The Department of Defense expanded commissary shopping privileges in the U.S. effective 1 January 2020 as part of the Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act of 2018, included in the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019. This expansion adds to the existing authorized shopper list here.
Access was expanded to include:
- Veterans with any service-connected disability
- Purple Heart recipients
- Former Prisoners of war, and
- Individuals approved and designated as the primary family caregivers of eligible Veterans under the Department of Veterans Affairs Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers
Overseas Veterans check with your local installation to verify privileges.
The Benefits of Shopping Your Commissary
THE COMMISSARIES EXIST TO ENHANCE THE MILITARY FAMILY QUALITY OF LIFE WITH:
- Savings exclusive to our shoppers means more savings in your pocket, every time you shop
- Commissary Store Brands with quality equivalent or better than national brands and even greater savings
- Manufacturer coupons like you’ve never experienced at competitive retailers
- Convenience of online shopping through Commissary CLICK2GO, offering even greater convenience with digital coupons, custom shopping lists, and curbside grocery pick-up
- Dietitian-approved labels and recipes, on-the-go meals and snacks to help you maintain mission readiness
- A military connection and camaraderie exclusive to eligible patrons and family
- A workforce that understands and values you because they’ve also served
How to determine eligibility or obtain your Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) if you don’t already have one.
Find out if you’re eligible for VA health care benefits through their website: https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility. You can apply through one of the following methods if you meet 
eligibility requirements:
- Phone: 877-222-8387, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET to get help with your application.
- Mail: Fill out the Application for Health Benefits (VA Form 10-10EZ).
- In Person: Fill out the Application for Health Benefits (VA Form 10-10EZ).
- With help of a trained professional: You can work with a trained professional called an accredited representative to get help applying for health care benefits.
Go to: https://www.va.gov/health-care/how-to-apply/ for more information.
What you need to do before you shop.
- Confirm your Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) has one of the required designations, (SERVICE CONNECTED, MEDAL OF HONOR, PURPLE HEART, FORMER POW), or obtain your Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) as outlined above. You will need this for your commissary checkout experience.
- Contact the base you intend to visit beforehand and determine what their current policy is for base access.
- Check out https://corp.commissaries.com/rewards-and-savings/savings-center/featured-items-sales-flyer to start saving now or https://shop.commissaries.com to place your order online.
What you need to know about credit card/debit card user fees.
1.9% for Credit and Signature Debit Cards
The fees will be assessed at 1.9% of the total transaction cost to these new patrons who use credit cards and signature debit cards, which are accepted and processed as credit transactions.
0.5% for PIN Debit Cards
The assessed fee will be 0.5% for personal identification number (PIN) debit card transactions.
User Fee Exemptions
Individuals paying cash and using the MILITARY STAR card, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) and eWIC cards will not be assessed the user fee on their transactions.