VA Says More Than 300,000 New Veterans Enrolled in VA Health Care in 2026
More than 300,000 new veterans have enrolled in VA health care so far in 2026, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced on October 21.
VA said the veterans who joined in 2026 have already completed or scheduled more than 1.8 million medical appointments, including more than 420,000 mental health appointments and more than 16,000 emergency care visits. The department said it is expanding outreach to veterans who are not enrolled in VA care and benefits, which it said can save veterans and their families thousands of dollars each year.
VA Secretary Doug Collins said in a statement that under President Trump, VA is improving its service to veterans at a record pace, and that the more than 300,000 new enrollees underscore the success of the reforms, citing expanded access to care, reduced backlogs and wait times, and rebuilt facilities.
VA also reported that it has opened 43 new health care clinics since January 2025; that the backlog of veterans waiting for VA benefits is down more than 70% since January 20, 2025; that average disability claims processing time is down 46% over the same period; that it completed a record 82,083,918 direct care appointments in fiscal year 2025, up 4.1% from fiscal 2024, and 59,989,662 community care appointments, up 12%; and that it has approved nearly $5 billion in fiscal 2026 to modernize, repair and improve health care facilities. Veterans can learn more on VA's website or call VA around the clock at 800-698-2411.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 位于华盛顿的美国退伍军人事务部总部铭牌（Tony Webster 摄，CC BY 2.0，经 Wikimedia Commons）。 / The headquarters plaque of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington (photo by Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons).
