VA has announced that all veterans of World War II are now eligible for no-cost VA inpatient and outpatient health care, which includes all medical services. The expansion of the care will include those who served between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946, regardless of their length of service or financial status.

An early release of the information on November 9 implied erroneously that World War II veterans were automatically eligible for nursing home services at VA and nursing home care. However, contrary to the language in that release, not all World War II veterans are eligible for nursing home care. Some veterans may also have to pay modest copayments for medication, urgent care, or long-term care in some cases, depending on their eligibility and service connection.

The new eligibility is just one part of the Joseph Maxwell Cleland and Robert Joseph Dole Memorial Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2022. This law requires VA to expand eligibility, establish pilot programs, ensure the quality of care and access to care, and conduct a feasibility analysis for program expansion.

For additional online details from VA about the benefit, click here.