Michigan Veterans Affairs PACT ACT enrollment initiative

MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Department of Veterans Affairs has started to process claims for recipients of the Pact Act, a law that was signed by President Biden last year.

The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency has been working to try to get more veterans enrolled for the benefits, which could help many from the Upper Peninsula, where there are over 25,000 veterans. The new law cuts thru red tape that left service members frustrated and unmotivated to seek benefits in the past.

Adam Hollier, Director of the Michigan Veteran Affairs said, “You may know, or love or be connected to someone who served who has gone through this process in the past and was frustrated because the system wasn’t working, and we failed them. We need you to say, hey mom, dad, cousin, uncle, brother sister, friend, you are eligible, and you need to go take advantage of that.”

According to Hollier the more service members who utilize the benefits they’ve earned, the more potential there will be for future benefits and facilities to receive proper care for their treatment.

Hollier said, “And we see this a lot with our service members. They feel like any benefit that they take means that someone who is, “more deserving” or “needs it more” than they do, will lose by it, and we know that is the exact opposite.”

The PACT ACT extends eligibility of VA health care for veterans and covers many existing and presumptive conditions.

For more information for yourself or a loved one, please visit, https://www.co.marquette.mi.us/departments/department_of_veterans_affairs/.