WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs announced today that Veterans will no longer need to pay copays for their first three outpatient mental health care and substance use disorder visits each calendar year through 2027. This initiative aims to expand access to mental health services and reduce out-of-pocket costs for Veterans.
The copayment exemption, which dates back to June 27, 2023, is set to end on December 29, 2027. To qualify, the outpatient visit must be with a qualified mental health professional at VA facilities or through VA’s network of community care providers. The VA will automatically refund any copays paid since June 27, 2023, without requiring further action from Veterans.
VA Secretary Denis McDonough stated, “We want every Veteran, regardless of their financial status, to have access to the mental health care they deserve—and that’s what this copayment exemption is all about.” He added, “We are constantly working to expand access to mental health care, and we won’t rest until every Veteran has access to care whenever and wherever they need it.”
In addition to the copayment exemption, the VA introduced a policy in 2023 allowing eligible Veterans and certain former service members in acute suicidal crisis to seek no-cost emergency health care at any VA or non-VA emergency facility. Since its implementation, over 60,000 individuals have utilized this benefit. The policy extends no-cost emergent suicide care access to up to nine million individuals who do not need to be enrolled in the VA system or visit a department facility.
To further enhance access to mental health services, the VA has been actively recruiting mental health professionals nationwide. Over the past three fiscal years, more than 9,000 positions have been filled within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), including psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, licensed professional mental health counselors, peer support specialists, mental health nurses, and physician assistants. In fiscal year 2024 alone, there were approximately 2,000 hires. Retention rates for VHA employees also remain at record highs and surpass private sector benchmarks.
This copay exemption benefit is part of the Cleland-Dole Act of 2022. For more information on mental health care at VA facilities, individuals can visit the VA's official mental health website.
