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A new US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) outreach campaign is encouraging all eligible veterans to enroll in VA health care, aiming to connect the roughly 1 million unenrolled veterans to care.
The campaign was prompted following reports of concerns from veterans about health issues—including mental health hurdles and thoughts of suicide—potentially related to repeated low-level artillery blasts, improvised explosive devices, missile launches, heavy fire, and other blast exposures.
Veterans enrolled in VA health care have access to specialty screenings and services to address issues related to blast exposure. Those who served in Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other specific locations are eligible for these benefits based on their deployments. They do not need to have any health conditions specifically associated with their service to be eligible.
“We take veteran concerns about repeated blast exposure very seriously, and we are studying this matter urgently to learn more about potential health impacts,” VA Secretary Denis McDonough said. “While we do that, we don’t want veterans to wait—they should enroll in VA health care today to get full access to primary care, mental health care, regular screenings, specialty care, and more. That’s what this outreach effort is all about: getting veterans in our care, because veterans who come to VA are proven to do better.”
The campaign will consist of text messages and emails sent directly to veterans, in addition to thousands of nationwide events, advertising, and social media campaigns. It is the latest effort to appeal to more veterans and is part of the largest outreach campaign in VA history, which began when President Joseph R. Biden signed the PACT Act into law in 2022. As a result > 835,000 veterans have enrolled in VA health care (a 37% increase), > 900,000 veterans have upgraded their priority groups, making them eligible for health care with fewer copays (a record), and > 4.4 million veterans and survivors have applied for disability compensation benefits (another record).
Increased enrollment benefits not only the individuals enrolled in VA health care, but those who come after.
"[W]e are constantly looking for ways to improve that care as science and research tells us about new concerns," said VA Under Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal, MD. "The more veterans who enroll, the more we can learn about the impact of blast exposure—and the better care we can ultimately provide those who served."
A new US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) outreach campaign is encouraging all eligible veterans to enroll in VA health care, aiming to connect the roughly 1 million unenrolled veterans to care.
The campaign was prompted following reports of concerns from veterans about health issues—including mental health hurdles and thoughts of suicide—potentially related to repeated low-level artillery blasts, improvised explosive devices, missile launches, heavy fire, and other blast exposures.
Veterans enrolled in VA health care have access to specialty screenings and services to address issues related to blast exposure. Those who served in Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other specific locations are eligible for these benefits based on their deployments. They do not need to have any health conditions specifically associated with their service to be eligible.
“We take veteran concerns about repeated blast exposure very seriously, and we are studying this matter urgently to learn more about potential health impacts,” VA Secretary Denis McDonough said. “While we do that, we don’t want veterans to wait—they should enroll in VA health care today to get full access to primary care, mental health care, regular screenings, specialty care, and more. That’s what this outreach effort is all about: getting veterans in our care, because veterans who come to VA are proven to do better.”
The campaign will consist of text messages and emails sent directly to veterans, in addition to thousands of nationwide events, advertising, and social media campaigns. It is the latest effort to appeal to more veterans and is part of the largest outreach campaign in VA history, which began when President Joseph R. Biden signed the PACT Act into law in 2022. As a result > 835,000 veterans have enrolled in VA health care (a 37% increase), > 900,000 veterans have upgraded their priority groups, making them eligible for health care with fewer copays (a record), and > 4.4 million veterans and survivors have applied for disability compensation benefits (another record).
Increased enrollment benefits not only the individuals enrolled in VA health care, but those who come after.
"[W]e are constantly looking for ways to improve that care as science and research tells us about new concerns," said VA Under Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal, MD. "The more veterans who enroll, the more we can learn about the impact of blast exposure—and the better care we can ultimately provide those who served."
A new US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) outreach campaign is encouraging all eligible veterans to enroll in VA health care, aiming to connect the roughly 1 million unenrolled veterans to care.
The campaign was prompted following reports of concerns from veterans about health issues—including mental health hurdles and thoughts of suicide—potentially related to repeated low-level artillery blasts, improvised explosive devices, missile launches, heavy fire, and other blast exposures.
Veterans enrolled in VA health care have access to specialty screenings and services to address issues related to blast exposure. Those who served in Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other specific locations are eligible for these benefits based on their deployments. They do not need to have any health conditions specifically associated with their service to be eligible.
“We take veteran concerns about repeated blast exposure very seriously, and we are studying this matter urgently to learn more about potential health impacts,” VA Secretary Denis McDonough said. “While we do that, we don’t want veterans to wait—they should enroll in VA health care today to get full access to primary care, mental health care, regular screenings, specialty care, and more. That’s what this outreach effort is all about: getting veterans in our care, because veterans who come to VA are proven to do better.”
The campaign will consist of text messages and emails sent directly to veterans, in addition to thousands of nationwide events, advertising, and social media campaigns. It is the latest effort to appeal to more veterans and is part of the largest outreach campaign in VA history, which began when President Joseph R. Biden signed the PACT Act into law in 2022. As a result > 835,000 veterans have enrolled in VA health care (a 37% increase), > 900,000 veterans have upgraded their priority groups, making them eligible for health care with fewer copays (a record), and > 4.4 million veterans and survivors have applied for disability compensation benefits (another record).
Increased enrollment benefits not only the individuals enrolled in VA health care, but those who come after.
"[W]e are constantly looking for ways to improve that care as science and research tells us about new concerns," said VA Under Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal, MD. "The more veterans who enroll, the more we can learn about the impact of blast exposure—and the better care we can ultimately provide those who served."