By Allison Linn

More than 1.3 million working-age veterans dont have health insurance and are failing to take advantage of health care available through Veterans Affairs, a new study finds.

Researchers at the Urban Institute used census data to estimate health insurance coverage for veterans aged 19 to 64.

While veterans are more likely to have health insurance than the general population, about 1 in 10 of the nearly 12.5 million veterans under age 65 do not have health coverage either through the VA or other insurers.

The rates of uninsurance appear to be especially high for veterans under age35.

They are disproportionately younger, and they appear to have served more recently, said Genevieve Kenney, a senior fellow with the Urban Institute and co-author of the report.

Kenney said the uninsured veterans also tended to have lower incomes and lower levels of education and were less likely to be full-time workers than the veterans with health coverage.

Contrary to popular belief, veterans are not automatically eligible for health care coverage once they leave the military. Jacob Gadd, deputy director for health care with the American Legion, said health coverage is generally provided to the poorest and the most badly injured of those who have served.

For example, combat veterans are eligible for five years of free medical care for any service-related issues. Other veterans can get at least some coverage for injuries if they can prove they are related to their service.

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1.3 million veterans lack health coverage