VA CATEGORIES 1 through 8

What are the Category Groups?

Once you apply for enrollment, your eligibility will be verified. Based on your specific eligibility status, you will be assigned a Category group.

The priority groups are as follows, ranging from 1-8 with 1 being the highest priority for enrollment. Under the Medical Benefits Package, the same services are generally available to all enrolled veterans.

As of Jan 17, 2003, VA is not accepting new Category Group 8 veterans for enrollment (veterans falling into Category Groups 8e and 8g.)

Category Group 1

Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 50% or more disabling

Category Group 2

Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 30% or 40% disabling

Category Group 3

Veterans who are former POWs

Veterans awarded the Purple Heart

Veterans whose discharge was for a disability that was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty

Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 10% or 20% disabling

Veterans awarded special eligibility classification under Title 38, U.S.C., Section 1151, "benefits for individuals disabled by treatment or vocational rehabilitation"

Category Group 4

Veterans who are receiving aid and attendance or housebound benefits

Veterans who have been determined by VA to be catastrophically disabled

Category Group 5

Non-service-connected veterans and non-compensable service-connected veterans rated 0% disabled whose annual income and net worth are below the established VA Means Test thresholds

Veterans receiving VA pension benefits

Veterans eligible for Medicaid benefits

Category Group 6

Compensable 0% service-connected veterans

World War I veterans

Mexican Border War veterans

Veterans solely seeking care for disorders associated with:


exposure to herbicides while serving in Vietnam; or

exposure to ionizing radiation during atmospheric testing or during the occupation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; or

for disorders associated with service in the Gulf War; or

for any illness associated with service in combat in a war after the Gulf War or during a period of hostility after November 11, 1998.

Category Group 7

Veterans who agree to pay specified co-payments with income and/or net worth above the VA Means Test threshold and income below the HUD geographic index

Subpriority a: Noncompensable 0% service-connected veterans who were enrolled in the VA Health Care System on a specified date and who have remained enrolled since that date

Subpriority c: Nonservice-connected 5b4 veterans who were enrolled in the VA Health Care System on a specified date and who have remained enrolled since that date

Subpriority e: Noncompensable 0% service-connected veterans not included in Subpriority a above

Subpriority g: Nonservice-connected veterans not included in Subpriority c above

Category Group 8
Veterans who agree to pay specified co-payments with income and/or net worth above the VA Means Test threshold and the HUD geographic index

Subpriority a: Noncompensable 0% service-connected veterans enrolled as of Jan 16, 2003 and who have remained enrolled since that date

Subpriority c: Nonservice-connected veterans enrolled as of Jan 16, 2003 and who have remained enrolled since that date

Subpriority e: Noncompensable 0% service-connected veterans applying for enrollment after Jan 16, 2003

Subpriority g: Nonservice-connected veterans applying for enrollment after Jan 16, 2003