CRS Report R42747: Health Care for Veterans: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (April 30, 2015)

Not every veteran is automatically entitled to medical care from the VA. Enrolled veterans are offered a standard medical benefits package. Some veterans are required to pay copayments for medical services and outpatient medications related to the treatment of nonservice-connected conditions. The Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-262) created a new eligibility standard to "ensure that medical judgment rather than legal criteria will determine when care will be provided and the level at which care will be furnished. '

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) operates the nation's largest integrated health care delivery system, providing care to approximately 5.75 million unique veteran patients, and employing more than 270,000 full-time equivalent employees.

External Website:
Congressional Research Service