I believe it went this way:

Rolls were re-opened for all vets to enroll as of 1998(?, just prior to the end of Clinton's administration) when the VA decided they didn't have enough traffic to justify all their facilities. Even if you didn't qualify because of income, you could enroll and agree to pay a copay.

Shortly after we entered the 2nd war in Iraq, the VA closed open enrollment as they realized with the new wounded, they were going to be flooded and didn't have adequate facilities to treat non-service related medical problems along with all the new wounded.

Now there are, I believe 8 categories for vets to be placed within the system. Only ones they are taking right now are service disabled- by degrees of compensation, and non service disabled if they are without funds and fit the income requirements of the program category. If your income doesn't fit the category, they don't allow you to get into the system.

Shep

Thanks. I'll try to get tri-care.

Bob Wassam