Veterans generally must be enrolled to receive VA health care. Enrollment assures Veterans that comprehensive health care services are available when they are needed. VA’s enrollment system designates Veterans by priority groups.

Priority Groups 1-3 – Service-connected Veterans who have received a VA disability rating, former POWs, awarded Purple Heart or Medal of Honor.

Priority Groups 4-8 – Denote other eligibilities generally based medical conditions, combat status, environmental exposures and income.

If you served in the active military service and were separated under any condition other than dishonorable, you may qualify for VA health care benefits. Current and former members of the Reserves or National Guard who were called to active duty by a Federal order and completed the full period for which they were called or ordered to active duty may be eligible for VA health benefits as well. Combat Veterans who served in a theater of combat operations after November 11, 1998 are eligible to enroll in PG 6 within 5 years from the date of discharge and will receive free health care services and nursing home care for conditions possibly related to their military service.

Veterans who were discharged or released from the active military, naval, or air service after January 1, 2009, and before January 1, 2011, but did not enroll to receive hospital care, medical services, or nursing home care during the five-year period as currently specified by law, will have an additional one-year period from the date of enactment of the Clay Hunt SAV Act (February 12, 2015) to enroll for VA health care.

Veterans who served on active duty at Camp Lejeune for not fewer than 30 days between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987 are eligible for care for treatment of certain medical conditions regardless of enrollment status and will also receive free health care related to those illnesses or conditions. For more information about the program and for a list of the conditions and illnesses, visit the Camp Lejeune: Past Water Contamination page on VA’s website.

For detailed eligibility requirements, please visit the VA Health Benefits homepage.