VA Health Care Enrollment Surges by 23% in West Virginia, Thanks to PACT Act Expansion and Outreach Campaigns

Over the past year, the Department of Veterans Affairs has successfully enrolled over 2,000 West Virginian veterans in VA health care, marking a significant 23 percent increase from previous years. This growth in enrollment can be attributed to expansions in the PACT Act, which have allowed the VA to extend health care and benefits to millions of veterans.

Effective March 5, 2024, all veterans who were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving in the military and meet specific requirements are eligible to enroll directly in VA health care. VA Secretary Denis McDonough emphasized the importance of enrolling in VA health care, citing that veterans who utilize VA services experience better health outcomes and incur lower costs compared to those who do not. The VA has engaged in an aggressive outreach campaign over the past year, hosting numerous events, sending millions of texts, and advertising extensively to encourage veteran enrollment.

Nationally, enrollment rates saw a 30 percent increase, marking the highest number of yearly enrollees at the VA in at least five years and nearly a 50 percent jump from 2020’s pandemic-level enrollment. Appalachia Health News, a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health, reported on these positive developments in veteran enrollment in VA health care.