The Department of Veterans Affairs says more than 300,000 new veterans enrolled in VA health care so far in 2026, and the department’s published copay schedule caps what most of them can pay for medications at $700 in a calendar year. The enrollment figure comes from a VA news release dated Oct. 21, and the copay rates took effect Jan. 1.
VA Secretary Doug Collins said the more than 300,000 new enrollees “underscore the success of our reforms.” The department also reported 1.8 million completed or scheduled appointments with the new enrollees, including more than 420,000 for mental health and more than 16,000 for emergency care.
What 300,000 new enrollees means for costs
Enrolling is not the same as paying, and VA’s enrollment release gives no cost detail, since the cost depends on how a veteran is rated and what the veteran earns. VA’s 2026 copay schedule, updated Oct. 26, charges $15 for a primary care visit and $50 for a specialty visit. X-rays, lab tests and preventive services carry no copay…