Dear APWU Veterans and APWU Veterans’ Families: Through December 29, 2027, veterans will no longer have to pay copays for their first three outpatient mental health and substance use disorder visits each calendar year through 2027.
This episode of Homefront will educate APWU veterans and their families about the new VA mental health care law that will waive certain copays for outpatient treatment for millions of veterans, regardless of VA coverage status.
On May 29, 2024, Denis McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, appointed by President Biden, said, “We want to ensure that all veterans have the mental health care they deserve, regardless of their financial situation, and that’s the purpose of this co-pay waiver. We are relentlessly working to expand access to mental health care and will not rest until all veterans can receive care when and where they need it.”
This new VA copayment waiver benefit is retroactive to June 27, 2023. Eligible patients who paid copayments in 2023 will be automatically reimbursed. The waiver period ends December 29, 2027. To be eligible for this waiver, outpatient visits must be provided by qualified mental health professionals at a VA medical facility or through a VA-approved Community Care Provider Network. VA will automatically reimburse Veterans for copayments for these mental health visits paid to VA after June 27, 2023. Veterans do not need to take any further action. VA and the entire Biden-Harris Administration are committed to providing all Veterans with the timely, world-class health care they deserve.
Additional Resources for Veterans in Emergency Situations
Beginning January 17, 2023, VA launched a policy to accommodate veterans in acute suicide crisis. Eligible veterans in acute suicide crisis can go to a VA or non-VA emergency facility for emergency treatment at no cost. This expansion of mental health care will help prevent suicide among veterans by ensuring free, world-class care during an emergency crisis. It will also make acute suicide care available to up to 9 million veterans who are not currently enrolled in VA health care.
Preventing suicide among veterans is VA’s top clinical priority
“Veterans experiencing suicidal thoughts can now receive world-class emergency medical care at no cost, wherever and whenever they need it, regardless of whether they have VA health care coverage,” said VA Secretary McDonough. “This expansion of VA care will save veterans’ lives and couldn’t be more important.”
In conclusion, thanks to the VA, all APWU veterans can now receive 3 free VA outpatient mental health treatments per year and up to 60 days of emergency VA suicide treatment at any VA medical center with no Veteran co-payment. They also do not need to be enrolled in VA health care to receive these new VA mental health benefits. Our goal remains the same: to keep APWU veterans up to date on VA information and benefits.
For more veterans news and health benefits, visit va.gov.
