The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has declared its plan to broaden health care services for all Veterans who were exposed to toxins and other hazards during their military service. This significant expansion in health care, set to commence on March 5, is the largest of its kind.

According to a press release by the Department, Veterans who served in the Vietnam War, Gulf War, Afghanistan, or any other combat zone post-9/11 will be eligible for this new program. The initiative allows Veterans to enroll directly into VA health care without first applying for VA benefits - a departure from the previous process. Additionally, eligibility extends to Veterans who were exposed to toxins or hazards while either training or on active duty within the United States.

"Beginning March 5, we’re making millions of Veterans eligible for VA health care years earlier than called for by the PACT Act," said VA Under Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal, M.D. "With this expansion, VA can care for all Veterans who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Global War on Terror, or any other combat zone after 9/11. We can also care for Veterans who never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards while training or on active duty here at home – by working with chemicals, pesticides, lead, asbestos, certain paints, nuclear weapons, x-rays and more. We want to bring all of these Veterans to VA for the care they’ve earned and deserve."

To ensure maximum awareness among Veterans about this new expansion in healthcare services, the VA is employing nationwide advertisement campaigns. The outreach effort from the PACT Act campaign includes $13 million in paid advertising as well as over 400 million emails and letters dispatched to Veterans across the country.