Denis R. McDonough Secretary of Veterans Affairs | Oficial Website
On Women Veterans Recognition Day, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that more than 53,000 women veterans enrolled in VA health care between May 2023 and May 2024. This marks a 20% increase over the previous year and represents the largest enrollment year for women veterans on record.
Health care enrollment for women veterans increased across all 50 states, with the highest numbers reported in Texas (6,507), Florida (4,666), California (4,318), Virginia (3,806), Georgia (2,937), and North Carolina (2,776). Women veterans are currently VA’s fastest-growing patient population. This surge in enrollment is largely attributed to the PACT Act, signed into law by President Biden in August 2022. The Act enables VA to provide comprehensive health care and benefits to millions of veterans exposed to toxins during their military service.
Expanding access to benefits and services for women veterans remains a key priority for both VA and the Biden-Harris administration. "On this day in 1948, women were granted a formal place in our country’s military. Today, the more than 2 million women Veterans living in the U.S. make up our fastest growing Veteran population," said VA Deputy Secretary Tanya Bradsher. "It’s important to all of us here at VA that every woman Veteran knows she belongs at VA."
"It’s our goal for every woman Veteran to receive all the benefits she has earned, and that includes world-class health care," said VA Under Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal, M.D. "We want women Veterans to know that VA has invested in more services for women Veterans than ever before. VA can now offer women the best and most accessible options for all their care needs, and we want them to apply for the health care they deserve today."
The Veterans Health Administration's Office of Women's Health oversees specialized health care services dedicated to women veterans. Every VA health care system nationwide now has a women's health program led by a Women Veterans Program Manager. Additional specialized staff include Women's Health Medical Directors, Women's Health Primary Care Providers, Women's Health Patient Aligned Care Teams, Maternity Care Coordinators, Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Coordinators, and Women’s Mental Health Champions.
Over the past two years, there has been significant expansion of healthcare services specifically tailored for women veterans. These include expanded breast cancer screenings and mammograms for those with potential toxic exposures, increased access to reproductive health services, and enhanced maternity care coordination from pregnancy through 12 months postpartum.
VA is also delivering disability compensation benefits to an unprecedented number of women veterans; currently standing at 717,141 recipients. Over the past five years alone, an additional 197,667 women have begun receiving benefits—a rise of 28%. More than 89% of applicants have received disability benefits from VA for at least one condition on average receiving $27,109 annually.
The dedicated Women Veterans Call Center supports navigating available services including healthcare and benefits through phone or text at 855-VA-WOMEN (855-829-6636) or via online chat features.
For more information on how the PACT Act is assisting veterans and their survivors or to apply for care or benefits today visit VA.gov/PACT or call 1-800-MYVA411 (800-698-2411).
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