Friend,

I’m writing to you with some important news about health care for post-9/11 combat zone veterans. I hope you’ll help me spread the word to everyone who bravely served our country.

You may have heard about the PACT Act, a law I voted for last year that expands VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. 

The PACT Act also created a special enrollment period for certain post-9/11 veterans to enroll in VA health care. If you were deployed to a combat zone and discharged or released between September 11, 2001, and October 1, 2013, you are eligible to enroll.  

The enrollment deadline is September 30, 2023 at 11:59 PM CT. Veterans can still enroll after this deadline, but they’ll be subject to phased-in enrollment, which can mean longer waits for eligibility. 

Symptoms of toxic exposure or other illnesses can show up years after service, so I encourage all veterans who are eligible to enroll now to ensure they are receiving the best health care possible. 

To learn more and enroll, click here or call 1-800-MY VA 411. Please share this message with any veterans you care about – I want to make sure they get the health care they earned. 

My San Antonio office is here for any help you may need with federal agencies like the VA. You can get in touch by calling 210-348-8216. 

Thank you,

Joaquin Castro
Member of Congress