American Former Prisoners of War -- Health Care

The VA health care system affords priority treatment for former POWs.

Former POWs who have a service-connected disability are eligible for VA health care. This includes hospital, nursing home, and outpatient treatment.

• Service-Connected Disability - Service-connected" means, with respect to disability or death, that such disability was incurred or aggravated, or that the death resulted from a disability incurred or aggravated, in line of duty in the active military, naval, or air service."  38 CFR 3.1(k).

Former POWs who do not have a service-connected disability are eligible for VA hospital and nursing home care - without regard to their ability to pay.

They are also eligible for outpatient care on a priority basis - second only to veterans with service-connected disabilities.

While former POWs are receiving treatment in an approved outpatient treatment program, they are eligible for needed medicines, glasses, hearing aids, or prostheses. Former POWs are also eligible for all needed dental care.

There is no co-payment requirement for former POWs at VA pharmacies.