A new VA outreach campaign will target eligible veterans who’ve yet to enroll in its health care system, to include about 1 million unenrolled veterans who served in Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

The campaign will include text messages, emails, public service announcements, paid advertising, and events designed to reach veterans. It comes in response to concerns from veterans about health issues potentially linked to repeated blast exposures, including mental health challenges and thoughts of suicide.

VA researchers are urgently studying the health impacts of such exposures. Enrolled veterans can access specialty screenings and services for health issues related to blast exposure. Veterans from Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other specific locations are eligible for VA health care based on their deployments, regardless of health conditions.

The VA encourages all eligible veterans to apply for VA care today. According to national reviews, VA’s health care system continues to offer better health outcomes and higher trust ratings than non-VA care, often at lower cost.

[RELATED: Ask Your Lawmakers to Support the VA by Passing the Dole Act]

MOAA has long championed a robust VA health system, emphasizing its critical roles in clinical care, research, training, and emergency response. To ensure the sustainability of the VA’s direct care system for veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors, MOAA is prioritizing the passage of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act.

This legislation is a top priority for MOAA and the entire veteran community as the 118th Congress nears its end; even if you’ve already reached out to your legislators on behalf of the bill, consider sending another message to ensure it remains on their to-do list before the end of the session.

Earlier this year, VA expanded eligibility for veterans exposed to toxins and hazards, allowing them to enroll directly in the VA health system. This outreach is part of the largest campaign in VA history, initiated by the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act in 2022. Since then, over 835,000 veterans have enrolled in VA health care, 900,000 have upgraded their priority groups, and 4.4 million have applied for disability compensation benefits.

“[W]e don’t want veterans to wait – they should enroll in VA health care today to get full access to primary care, mental health care, regular screenings, specialty care, and more,” VA Secretary Denis McDonough said in a press release announcing the outreach campaign. “That’s what this outreach effort is all about: getting veterans in our care, because veterans who come to VA are proven to do better.”