Recent amendments to the Veterans Health Care Regulations will provide a greater number of veterans, still-serving Canadian Forces members, and civilian groups with access to care and treatment options. As a result of the amendments:

• our national home and community care program, the Veterans Independent Program (VIP), will be extended to income-qualified civilians who served overseas during the Second World War. This includes members of the Newfoundland Overseas Forestry Unit, the Ferry Command, the Corps of (Civilian) Canadian Fire Fighters and Overseas Welfare Workers;
• VIP will be extended to Canadian Forces (CF) clients for their pensioned conditions based on assessed need;
• community-based chronic care will be extended to CF clients for their pensioned conditions and to Canada Service Veterans;
• seriously disabled wartime veteran pensioners and civilians pensioners (those assessed at 78% or more under the Pension Act for war service disabilities) will be able to access health care benefits for all their health needs, not just those related to their pensioned conditions; and
• income-qualified clients will receive uninterrupted eligibility for health care benefits for life based on need.