“To Care for Him Who Shall Have Borne the Battle”: Public Attitudes About Privatizing Veterans’ Health Care in the U.S

Most health care services in the United States are delivered by private providers. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) serves as one major exception. However, over the past decade, various new policies have expanded veterans’ access to community providers, opening an ongoing debate over how far privatization should go. We fielded a national survey ( N = 5,852, including 772 veterans) in early 2022 on four privatization proposals of varying scope. Americans broadly supported limited expansions of Community Care but were sharply divided on proposals to replace the VHA through private contracting or private insurance. Conservatives were the most consistent supporters. Veterans who received VHA care were less supportive, and veterans who received Community Care more supportive, of the more far-reaching proposals. Contrary to expectations, veterans satisfied with Community Care were not more supportive of unrestricted privatization. Future reform beyond existing Community Care arrangements may face public resistance, though opinion remains malleable.