New VA Healthcare Benefits for Veterans in 2024: Military service entails significant potential hazards, even during periods of tranquility. Tobacco exposure, which can cause severe bodily damage, is one of these dangers; thus, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has provided all military personnel with a new health benefit.
President Joe Biden signed the PACT Act into law in August 2022, thereby mandating the expansion of veterans’ health care benefits. The expansion was originally scheduled to be executed incrementally through 2032; however, the recent surge in personnel recruitment across all pertinent domains expedited the process.
As a result, the new benefit could potentially become effective on March 5. The PACT Act is anticipated to benefit millions of veterans, according to the VA.
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Who is eligible to seek this benefit?
The expansion benefits all combat veterans from the Vietnam, Persian Gulf, Iraq, and Afghanistan battles. All non-deployed veterans who have done hazardous exposure risk activities can enroll.
These include depleted uranium from embedded shards, pesticides, herbicides, and contaminated water; occupational risks like lead, industrial solvents, poisonous paints, asbestos, and firefighting foam; and environmental toxins, known as TERAs.
Air contaminants from burn pits, particulate matter, sulfur, and oil well fires are also included. Additionally, it encompasses radiation exposure resulting from nuclear weapon handling, maintenance, or detonation. The list encompasses exposure to chemical or biological weapons as well as nerve agents.
What is the application procedure?
The VA will identify TERA participants using veterans’ service records. This benefit does not require a service-related disability or an application.
Patients can have a hazardous exposure test from their primary care doctor, who will refer them to specialists based on their needs.
VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. Shereef Elnahal said at a news conference that veterans undergoing TERA treatment will not have to pay copayments for appointments.
