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Veterans won’t need to pay the first three copays each calendar year for outpatient mental health and substance use disorder visits through 2027, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced.
The benefit covers retroactive payments for mental health visits from June 27, 2023, and ends on December 29, 2027.
Veterans enrolled in VA health care are eligible if they have an outpatient visit with a qualified mental health professional at a VA facility or with a VA community care provider. If they paid a copay to VA for these visits on or after June 27, 2023, they will automatically receive a refund.
The VA also reported an increase in mental health appointments for veterans and reduced wait times for new appointments.
Veteran trust in VA outpatient care is currently at an all-time high of 91.8 percent and has recently outperformed non-VA care in peer-reviewed studies, hospital ratings and patient satisfaction surveys, the agency said in a statement.
“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,” said VA secretary Denis McDonough.
Last year, the VA launched a program providing free treatment for most veterans in acute suicidal crisis at any VA or non-VA emergency facility, even if they aren’t enrolled in VA health care. Providers must contact the VA within 72 hours via the emergency care reporting portal or by calling 844-724-7842.
Veterans in crisis also have the option to call the National Suicide Hotline at 988 and then press 1 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line and speak with a responder trained in crisis intervention and military culture. The line is also available by chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat or by text at 838255.
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