The Department of Veterans Affairs announced that more than 100,000 new veterans enrolled in VA health care in the first three months of 2026, marking the milestone March 31.
According to the VA, that pace is faster than the agency hit the same mark in six of the last seven years. The announcement raises a question worth asking: If you are a veteran who has never enrolled, or who was turned away in the past, do you know whether you are eligible now?
Why Enrollment Is Surging
The 100,000 figure is part of a broader enrollment wave that began with the PACT Act, signed into law in August 2022. The enactment represented the largest expansion of VA health care and disability benefits in decades. It opened enrollment to millions of veterans exposed to toxic substances during service, including burn pits, Agent Orange, radiation and other hazards. Since the PACT Act was signed, more than 739,000 veterans have enrolled in VA health care, a 33% increase over the two-year period that preceded it.
Read More: PACT Act: Presumptive Conditions
The VA accelerated the PACT Act’s eligibility timeline in March 2024, eliminating a phased rollout that would have stretched enrollment over several years. That acceleration means all veterans who served in the Vietnam War, Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, Global War on Terror, or any other combat zone after 9/11 are now eligible to enroll in VA health care without first applying for VA disability benefits. Veterans who never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards while training or on active duty in the United States are also eligible.
What Else Is Driving the Numbers
The VA cited several operational changes alongside the enrollment expansion. The agency said it has opened 34 new health care facilities since January 2025. It has offered veterans more than 2.2 million appointments outside normal operating hours. In fiscal 2025, the VA completed more direct care appointments than in any previous year and made more community care referrals than ever before. The VA also announced nearly $5 billion in fiscal 2026 spending to modernize, repair and improve health care facilities, which the agency called the largest non-recurring maintenance investment in its history.
On the benefits side, the VA said it has reduced the backlog of veterans waiting for benefits decisions by 67% since January 2025. In fiscal 2025, the department processed more than 2 million disability claims, the highest output in its history. The VA also permanently housed 51,936 homeless veterans in fiscal 2025, the highest total in seven years.
Who Is Eligible Now
If you served in any combat zone after 9/11, you are eligible. If you served during the Vietnam War or the Gulf War, you are eligible. If you were exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, radiation, depleted uranium, specific chemicals or other hazards during service, you are eligible. If you never deployed but were exposed to toxins during training or while on active duty at installations in the United States, you are eligible. You do not need a VA disability rating to enroll. You do not need to have filed a benefits claim. Eligibility is based on where and when you served, not on whether you have a current diagnosis.
Once enrolled, you have access to VA health care for life. That includes primary care, specialty care, mental health services, prescription medications, preventive screenings and the VA’s toxic exposure screening, which is now a standard part of primary care under the PACT Act. VA research consistently shows that veterans enrolled in VA health care have better health outcomes than non-enrolled veterans, and VA hospitals have outperformed non-VA hospitals in quality ratings and patient satisfaction. Costs depend on your priority group.
Read More: VA Priority Groups And Travel Reimbursement
How to Enroll
Apply online at VA.gov/health-care/apply. You will need your Social Security number, military service history (DD-214 if you have it, though the VA can often verify service without it), and basic financial information. You can also apply in person at any VA medical facility, by phone at 1-800-MYVA411 (1-800-698-2411), or by mailing a completed VA Form 10-10EZ. If you were previously turned away from VA health care because you did not meet eligibility requirements, apply again. The eligibility criteria have changed significantly under the PACT Act, and many veterans who were previously ineligible now qualify.
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