Enhanced Health Care Enrollment Window Closing for Some Combat Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs recently announced the enhanced health care enrollment window closes on January 27, 2011. Established by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, the enhanced enrollment window simplifies the application process for health care benefits for combat veterans who served after November 11, 1998, but left the service before January 28, 2003.

"I highly encourage this group of combat veterans to take advantage of the enhanced enrollment window to use their health care benefits through this simplified process," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki.

Although eligible veterans can still apply for benefits after January 27, they are subject to the standard benefits application process. Their benefits will be determined under standard Department of Veterans Affairs procedures. In turn, veterans could face asset and income-based restrictions, as well as possible delays as disability statuses are determined.

The Department of Veterans Affairs sent nearly 200,000 letters to eligible veterans, reminding them of the enhanced enrollment window. However, only 13,000 veterans have enrolled to date.

For more information about veterans health care benefits and the enhanced enrollment window, refer to the Department of Veterans Affairs Press Release: Enhanced VA Health Care Enrollment Opportunity Closing for Certain Combat Veterans.

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