VA Medical Center in San Francisco (Photo: Sanfranman59)
Through 2027, Veterans will not be required to pay copays for their first three outpatient mental health and substance use disorder visits each calendar year.
This policy, initiated by the VA, attempts to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for Veterans, provided the visits are with VA mental health professionals or within the VA’s community care network. This copayment exemption, which started on June 27, 2023, will last until December 29, 2027.
Veterans do not need to take any action to receive refunds for copays paid on or after June 27, 2023, as the VA will automatically process these reimbursements. To qualify, the outpatient visits must be conducted by a VA-affiliated mental health professional or through the VA’s community care network.
In addition to the copayment exemption, a new policy was launched in 2023 that allows eligible Veterans and certain former Service Members experiencing acute suicidal crises to receive no-cost emergency care at any VA or non-VA emergency facility. Since its implementation, over 60,000 individuals have benefited from this policy, which has provided crucial, lifesaving care and significantly reduced health care costs. This policy extends access to no-cost emergent suicide care to up to 9 million eligible individuals, even those not enrolled in the VA system.
To further improve access to mental health services, the VA is actively recruiting mental health professionals nationwide. Over the past three fiscal years, the Veterans Health Administration has hired more than 9,000 mental health professionals, including psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, counselors, nurses, peer support specialists, and physician assistants. In fiscal year 2024 alone, 2,000 positions were filled.
The VA, alongside the Biden-Harris administration, is dedicated to ensuring that all Veterans have access to high-quality mental health care. The VA is currently providing mental health services to more Veterans while also reducing wait times for new appointments. Trust in VA outpatient care has reached a historic high of 91.8%, and recent studies and patient satisfaction surveys have shown that VA care outperforms non-VA services.
VA Secretary Denis McDonough noted the importance of making mental health care accessible to all Veterans, regardless of their financial situation. The goal is to ensure that every Veteran can access the necessary care whenever and wherever needed.
For more information on mental health care services provided by the VA, visit their mental health website.
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted connection to the military, a spouse who is a Navy veteran, a father who served in the Air Force for 25 years, and a grandfather who proudly served, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.
