Veterans in suicide crisis can go to any ER for free
Nearly 50,000 veterans have received free emergency suicide crisis care at both VA and community hospitals since 2023 under a benefit many still don't know exists. The COMPACT Act allows eligible veterans and certain former service members to walk into any emergency room during a mental health crisis and receive VA-funded treatment, even if they aren't enrolled in VA healthcare or don't have a service-connected disability rating. New data from the Department of Veterans Affairs show steady growth in the program's use, with spending on acute suicide crisis care reaching nearly $110 million in fiscal year 2025 alone.
The Emergency Suicide Crisis Benefit was established under the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act, signed into law in 2020 and implemented by VA three years later. Congress created the program specifically to remove financial and administrative barriers that might prevent veterans from seeking help during a suicidal crisis. Coverage includes emergency evaluation and treatment, inpatient or crisis residential care when clinically necessary, and up to 90 days of outpatient follow-up care after the initial emergency visit.
The benefit applies to veterans regardless of whether they are enrolled in VA healthcare, have health insurance, or hold a service-connected disability rating. According to VA data, usage has grown from just over 10,000 veterans in fiscal 2023 to 15,218 in fiscal 2025, with 9,434 veterans receiving the benefit during the first half of fiscal 2026. Importantly, 72 percent of veterans who have used the emergency suicide crisis benefit have since enrolled in VA healthcare, suggesting the program serves as a critical entry point to the VA system for veterans who previously had no connection to their benefits.
Despite this growth, veteran advocates report that many eligible veterans remain unaware of the benefit until they experience a crisis firsthand. Jon Retzer, national legislative director for Disabled American Veterans, said his organization's service officers routinely encounter veterans who mistakenly believe they must already be enrolled in VA healthcare, have a service-connected rating, or seek treatment at a VA medical center before the benefit applies. That uncertainty about whether an emergency room visit will generate medical debt can discourage veterans from seeking treatment precisely when immediate intervention is most critical. David Arthur, an Army Reserve Prevention Integrator, noted that these misconceptions are particularly common among older veterans and those in rural areas who live an hour or more from the nearest VA medical center.
For disabled veterans, this benefit represents a crucial safety net that operates independently of disability ratings, enrollment status, or geographic proximity to VA facilities. Many disabled veterans face compounding stressors including chronic pain, service-connected mental health conditions, financial instability, and social isolation that can precipitate suicidal crises. The COMPACT Act ensures that when a crisis occurs, cost and bureaucracy will not stand between a veteran and potentially life-saving care at the nearest emergency room.
Veterans experiencing a suicidal crisis should seek emergency care immediately at any hospital or emergency room without worrying about eligibility or cost. VA reviews cases after treatment to determine eligibility and works with providers to prevent unexpected medical bills. The 90-day follow-up care period provides a bridge to longer-term mental health support and can facilitate enrollment in VA healthcare for veterans not already in the system. If you or a veteran you know is in crisis, the immediate priority is getting to an emergency room; VA will handle the administrative details afterward.