Thanks to the Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Authorization Act, which was passed into law on January 28 military members who served in combat are now eligible for free medical care from the Department of Veterans Affairs, for five years following discharge, even if their health problems are not service-connected.

To be eligible, members must have served in a combat zone after Nov. 11, 1998, and must have received a discharge under conditions that the VA does not classify as dishonorable.