Thanks to a change in the law, active duty veterans who served in combat since Nov. 11, 1998, including veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, are now eligible for five years of free medical care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

In January 2008, a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008 went into effect. The new law extends eligibility for these veterans to receive health care in VA hospitals, outpatient clinics and nursing homes from two years to five years from their separation from military service. VA dental benefits were also extended from 90 days after discharge to 180 days.

The five-year health care window does not require that eligible veterans have a medical condition which the VA has determined to be related to his or her military service. In fact, the veteran does not need to have any chronic medical condition at all to receive VA health care. Claims for VA disability compensation benefits may be filed at any time during the five-year period without having any effect on a veteran’s eligibility for free VA health care.

The five-year window is also open to activated Reservists and members of the National Guard, if they served in a theater of combat operations after Nov. 11, 1998 and were discharged under other than dishonorable conditions.

Veterans who take advantage of this five-year window to receive VA health care can continue to receive care after five years, although they may have to pay copayments for medical problems that are not related to their military service. Copayments currently range from $8 for a 30-day supply of prescription medicine to $1,024 for the first 90 days of inpatient care each year.