A person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released under condition other than dishonorable may qualify for VA health care benefits including qualifying Reserve and National Guard members.

Veterans who enlisted after September 7, 1980, or entered active duty after October 16, 1981, must have served 24 continuous months or the full period for which they were called to duty in order to be eligible. This minimum duty requirement may not apply to Veterans discharged for hardship, early out or a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.

Veterans can complete applications for enrollment in VA health care by using one of the options below:

• To apply by phone, call 1-877-222-VETS (8387) Monday – Friday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. EST. VA staff members will collect the needed information and process the enrollment application for an enrollment determination.
• When applying online at Vets.gov, Veterans fill out the application and electronically submit it to VA for processing. VA will search for your supporting documentation through its electronic information systems and will contact you if it is unable to verify your military service.
• The application form can also be downloaded from www.vets.gov/healthcare/apply/. Mail the completed form to: Health Eligibility Center Enrollment Eligibility Division 2957 Clairmont Road Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30329-1647
• Apply in person at any VA health care facility or VA regional office. Once enrolled, Veterans can receive health care at VA health care facilities anywhere in the country.

The following four categories of veterans are not required to enroll, but are urged to do so to permit better planning of health resources:

1. Veterans with a service-connected disability of 50 percent or more.
2. Veterans seeking care for a disability the military determined was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, but which VA has not yet rated, within 12 months of discharge.
3. Veterans seeking care for a service-connected disability only.
4. Veterans seeking registry examinations (Ionizing Radiation, Agent Orange, Gulf War/Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) depleted uranium, airborne hazards and Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry).

• GROUP 1: Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 50 percent or more and/or Veterans determined by VA to be unemployable due to service-connected conditions; and Veterans who have been awarded the Medal of Honor.
• GROUP 2: Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 30 or 40 percent.
• GROUP 3: Veterans who are former prisoners of war (POWs); Veterans awarded the Purple Heart medal; Veterans whose discharge was for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty; Veterans with VA service-connected disabilities rated 10 percent or 20 percent and Veterans awarded eligibility classification under Title 38, U.S.C., 1151, “benefits for individuals disabled by treatment or vocational rehabilitation.”
• GROUP 4: Veterans receiving increased compensation or pension based on their need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being permanently housebound and Veterans determined by VA to be catastrophically disabled.
• GROUP 5: Nonservice-connected Veterans and non-compensable service-connected Veterans rated by VA as 0% disabled and who have an annual income below the VA’s geographically-adjusted income limit (based on your resident ZIP code); Veterans receiving VA Pension benefits; and Veterans eligible for Medicaid benefits.
• GROUP 6: COMPENSABLE 0 percent service-connected Veterans; Veterans exposed to ionizing radiation during atmospheric testing or during the occupation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Project 112/SHAD participants; Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975; Veterans who served in the Southwest Asia theater of operations from August 2, 1990, through November 11, 1998; Veterans who served in a theater of combat operations after November 11, 1998, as follows: Veterans discharged from active duty on or after January 28, 2003, for five years post discharge; and Veterans who served on active duty at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987. Currently enrolled Veterans and new enrollees who served in a theater of combat operations after November 11, 1998 and those who were discharged from active duty on or after January 28, 2003, are eligible for the enhanced benefits for five years post discharge.Note: At the end of this enhanced enrollment priority group placement time period, Veterans will be assigned to the highest priority group their eligibility for which their status at that time qualifies.
• GROUP 7: Veterans with gross household income below the “geographically-adjusted” VA income limit for their resident location and who agree to pay copayments.
• GROUP 8: Veterans with gross household income above VA national income limit and the “geographically-adjusted” income limit for their resident location and who agree to pay copayments. Veterans eligible for enrollment: Non-compensable 0-percent service-connected and are:
  • Sub-Priority A: Enrolled as of January 16, 2003, and who have remained enrolled since that date and/or placed in this sub-priority due to changed eligibility status.
  • Sub-Priority B: Enrolled on or after June 15, 2009, whose income exceeds the current VA national income thresholds or VA national geographic income thresholds by 10 percent or less Veterans eligible for enrollment: non-service-connected and:
  • Sub-Priority C: Enrolled as of January 16, 2003, and who remained enrolled since that date and/or placed in this sub-priority due to changed eligibility status.
  • Sub-Priority D: Enrolled on or after June 15, 2009 whose income exceeds the current VA national income limits or VA national geographic income thresholds by 10 percent or less Veterans NOT eligible for enrollment: Veterans not meeting the criteria above.
  • Sub-Priority E: Non-compensable 0-percent service-connected (eligible for care of their service-connected condition only).
  • Sub-Priority F: Nonservice-connected
    VA’s income limit change annually and current levels can be located at http://nationalincomelimits.vaftl.us/.

As directed by the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014. VA implemented the Veterans Choice Program, which allows certain eligible Veterans to elect to receive care from non-VA health care providers if they cannot receive VA care within 30 days or live more than 40 miles from a VA facility or face excessive travel burdens.

• The VA CHOICE PROGRAM HAS BEEN REPLACED BY THE VA MISSION ACT OF 2018. ALL VETERANS ENROLLED IN THE VA CHOICE PROGRAM ARE AUTOMATICALLY ENROLLED UNDER THE VA MISSION ACT.

• The Veterans Choice Program (VCP) is the name of a Federal program started in 2014 to quickly expand access to care for Veterans. VCP ended on June 6, 2019.
• The VA MISSION ACT is the name of a Federal law that established a new community care program, among other provisions. Some provisions affect other types of VA benefits for Veterans beyond community care.

