Veterans Health Care Eligibility Reform Act

The Veterans Health Care Eligibility Reform Act, enacted in 1996, changed how veterans qualify for VA health care. It aimed to make eligibility criteria clearer and more consistent, focusing on factors like service-connected disabilities, income, and military service duration. The law increased access for veterans with service-connected conditions or those meeting income and other criteria, while maintaining restrictions for others. Its goal was to ensure eligible veterans receive timely care, streamline the application process, and improve the overall efficiency and fairness of VA health care programs.