Jun 15, 10:01 AM EDT


VA expands health care eligibility for nondisabled

By KIMBERLY HEFLING
Associated Press Writer



WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs has started expanding the number of nondisabled moderate-income veterans eligible for health care in its system.

It expects that with a new regulation going into effect Monday, nearly 266,000 veterans, for the first time, can use its medical centers and clinics starting next year.

The veterans eligible are from a category known as "Priority 8." They were blocked from enrollment in 2003. Under the new regulation some, but not all who fall in this category, will now be eligible.

The VA is expanding eligibility by loosening income restrictions. The most someone previously could make a year in this category to become eligible has now been raised from about $29,000 to $32,000. President Barack Obama said while campaigning that he wanted to bring these veterans into the VA's system.

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END of Associated Press Release