Starting January 1, more veterans and primary family caregivers will be eligible to shop at military commissaries, base exchanges and will be able to access services at morale, welfare and recreation (MWR) facilities both in-person and online. A recently enacted law extends these privileges to Purple Heart recipients, former prisoners of war and disabled veterans with 0-90% service-connected disability ratings. (Medal of Honor recipients and veterans with 100% service-connected disability ratings are already eligible under existing Department of Defense policy.)
Veterans and Primary Family Caregivers who are eligible and want to take advantage of in-person benefits must have a Veterans Health Identification Card, or VHIC. Primary Family Caregivers must have an eligibility letter from VA’s Office of Community Care.
To receive a VHIC you must be enrolled in the VA health care system. You can complete an enrollment application online at www.va.gov/healthbenefits/enroll or over the telephone by calling call 1-877-222-VETS (8387) Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Central Time.
