When you enroll in VA health care, VA puts you in one of eight priority groups. Group 1 is for veterans with a service-connected disability rated 50% or higher, and group 8 is for veterans with no service-connected condition whose income is above VA's limits. For 2026, VA's national income limit is $43,335 for a veteran with no dependents and $52,000 with one dependent, plus $2,984 for each additional dependent. Income at or below that line generally puts you in priority group 5, which means free care for conditions not connected to your service. Your priority group decides what you pay, not what care you can get.
These are VA's 2026 figures, the current table in VA's income limits tool as of October 2026. VA has not published 2027 limits yet. Copay rates below are effective January 1, 2026.
This page is about VA health care enrollment, a separate system from VA disability compensation, the monthly payment tied to a rating percentage. For rating percentages and payment amounts, see the 2026 VA disability pay chart.
What a Priority Group Actually Decides
VA assigns a priority group after it processes your application, based on five things: your military service history, your disability rating, your income level, whether you qualify for Medicaid, and other benefits you receive such as a VA pension. If you qualify for more than one group, VA puts you in the highest one.
The group affects three things:
- Whether you pay copays, and how much, for care not related to a service-connected condition.
- Whether you get free medications and beneficiary travel pay.
- How quickly VA enrolls you, since the system signs up veterans with the most urgent needs first.
It does not change the benefits package. A veteran in group 7 and a veteran in group 1 get the same VA medical benefits package. The difference shows up on the bill.
The 8 VA Priority Groups at a Glance
| Group | Who VA assigns here | Copay posture |
|---|
| 1 | Service-connected disability rated 50% or more, or rated unemployable due to service connection, or Medal of Honor recipient | No copays for any care, tests, or medications |
| 2 | Service-connected disability rated 30% or 40% | No outpatient or inpatient copay; may owe medication copays |
| 3 | Former prisoner of war, Purple Heart recipient, discharged for a service-connected disability, rated 10% or 20%, or special eligibility under 38 U.S.C. 1151 | No outpatient or inpatient copay; may owe medication copays |
| 4 | Receiving VA aid and attendance or housebound benefits, or determined catastrophically disabled | Generally no copays for care; may owe medication copays |
| 5 | No service-connected disability, or a non-compensable 0% rating, and income below VA's adjusted limits for your ZIP code; or receiving VA pension; or eligible for Medicaid | Free care for non-service-connected conditions; may owe medication copays |
| 6 | Compensable 0% rating, Project 112/SHAD, World War II service, Persian Gulf War service August 2, 1990 to November 11, 1998, 30 days at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987, recent combat veterans, or toxic, radiation, or Agent Orange exposure in listed locations and periods | No copay for exposure-related or combat-related care; copays possible for other care |
| 7 | Gross household income below the geographically adjusted limit (GMT) for where you live, and you agree to pay copays | Reduced inpatient copay rate plus outpatient and medication copays |
| 8 | Gross household income above both the national and the geographic limits, and you agree to pay copays | Full copay rates; enrollment depends on subgroup |
VA's 2026 Income Limits
VA runs three separate income tests, and the numbers are far apart. Knowing which one applies to you is most of the answer.
| Threshold | What it decides | 2026 amount, no dependents | With 1 dependent | Each additional dependent |
|---|
| VA pension threshold | Free medications and beneficiary travel pay; also the maximum annual pension rate | $17,441 | $22,839 | add $2,984 |
| VA national income limit | Priority group 5 and free care for non-service-connected conditions | $43,335 | $52,000 | add $2,984 |
| Geographically adjusted limit (GMT) | Priority group 7 instead of group 8 | Varies by ZIP code | Varies by ZIP code | Varies by ZIP code |
National limits with more dependents, for 2026:
| Dependents | 2026 national income limit |
|---|
| 0 | $43,335 |
| 1 | $52,000 |
| 2 | $54,984 |
| 3 | $57,968 |
VA's 2025 national limit was $42,154 with no dependents, so the 2026 figure is $1,181 higher, and the pension threshold rose from $16,695 to $17,441.
