Veterans no longer need to pay copays for their first 3 outpatient mental health care and substance use disorder visits of each calendar year through 2027, according to a press release.1
This copayment exemption, which dates back to June 27, 2023 and—by law—will end Dec. 29, 2027, expands veterans’ access to mental health services and lowers out-out-of-pocket costs. It applies to outpatient visits that occurred with qualified Veterans Affairs (VA) mental health professionals, or those within the VA’s network of community care providers.
“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,” VA Secretary Denis McDonough said in the press statement. “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.”
This exemption followed the adoption of a policy in 2023 that allows veterans in acute suicidal crisis to go to any VA or non-VA emergency facility for no-cost emergency health care. Since then, according to the statement, more than 60,000 veterans and former service members have used this benefit.
In the past 3 years, officials with the VHA have hired more than 9000 mental health positions including psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, licensed professional mental health counselors, peer support specialists, mental health nurses and mental health physician assistants — including 2,000 hires during fiscal year 2024.
The Veterans Crisis Line is supporting more veterans than ever, receiving 1,123,591 million calls, texts, and chats — surpassing last year by 12%.
In related news, the VA recently announced that it is proposing to eliminate copayments for all VA telehealth services and establish a grant program to fund designated VA telehealth access points in non-VA facilities, with a focus on rural and medically underserved communities.2
References
- VA. Through 2027, veterans no longer need to pay copays for their first 3 outpatient mental health care visits of each year. Press release. Published May 29, 2024. Accessed November 18, 2024. https://news.va.gov/press-room/2027-veterans-no-copays-first-three-mental-health/
- VA. VA makes tele-emergency care available nationwide, offering veterans more virtual care options. Press release. Published September 26, 2024. Accessed November 18, 2024. https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-makes-tele-emergency-care-available-nationwide-offering-veterans-more-virtual-care-options/