New Veterans Affairs Policy Exempts Copayments for Certain Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Visits Through 2027

Attention APWU veterans and APWU family members of veterans: Through Dec. 29, 2027, veterans no longer need to make copayments for their first three outpatient mental health care and substance use disorder visits each calendar year through 2027.

In this edition of Home Front, we will educate our APWU veterans and their family members about the new Veterans Affairs (VA) mental health care laws that exempt certain copayments for outpatient treatment to millions of veterans, regardless of VA enrollment status.

On May 29, 2024, President Biden-appointed Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs Denis McDonough stated “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. 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 new VA copayment exemption benefit is backdated to June 27, 2023. Eligible patients who paid copayments in 2023 will receive automatic refunds. The exemption period will end on Dec. 29, 2027. To be eligible for this exemption, the outpatient visit must be with a qualified mental health professional at a VA medical facility or provided through the VA’s approved network of Community Care Providers. VA will automatically refund veterans for any copayments paid to the VA on or after June 27, 2023, for these mental health appointments, with no further action required by those veterans. The 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 Crises

Effective Jan. 17, 2023, the VA launched a policy addressing veterans in acute suicidal crisis. Eligible veterans in acute suicidal crisis can go to any VA or non-VA emergency facility for no cost to the veteran for emergency care. This expansion of mental health care will help prevent veterans’ suicide by guaranteeing no cost, world-class care in times of emergency crisis. It will also increase access to acute suicide care for up to nine million veterans who are not currently enrolled in VA Health Care.

Preventing Veteran Suicide Is the VA’s Top Clinical Priority

“Veterans in suicidal crisis can now receive the free, world class emergency health care they deserve no matter where they need it, when they need it, or whether they’re enrolled in VA Health Care or not,” said VA Secretary McDonough. “This expansion of VA care will save veterans’ lives, and there’s nothing more important than that.”

In conclusion, thanks to the VA, all APWU veterans can now receive three free VA outpatient mental health treatment visits per year and up to 60 days of emergency VA suicidal treatment, at any VA medical center, at zero cost to the veteran, and you don’t even have to be enrolled in VA Health Care to get these new VA mental health benefits. Our goal remains the same - keeping our APWU veterans informed and updated on veterans’ information and benefits.

For further information regarding veteran news and health benefits, visit va.gov. ■