The Geographic Limit (GMT) Changes Everything in Expensive Areas
The national limit is the same in every ZIP code. The geographic limit is not. VA builds it from HUD low-income data for your county or metro area, so a veteran in Houston and a veteran in Boston with identical income can land in different priority groups. Here are 2026 GMT thresholds from VA's income limits data:
| Area (sample ZIP) | 2026 GMT, no dependents | 2026 GMT, 1 dependent |
|---|
| San Francisco, CA (94103) | $108,300 | $123,800 |
| Boston, MA (02108) | $92,650 | $105,850 |
| New York, NY (10001) | $90,750 | $103,700 |
| Los Angeles, CA (90012) | $84,850 | $96,950 |
| Concord, NH (03301) | $69,400 | $79,300 |
| Atlanta, GA (30303) | $63,950 | $73,100 |
| Phoenix, AZ (85004) | $62,850 | $71,800 |
| Houston, TX (77002) | $56,650 | $64,750 |
| Cleveland, OH (44113) | $55,650 | $63,600 |
Unlike the national limit, the GMT does not go up by a flat $2,984 per dependent. The increment tracks the local figure, so it is about $9,900 per dependent in Concord and about $15,500 per dependent in San Francisco. Check your own ZIP code in VA's income limits tool at va.gov/health-care/income-limits before assuming a number.
Priority Group 5, 7, or 8: The Income-Driven Comparison
With no service-connected disability and no qualifying exposure or combat service, income alone sorts you into one of three outcomes.
| Priority group 5 | Priority group 7 | Priority group 8 |
|---|
| Income test | At or below the national limit, or the adjusted limit for your ZIP | Above the national limit, below the GMT limit for your ZIP | Above both the national and GMT limits |
| Care for non-service-connected conditions | Free | Copays apply | Copays apply |
| Inpatient copay, first 90 days in a 365-day period | None | $347.20 plus $2 per day | $1,736 plus $10 per day |
| Enrollment | Open | Open if you agree to copays | Depends on subgroup, see below |
Priority Group 8 Subgroups: Who VA Will and Will Not Enroll
Group 8 is the only priority group where some veterans cannot enroll at all. VA splits it into subgroups based on whether you have a 0% non-compensable service-connected condition, when you first enrolled, and how far above the limits your income sits.
| Subgroup | Criteria | Can you enroll? |
|---|
| 8a | Non-compensable 0% service-connected condition, enrolled before January 16, 2003, and continuously enrolled since | Yes |
| 8b | Non-compensable 0% service-connected condition, enrolled on or after June 15, 2009, income exceeds the VA or geographic limit by 10% or less | Yes |
| 8c | No service-connected condition, enrolled as of January 16, 2003, and continuously enrolled since | Yes |
| 8d | No service-connected condition, enrolled on or after June 15, 2009, income exceeds the VA or geographic limit by 10% or less | Yes |
| 8e | Non-compensable 0% service-connected condition, does not meet 8a or 8b | No, except care for the service-connected condition only |
| 8g | No service-connected condition, does not meet 8c or 8d | No |
The 10% relaxation is the practical line for a new applicant. If your 2026 GMT limit is $56,650 and your prior-year gross household income was $60,000, you are about 5.9% over, which puts you in 8d and VA can enroll you. At $70,000 you are 23.6% over and land in 8g, which VA cannot.
How VA Counts Your Income
Three details matter more than the threshold.
It is last year's income. VA uses gross household income from the previous calendar year for you, your spouse, and your dependents, before taxes and other deductions. A veteran who retired mid-year is measured against the year they were still working, which is a common reason to update the file the following year.
Deductible expenses come off the top. VA subtracts certain unreimbursed expenses from the prior year, including qualifying health care and education costs. Large out-of-pocket medical bills can pull a veteran under a limit they appear to be over.
Assets do not count. VA stopped using net worth in health care enrollment and copay decisions in 2015, and removed the regulatory provision in a final rule effective June 24, 2019. Savings, a paid-off house, and retirement balances do not disqualify you. Income does.
Income Does Not Matter at All for Many Veterans
This is the single most misunderstood part of the system. Income only sorts you into a group if nothing else already does.
- Toxic exposure. Since March 5, 2024, VA enrolls veterans who meet basic service and discharge requirements and were exposed to toxins or other hazards in service, regardless of income. VA states this covers veterans who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, or any other combat zone after 9/11. These veterans go to priority group 6.
- A service-connected rating. Any compensable rating puts you in groups 1 through 3 or 6, above the income tests entirely.
- Recent combat service. Veterans who served in a theater of combat operations after November 11, 1998 get 10 years of enhanced eligibility in priority group 6 from the date of discharge. At the end of that window, VA reassigns you to the highest group you then qualify for. Check the discharge-date conditions on VA's priority groups page.
- VA pension, aid and attendance, housebound, POW status, Purple Heart, Medal of Honor, or Medicaid eligibility. Each one routes you around the income test.
If any of these apply, you do not have to report income to enroll. You may still want to, because reporting it can qualify you for free medications, beneficiary travel pay, or free care for conditions unrelated to your service.
