What Are VA Priority Groups?
After the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) processes your application and you enroll in VA health care, the VA assigns you to one of 8 VA priority groups. At Rank and Pay, we explain VA benefit rules; the VA sets the groups. Your priority group may affect how much, if anything, you pay toward the cost of care.
The VA bases priority group assignments on several factors: military service history, disability rating, income level, whether you qualify for Medicaid, and other benefits you receive such as a VA pension. Veterans with service-connected disabilities receive the highest priority. For example, a service-connected disability rated at 50% or more, or a determination that your service-connected disability leaves you unable to work, falls under group 1. The lowest priority goes to veterans with higher income levels and no service-connected disabilities qualifying them for compensation.
If you qualify for more than one group, the VA assigns you to the highest one. For a broader overview of the enrollment process, read our VA health care overview, or review our guide comparing VA health care vs TRICARE to see how the two systems compare.
The 8 Health Care Groups at a Glance
The VA uses 8 distinct groups to administer enrollment. Each group reflects specific service events, disability ratings, or financial thresholds.
| Priority Group | Who May Be Assigned |
|---|---|
| Group 1 | Service-connected disabilities rated 50% or more, unemployability, or Medal of Honor recipients. |
| Group 2 | Service-connected disabilities rated 30% or 40%. |
| Group 3 | Former POWs, Purple Heart recipients, disability discharge, ratings of 10% or 20%, or 38 U.S.C. 1151 eligibility. |
| Group 4 | Aid and attendance, housebound benefits, or catastrophic disability determinations. |
| Group 5 | No disability or 0% non-compensable rating with income below adjusted limits, VA pension, or Medicaid eligibility. |
| Group 6 | 0% compensable disability, toxic exposure, combat service, Camp Lejeune service, Gulf War service, or Project 112/SHAD. |
| Group 7 | Gross household income below geographically adjusted income limits who agree to pay copays. |
| Group 8 | Gross household income above VA and geographically adjusted limits who agree to pay copays. |
You can verify current group definitions directly on the VA priority groups page.
Service-Connected Groups 1 to 4
Service-connected disability ratings and special service recognitions place veterans into groups 1 through 4.
Group 1 Ratings and Special Rules
Veterans in group 1 hold the highest priority for VA health care enrollment. A service-connected disability rated 50% or more falls under group 1. You may also be assigned to group 1 if the VA has concluded that your service-connected disability makes you unable to work (unemployable). Medal of Honor recipients also fall under group 1. If you are exploring the highest rating levels, review our guide to 100 percent VA disability benefits.
Group 2 Ratings
The VA assigns group 2 to veterans with a service-connected disability rated 30% or 40%.
Group 3 Ratings and Special Service
Group 3 covers several types of military service, discharges, and disability ratings. A service-connected disability rated 10% or 20% falls under group 3. You may also qualify for group 3 if you are a former prisoner of war or if you received the Purple Heart. Veterans who were discharged from active duty for a disability that was caused or worsened by military service also fall under group 3. In addition, group 3 includes individuals with a special eligibility classification under 38 U.S.C. 1151 (disabled by VA treatment or vocational rehabilitation).
Group 4 Housebound and Disability Determinations
You may be assigned to group 4 if you receive VA aid and attendance or housebound benefits. A VA determination of being catastrophically disabled also falls under group 4.
Income, Pension, and Exposure Groups 5 to 8
Groups 5 through 8 depend on household income levels, pension support, environmental exposures, or specific overseas service.
Group 5 Income and Pension Rules
You may qualify for group 5 if you have no service-connected disability, or if you have a non-compensable service-connected disability rated 0%, and your annual income falls below the VA adjusted income limits based on your resident zip code. Receiving VA pension benefits may also place you in group 5. In addition, veterans eligible for Medicaid programs may be assigned to group 5.
The VA publishes national and geographically adjusted income limits on the VA priority groups page.
Group 6 Service and Exposure Criteria
Group 6 covers specific military service eras, environmental hazard exposures, and 0% compensable disabilities. A compensable service-connected disability rated 0% may place you in group 6.
You may also be assigned to group 6 based on specific historical service periods and locations. This includes participation in Project 112/SHAD, service in World War II between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946, or service in the Persian Gulf War between August 2, 1990 and November 11, 1998. Serving on active duty at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987 may also lead to group 6 assignment.
Group 6 also includes a dedicated combat-veteran route. You may be assigned to group 6 through this path if you meet all three conditions:
- You served in a theater of combat operations after November 11, 1998.
- You were discharged from active duty on or after October 1, 2013.
- You meet the minimum active-duty service requirement.
This combat-veteran path carries 10 years of enhanced eligibility from your discharge or release date. At the end of the 10 years, the VA assigns you to the highest priority group you qualify for.
Groups 7 and 8 Income Limits and Copay Agreements
Groups 7 and 8 depend on gross household income compared with the VA's income limits, and both require agreeing to pay copays.
Group 7 applies if your gross household income falls below the geographically adjusted income limits for where you live, and you agree to pay copays.
Group 8 applies if your gross household income is above both the VA income limits and the geographically adjusted income limits, and you agree to pay copays. Eligibility for group 8 depends on which subpriority group the VA places you in. The VA outlines specific subpriority rules on the VA priority groups page.
Toxic Exposure and Group 6
Environmental and toxic hazard exposures may also lead to assignment in group 6. You may be assigned to group 6 if you took part in a toxic exposure risk activity on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training.
Service in these categories may also lead to group 6 assignment:
- A toxic exposure risk activity.
- A duty station (including the airspace above) on or after August 2, 1990 or September 11, 2001 in countries the VA lists, or in any other country the VA determines is relevant.
- Deployment in support of a named operation, from Operation Enduring Freedom through the Resolute Support Mission.
- Ionizing radiation exposure at atmospheric testing, in the occupation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, or in cleanup and response efforts at Enewetak Atoll, Palomares, Spain, and Thule Air Force Base, Greenland.
- Agent Orange exposure in listed places and periods, including Vietnam, Thailand bases, Laos, Cambodia, Guam or American Samoa, and Johnston Atoll.
To learn more about environmental exposure legislation, read our PACT Act eligibility guide. Check the VA priority groups page for the full list of dates, duty stations, and operations.
Copay Rules Across Priority Groups
Your assigned priority group may affect how much, if anything, you pay toward the cost of care.
Veterans assigned to group 7 or group 8 must agree to pay copays. The VA publishes current copay rates at the VA copay rates page.
For how VA care fits with other coverage, see our guides on Medicare and VA disability, health care after retirement, and health insurance options for veterans.
Checking Your Group and Applying
You can apply for enrollment by submitting the official VA health care application online. You can also review basic eligibility standards on the VA health care eligibility page.
Once your application is processed, your assigned group appears in your VA enrollment letter or your online account at VA.gov. If your income or disability rating changes over time, tell the VA so your records remain accurate.
To take the next step toward enrollment, submit your application through the VA health care application.
This page provides general information and is not legal or financial advice; verify your benefits with the VA.