Major Expansion of Healthcare for Some Veterans
The PACT Act got a lot of well-deserved attention for making a wide range of conditions presumptively service-connected for veterans who had been exposed to burn pits. But, that wasn’t the only way the statute helped veterans with toxic exposures. The PACT Act also provided healthcare services for veterans who had been exposed to burn pits, toxic pesticides, and other toxins during their military service.
With many millions of veterans potentially eligible for healthcare under the statute, the law provided a long period for roll-out. The PACT Act didn’t mandate full implementation until 2034. That’s a long time to wait for medical care, especially since some of the veterans who qualify for healthcare under the new provisions served as long ago as the Vietnam War.
Timeline for Healthcare Access Escalated
In early March, the VA announced that President Biden had but the wait. All veterans eligible for healthcare under the new toxic exposure provisions are eligible now–that eligibility opened up on March 5, 2024.
What Does This Mean for Eligible Veterans?
The PACT Act also added many conditions to the presumptive service connection list for burn pit exposure. So, many of the veterans who are newly eligible for healthcare services under the statute may also qualify for more extensive VA disability benefits. However, these veterans now have the option of enrolling directly in VA healthcare services. Filing a VA disability claim is not required. And, if a veteran is pursuing veterans disability benefits, they won’t have to wait for a rating and approval to get access to healthcare.
Who is Eligible for Healthcare Services Under the PACT Act?
A wide range of veterans who were or may have suffered toxic exposures during their military service are now eligible for healthcare. These include those who served in:
- The Vietnam War
- The Gulf War
- Iraq
- Afghanistan
- The Global War on Terror, including:
- Operation Enduring Freedom
- Operation Iraqi Freedom
- Operation Freedom’s Sentinel
- Operation New Dawn
- Operation Inherent Resolve
- Resolute Support Mission
- Any combat zone after September 11, 2001
However, this list is not exclusive. Veterans who were exposed to toxins during their military service or training are also eligible, even if they were not deployed and suffered these exposures in the United States. The VA says this includes exposures such as:
- Burn pits
- Pesticides
- Herbicides such as Agent Orange
- Lead
- Asbestos
- Sulfur fires
- Oil well fires
- Firefighting foam
- Industrial solvents
- Lead
- Contaminated water
- Radiation
- Nerve agents
- Chemical weapons
- Biological weapons
- Other air pollutants
- Other toxic chemicals
What to Do If You Believe You’re Eligible for VA Healthcare
The VA is inviting all veterans who participated in a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) to register for VA healthcare benefits. They’ve undertaken an unprecedented campaign to get the word out about this new eligibility, including texting, paid advertising, emails, and mailing.
You can apply for VA healthcare online.
What if I Don’t Need VA Healthcare?
Some veterans who qualify for VA healthcare under the new provisions may be unsure whether they should sign up. That may be because they aren’t yet experiencing symptoms that they associate with the toxic exposure, or because they have employer-paid medical insurance or some other type of health care coverage.
Still, there are good reasons to sign up now. You can use VA healthcare alongside other insurance, and doing so may save you money or give you easier access to care. Even if you don’t use VA healthcare services right away, signing up now means they’ll be there if you ever do need them, rather than having to apply and wait for approval when you need care.
Are You Qualified for Other Benefits?
Although the PACT Act got a lot of publicity, there are still a great many veterans who may be qualified for VA disability benefits under the Act. If you suffer from medical conditions due to toxic exposures during your military service, you may be entitled to more than healthcare. A VA disability rating for a service-connected condition can mean a wide range of additional benefits, including monthly monetary benefits.
24 conditions are now presumptive connections for those who were exposed to burn pits during their military service, including:
- Asthma diagnosed after service
- Head cancer of any type
- Neck cancer of any type
- Respiratory cancer of any type
- Gastrointestinal cancer of any type
- Reproductive cancer of any type
- Lymphoma cancer of any type
- Lymphatic cancer of any type
- Kidney cancer
- Brain cancer
- Melanoma
- Pancreatic cancer
- Chronic bronchitis
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Constrictive bronchiolitis or obliterative bronchiolitis
- Emphysema
- Granulomatous disease
- Interstitial lung disease
- Pleuritis
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Sarcoidosis
- Chronic sinusitis
- Chronic rhinitis
- Glioblastoma
This list may continue to grow as research into the effects of burn pit exposure continues. And, of course, a condition doesn’t have to be presumed service-connected for a veteran to pursue VA disability benefits. Presumptive conditions just make it simpler for a veteran to file a claim and get approved.
If the condition isn’t on the list, that just means that it’s up to the veteran to establish a service connection. An experienced Va disability benefits advocate can help with that.
We’re Here to Help Disabled Veterans
If you’ve been notified that you may be eligible for healthcare benefits due to having served in a listed area or participated in TERA work or training activities, you can sign up for healthcare directly on the VA’s website. Suppose you’re uncertain whether you may also be eligible for VA disability benefits or you know whether you want to pursue disability benefits for conditions related to toxic exposures or other service-connected conditions. In that case, Disabled Vets is here for you.
Our experienced advocates are fully dedicated to helping disabled veterans and their families secure the benefits they deserve, whether that means assisting in the claims process, fighting a denial, pursuing an increased disability rating, or seeking TDIU or other special classification. To learn more about how we can help you, call 888-373-4722 right now, or fill out our contact form here.