How to Apply for VA Health Care
VA says most decisions take less than one week.
- Confirm basic service and discharge eligibility. You need active military, naval, or air service without a dishonorable discharge. If you enlisted after September 7, 1980, or entered active duty after October 16, 1981, you generally need 24 continuous months or the full period you were called up. Exceptions apply if you were discharged for a service-connected disability, for hardship, or on an early out.
- Gather your documents. Social Security numbers for you, your spouse, and your dependents; your DD214 or other separation papers; details of any toxic or hazardous exposure; insurance cards for all coverage including Medicare and employer plans; prior-year gross household income; and last year's deductible expenses.
- Fill out VA Form 10-10EZ, the Application for Health Benefits.
- Submit it one of five ways. Online at va.gov/health-care/apply, by phone at 877-222-8387 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET), by mail to Health Eligibility Center, PO Box 5207, Janesville, WI 53547-5207, in person at any VA medical center or clinic, or with help from an accredited attorney, claims agent, or Veterans Service Organization representative.
- Read your enrollment letter for your priority group, then check the copay rates for that group at va.gov/health-care/copay-rates.
Changing Your Priority Group Later
Your group is not permanent. It changes when your income changes or when VA raises your rating. Two moves are worth knowing:
- File VA Form 10-10EZR, the Health Benefits Update Form, to report a new income figure, new insurance, or a new dependent. A veteran whose income dropped after retiring often moves from group 7 or 8 into group 5 with this form alone.
- File for increased disability compensation if a service-connected condition got worse. A rating increase from 20% to 30% moves you from group 3 to group 2, and an increase to 50% moves you to group 1 with no copays at all. See our step-by-step VA disability claim guide.
If VA grants free care because your income is below the limit, you do not have to resubmit income every year. VA receives IRS and SSA income data annually and contacts you only if it changes your eligibility. If you completed a financial assessment only for free medications or travel pay, update it each year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the VA income limit for 2026?
VA's 2026 national income limit is $43,335 for a veteran with no dependents, $52,000 with one dependent, and $2,984 more for each additional dependent. Separately, VA compares your income to a geographically adjusted limit (GMT) for your ZIP code, which ranges from roughly $54,000 to over $108,000 for a veteran with no dependents depending on where you live. The pension threshold, used for free medications and beneficiary travel, is $17,441 with no dependents.
Which VA priority group gets free health care?
Priority groups 1 through 4 generally pay no copays for care. Group 5 gets free care for conditions not connected to service, based on income, VA pension receipt, or Medicaid eligibility. Group 6 gets free care for exposure-related and combat-related conditions. Groups 7 and 8 pay copays, at reduced rates for group 7 and full rates for group 8.
Can I be denied VA health care because my income is too high?
Yes, but only if you have no other qualifying factor. A veteran with no service-connected condition, no toxic exposure, no combat service in the enhanced window, and income more than 10% above both the national and geographic limits falls in subpriority group 8g, and VA does not enroll that veteran. A veteran with a non-compensable 0% rating in the same position falls in 8e and can get care for the service-connected condition only.
Do my savings or my house count against VA health care eligibility?
No. VA removed net worth from health care enrollment and copay decisions in 2015 and finalized the regulation change effective June 24, 2019. VA looks at your prior-year gross household income and your deductible expenses.
Does VA disability compensation count as income for the priority group test?
VA counts gross household income from the previous year. But a veteran with a compensable service-connected rating is assigned to group 1, 2, 3, or 6 on the rating itself, so the income test does not decide that veteran's group. See VA benefits and other government program eligibility.
What are the 2026 VA copay rates?
Effective January 1, 2026: primary care $15 per visit, specialty care and specialty tests $50 each, urgent care $30 per visit (free for the first three visits each year in groups 1 through 5), and medications $5, $8, or $11 for a 30-day supply by tier, with a $700 annual medication copay cap. Lab tests, X-rays, preventive screenings, immunizations, readjustment counseling, military sexual trauma care, and care for a rated service-connected condition carry no copay.
Can I have VA health care and Medicare at the same time?
Yes, and many veterans should. VA health care is not insurance and does not cover non-VA facilities outside specific community care rules. See VA disability and Medicare in 2026 for how the two fit together.
Where do the numbers on this page come from?
VA's income limits data at va.gov/health-care/income-limits, read October 19, 2026. Group and subgroup criteria come from va.gov/health-care/eligibility/priority-groups, and copay figures from VA's copay rates page effective January 1, 2026. VA makes eligibility determinations, not this site.
