi also noted that VA health care is often more affordable than non-VA health care for Veterans. “ This is huge for our Veteran community. Don’t miss this deadline. You can still apply for veteran benefits at a later time, but if you’re eligible for VA health care and apply now, it’s one less thing you need to do later on.”

This special enrollment period is a part of the PACT Act, the largest expansion of VA health care and benefits in generations. Since President Biden signed the PACT Act into law on August 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. In the Saint Louis area alone, VA St. Louis Health Care System has screened over 34,000 area Veterans to date for toxic exposure

Although this September 30, 2023 deadline is written into law for this specific group of Veterans, many other groups of Veterans are able to 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. Veterans who do not meet any of the above 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.

More information can be found at this one-stop-shop PACT Act website. The period applies to Veterans who deployed to a combat zone, never enrolled in VA health care, and left active duty between September 11, 2001 and October 1, 2013 – specifically those who served in a theater of combat operations during a period of war after the Persian Gulf War or in combat against a hostile force during a period of hostilities after November 11, 1998.

“Are you a Veteran who deployed to a combat zone but never enrolled in VA health care? If you left active duty between September 11, 2001, and October 1, 2013, you should sign up now,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “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. But don’t wait – the deadline is September 30 – so go to VA.gov/PACT and apply today.”

 

Marcena Gunter

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