Nursing home care and medical services are now free to the Greatest Generation (World War II veterans) under a new policy by the Department of Veterans Affairs that waives enrollment fees, copays and monthly premiums for the roughly 119,000 World War II veterans still alive.

The no-cost care is effective immediately under the new VA policies announced Friday. Veterans who served between Dec. 7, 1941, and Dec. 31, 1946, are eligible for the free health care. They must be enrolled in VA health care to qualify.

Veterans turned down previously for coverage are encouraged to reapply, as are those denied coverage because of income eligibility restrictions.