LVMAC Tidbit: WWII Veterans Now Get VA Healthcare Free
The VA announced on 10 November that all World War II military veterans are now eligible for no-cost VA health care, medical services, and nursing home services regardless of their condition and previous status. There will be no copays, enrollment fees or monthly premiums. The veteran may also keep their private providers, Medicare, and most other insurance to meet their health care needs.* [See Editor’s Note below.]
As to criteria, the individual must have served between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946. However, length of service and current financial status are not factors for consideration.
The VA is contacting those not already enrolled, but we advise that the veteran or his family be proactive. To apply for VA healthcare, visit VA’s health care enrollment website, call 1-800-MyVA411 (800-698-2411), or visit your nearest VA medical center or clinic.
This expansion was made possible through the Joseph Maxwell Cleland and Robert Joseph Dole Memorial Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2022 (Cleland-Dole Act), part of PL 117-3282, an appropriations bill enacted on 29 December 2022.
For the record, Pennsylvania currently has approximately 742,000 veterans, of which about 18,400 (2.5%) are WWII veterans. The VA anticipates that by 2030, there will be about 480 alive. More than 1.25 million Pennsylvanians served during that war. No more than 250 of which are still living in U.S. Congressional District 7 (but, probably, half of that).
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As of 12 November 2023
* Editor’s Note: On 14 November, the VA modified the statement as follows:
Update to the release: Nursing home care is free (no copays) for nearly all World War II Veterans who are eligible for nursing home services at VA, including 1) anyone in need of such care for a service-connected disability, (2) anyone in need of such care who also has a service-connected disability rated at 70 percent or more. However, contrary to the language of the release, not all World War II Veterans are eligible for nursing home care under this new law.
Additionally, as stated in the release, all World War II Veterans are eligible for VA health care and will not have to pay inpatient or outpatient copays. However, these Veterans may still have to pay modest copayments for medication or urgent care or long-term care in some cases, depending on their eligibility and service connection.
We at VA apologize for this mistake and any confusion that it may have caused. We are continuing to reach out directly to these Veterans to inform them of the expansion of care available to them, and we urge any WWII Veteran to enroll in VA health care today.
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