The Veterans Affairs Department opened the doors of its health care
system Monday to about 266,000 nondisabled veterans with moderate
incomes, some of whom have been shut out of those benefits.
The veterans eligible are from a category known as “Priority 8.” They
have no illnesses or injuries attributed to their military service, and
they earn more than the average wage in their communities.
Enrollment previously was denied to them because of a cost-savings
move in 2003. Under a new regulation, some, but not all who fall in this
category, will now be eligible.
The VA is expanding eligibility by loosening income restrictions. The
limit has now been raised from about $29,000 to $32,000, although the
amount is also adjusted to take into account the cost of living.
President Barack Obama said while campaigning that he wanted to bring
all veterans into the VA’s system.
In 1996, Congress ordered the agency to open health care to nearly
all veterans, but lawmakers also gave the VA secretary the authority to
suspend enrollments.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs
committee who has advocated the expansion, praised the move and said
she’s committed to opening the VA to every veteran.
“This must be just the beginning and not the end of the road to
opening the VA to every veteran who serves,” Murray said in a statement.
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