Ask a Service Officer: Affordable Care Act

Q. As a veteran, do I need to sign up for the Affordable Care Act? 

A. If you are enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health-care program, including VA's health care, Civilian Health and Medical and Spina Bifida Health Care, you have coverage under the standards of the health-care law and do not need to take further action. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) does not change your VA benefits or out-of-pocket costs.

Veterans enrolled in VA’s health-care system will receive this information through the mail. The letter from VA is another means to inform you that there is no need to take any additional steps to obtain health insurance to comply with the health care law coverage standards going into effect in January 2014.

It is important to note that if you are in Priority Group 8E/G, you are not enrolled in VA’s health-care system. Therefore you must takes steps to gain health coverage that meet minimum requirements under the ACA. Sub-priority group 8E and 8G are Veterans with gross household incomes above the VA national income thresold and the geographically-adjusted income threshold for their resident location and are either zero percent, non-compensable service-connected or not service-connected at any rate.

Find a Legion service officer in your state: www.legion.org/serviceofficers