VA Waives Copays for American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans

Learn if you’re eligible for copay exemption

A Native Veteran and her partner spending time with their three children in their living roomOn April 4, 2023, VA published a final rule waiving copayments for health care and all urgent care visits for eligible American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans. This copay exemption connects Veterans to the soonest and best care and encourages American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans to seek medical care through VA. 

Copays for domiciliary care, institutional respite care, institutional geriatric evaluation, and nursing home care are still required.

Learn if you or a Veteran you know may be eligible for this copay exemption.

How does the new policy benefit American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans?

The new policy: 

  • Implements Section 3002 of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020.

  • Retroactively reimburses eligible American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans from copayments for health care and all urgent care visits received on or after January 5, 2022.

  • Eliminates future collection of copayments for health care and all urgent care visits for eligible American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans. 

How to receive this benefit

If you’re an American Indian or Alaska Native Veteran, please submit the following by mail: 

Please do not mail your original copies. Copies of Veteran documentation can be mailed to:

VHA Tribal Documentation
PO Box 5100
Janesville, WI 53547-5100

Learn more about copay rates on VA.gov or call 1-800-MyVA411 (1-800-698-2411) for more information.


Please vote in our unscientific poll. All responses are anonymous.


Read More

VA Copay Rates (VA.gov)

Health Care Eligibility Under the Pact Act


Created on April 4, 2023