 
 We're making millions of Veterans eligible for VA health care under the PACT Act. Here’s what YOU need to know.
- If you served in Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq, or Afghanistan, you can enroll.
- If you deployed to any combat zone after 9/11, you can enroll.
- If you deployed in support of the Global War on Terror, you can enroll.
- And even if you never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards while training or serving on active duty here at home – by working with chemicals, pesticides, lead, asbestos, certain paints, nuclear weapons, x-rays, and more – you can enroll, too.
Bottom line: all Veterans who meet the minimum service requirements and were exposed to toxins and other hazards – at home or abroad – are eligible to enroll in VA care.
VA provides the best and most affordable health care for Veterans in America – and this is your chance to apply. Veterans who are enrolled in VA health care are proven to have better health outcomes than those who get their care elsewhere. And copays can be as low as $0 for prescriptions, urgent care, outpatient care, and more.
Even if you don’t think you need this care today, you might need it tomorrow, or the next day, or 30 years from now. All you have to do is enroll, then you have access for life.
So don’t miss this opportunity: better, more affordable health care is waiting for you. Go to VA.gov/PACT and apply now. You can also call 1-800-MyVA411 (Option 2) to learn more about these benefits and services, or you can visit your nearest VA Medical Center.
You can apply for VA health care:
What do I get when I enroll?
VA offers world-class, comprehensive health care – including yearly physicals, health assessments, free screenings (including a toxic exposure screening), specialized care for issues related to military service, and more. This is true regardless of whether or not you have a service-connected condition. Our clinicians know Veterans – they often are Veterans themselves – and they are ready to help.
What are the minimum service requirements?
In general, Veterans must have served 24 months of continuous active duty or the full period for which they were called or ordered to active duty. Former members of the Reserves or National Guard are eligible for VA health care if they have qualifying service (as described above) and meet one of the health care eligibility requirements in the PACT Act. Former members of the Reserves or National Guard who only served for training purposes may not be able to establish Veteran status if they did not incur a qualifying disability during such training.
Are there exceptions to the minimum active-duty service requirements?
Yes. The minimum active-duty service requirement for VA health care may not apply if any of these are true: The Veteran was discharged or released for a qualifying reason (e.g., early discharge, hardship, medical discharge); the Veteran was discharged for a disability that was caused—or made worse—by active-duty service; the Veteran served prior to the early 1980s.
Please visit the VA's Eligibility page for more information.
 This is LGBTQ+ Health Awareness Week! Here at the VA, we serve our Veterans with the Equitable, Inclusive, and Respectful health care you deserve. Sexual orientation and gender identity matter in health care. We know that some LGBTQ+ people have experienced bias or discrimination. That is why we celebrate LGBTQ+ Health Awareness Week by reminding Veterans that we provide personalized health care that understands the specific risk and protective factors based on sexual orientation, gender identity, race, age, and other individual factors. We encourage all Veterans to receive routine exams and take advantage of the mental health resources we offer. That is why at every VA facility we have an LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinator (VCC) to help Veterans navigate health care. Find your local VCC here. Visit LGBTQ+ Health at the VA for more information and resources.
Live Whole Health App: Better than Ever
Live Whole Health on the go with the Live Whole Health mobile app. It’s free and easy to use. You can fill out your personal health inventory, set goals, and learn more about Whole Health. The app has been recently updated to include new features such as secure registration, a virtual assistant, and local event details and invites. Download the updated version and get connected.
Native American Veterans: You may no longer have a copayment when receiving VA health care and you could be eligible to receive reimbursement for copayments for care on or after January 5, 2022. To get started, download the form linked below and make a copy of one of the following:
- Tribal Enrollment or Citizenship/Membership ID Card, or
- Certificate of Degree of Indian or Alaska Native Blood issued by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, or
- Documentation issued by a Tribe on official letterhead indicating individual affiliation.
Mail these documents to: VHA Tribal Documentation, PO Box 5100, Janesville, WI 53547-5100
VA Form 10-443 - Tribal Documentation Form
 
 Join us to welcome home our Vietnam Veterans during our Vietnam War Veterans Day Event!
March 29, 2024
8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Patriot Park
Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center
Food and drinks will be provided.
Live music by the Long Beach Blues Society from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
 Tune in to our Virtual Veteran Town Hall Tuesday, April 16 from noon-1:00 p.m.
View our livestream at https://www.access.live/VALongBeachVTH or call in at 833-380-0695. We want to hear from you!
 When: March 23 | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Where: Whittier Public Library - Community Room, 7344 Washington Ave, Whittier, CA 90602
Call 562-567-9905 or email
Get information on:
- Housing
- Healthcare
- Education Benefits
- Jobs
When: April 5-7 | 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Where: Whittier Narrows Recreational Area, 1200 N. Potrero Ave., South El Monte, CA
For more information, contact:
Joe Leal - 909-200-8960
Veronica Hernandez - 661-625-1580
Day 1:
- Hot meals
- Showers
- VA Services
- Vet Center
- Disability Claims
- Homeless Prevention
- SSVF
- Mental Health
- Legal Resources
- Hair Cuts
- Medical Services
- Government Assistance
- Free Overnight Accommodations
Day 2:
- Job Fair and support services
- Hot meals
- Showers
- Employment and job training referrals
- Vocational Rehabilitation
- Veterinarian care for animals
 
The VA Podcast Network offers a diverse selection of top-quality podcasts made with a Veteran community in mind. Each podcast specializes on a different topic and covers gripping content that no Veteran should want to miss out on.
Work with us!
Find VA Long Beach Healthcare System jobs on USA Jobs.
Find out how to work with us in other ways!
VA Caregiver Support Line
1-855-260-3274 toll-free
Disclaimer of Endorsement:
Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.
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