The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is poised to welcome nearly 266,000 more Veterans into its medical centers and clinics across the country by expanding access to health care enrollment for certain Veterans who had been excluded due to their income.  Over the next four years, they hope to provide enrollment to more than 500,000 Veterans.

Under a new regulation effective June 15, 2009, VA will enroll Veterans whose income exceeds current means-tested thresholds by up to 10%.  These Veterans were excluded from VA health care enrollment when income limits were imposed in 2003 on Veterans with no service-connected disabilities or other special eligibility for care.

Veterans who have applied for VA health care but were rejected due to income at any point in 2009 will have their applications reconsidered under the new income threshold formula.  Those who applied before 2009, but were rejected due to income, must reapply.

Additional information about enrollment and an income and assets calculator are available at www.va.gov/healtheligibility.  The calculator provides a format in which Veterans enter their household income, number of dependents, and zip codes to see if they may qualify for VA health care enrollment.