Deadline approaching for Area Combat Zone Veterans to enroll in VA St. Louis Health Care System without first applying for VA Benefits
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This special enrollment period affords Veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other combat zones an opportunity to enroll directly in VA health care without first applying for VA
benefits.
Although this September 30, 2023 deadline is written into law for this specific group of Veterans, many other groups of Veterans are able to enroll directly in VA health care without first
applying for VA benefits – including many Vietnam Veterans, Gulf War Veterans, Veterans who deployed to a combat zone and transitioned out of the service less than 10 years ago, and more.
Veterans who do not meet any of the above criteria can often still access VA health care by filing for VA benefits or based on income. If a Veteran is granted service connection for any
health condition, they become eligible for VA care.