VA MISSION ACT of 2018 – Delivering an excellent experience of care for Veterans, families, and caregivers is at the core of the Veterans Administrations’ approach to the Mission Act.

• VA is one integrated system with internal and community aspects of care delivery.
• The Mission Act strengthens both aspects of care delivery and empowers Veterans to find balance in the system that is right for them.
• VA is leveraging this opportunity to grow into an optimized, customer-centric network.

OVERVIEW
Veterans may be eligible for care through a provider in their local community depending on their health care needs or circumstances, and if they meet specific eligibility criteria. Even if a Veteran is eligible for community care, they generally still have the option to receive care from a VA medical facility.

In most cases, Veterans must receive approval from VA before receiving care from a community provider to avoid being billed for the care. VA staff members generally make all eligibility determinations for community care.

IMPROVEMENTS
In addition to new eligibility criteria, there are a variety of improvements under the VA MISSION ACT that make community care work better for Veterans:

• CONSOLIDATED COMMUNITY CARE PROGRAM: Existing programs were combined into a new community care program. The Veterans Choice Program ended on June 6, 2019 but some elements were adopted in the new program. With a consolidated program and a single set of rules and processes, there is less complexity and likelihood of errors and problems.
• BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE: VA implemented and redesigned, streamlined internal processes with improved education and communications resources for Veterans, Veteran Service Organization (VSO) partners, and VA employees involved in community care operations. This makes administrating community care easier and supports excellent customer service for Veterans.
• NEW URGENT CARE BENEFIT: A new benefit provides eligible Veterans with access to non-emergency care for certain conditions in the VA network of community providers. Veterans can go to any urgent care or walk-in care provider in VA’s network without prior authorization from VA. There may be copayments associated with this benefit depending on a Veteran’s assigned priority group and the number of times the benefit is used.
• NEW COMMUNITY CARE NETWORK: VA is establishing a new Community Care Network (CCN) of community providers administered by Third Party Administrators (TPAs). Once CCN is implemented, VA will directly coordinate with Veterans to schedule community care appointments (and in some instances continue to be able to schedule their own appointments) and support care coordination. VA’s TPAs will also be required to make timely payments to community providers.
• MODERN IT SYSTEMS: VA is modernizing its information technology (IT) systems to replace a patchwork of old technology and manual processes that slowed down the administration and delivery of community care. Once in place, the new IT systems will speed up all aspects of community care – eligibility, authorizations, appointments, care coordination, claims, payments – while improving overall communication between Veterans, community providers, and VA staff members.

TIMING
The new community care program started June 6, 2019. At that time, VA’s traditional community care program and Veterans Choice program ended. A complete rollout of all six, regions of the Community Care Network (CNN) is expected by 2020. Upgraded IT systems are also being implemented, with some expected to be completed in 2019 and others in 2020.

Women Veterans are eligible for the same VA benefits as male Veterans. Medical facility staff delivers the highest quality health care in a setting that ensures privacy, dignity, and sensitivity. Local facilities offer a variety of services, including women’s gender-specific health, screening and disease prevention and routine gynecologic services.

Women Veterans are potentially eligible to receive care provided in the community when authorized by VA: however, the decision to use such care is left to the facility providing care. By law, purchased care can only be provided when the treating facility cannot provide the care required or because of geographical inaccessibility.

Contact a local VA facility’s Women Veterans Program Manager for more information on available services, call 1-855-VA-Women (1-855-829-6636) or visit www.womenshealth.va.gov/.

LGBT Veterans are eligible for the same VA benefits as any other Veteran and will be treated in a welcoming environment. Transgender Veterans will be treated based upon their self-described gender, including room assignments in residential and inpatient settings. Same-sex Couples: VA launched a new website to inform Veterans and beneficiaries of the recent changes in the law and procedures involving same-sex marriages. Veterans can learn more about VA’s guidance regarding same-sex marriages at www.va.gov/opa/marriage.

Military sexual trauma (MST) is the term that VA uses to refer to sexual assault or repeated, threatening sexual harassment occurring during a Veteran’s military service. VA has expanded eligibility for Veterans in need of mental health care due to sexual assault or sexual harassment to Reservists and National Guard members participating in weekend drills. To receive free treatment related to MST, Veterans do not need a VA service-connected disability. Veterans do not need to have reported the incident when it happened or have other documentation that it occurred. There are no length-of-service requirements to receive care, and some Veterans may be able to receive free MST-related care even if they are not eligible for other VA care. Veterans can learn more about VA’s MST-related services online at www.mentalhealth.va.gov/msthome.asp.

Each VA medical center has an Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) Care Management team in place to coordinate patient care activities and ensure that service members and Veterans are receiving patient-centered integrated care and benefits. Veterans who served in a theater of operations after November 11, 1998, are eligible for an extended period of eligibility for health care for five years after their discharge. In the case of multiple call-ups, the five-year enrollment period begins on the most recent discharge date. This special eligibility includes cost-free health care services and nursing home care for conditions possibly related to military service and enrollment in PG 6 or higher for five years from their date of discharge or release from active duty unless they are eligible for enrollment in a higher priority group. More information for connecting with OEF/OIF/OND Care Management teams can be found at www.oefoif.va.gov

Veterans who are enrolled with VA for their health care meet the standard for minimum health care coverage: therefore, they are not eligible for assistance to lower cost of health insurance premiums if they chose to purchase additional health insurance outside of their VA health care coverage. Remember, Veterans cannot receive a tax credit for themselves when enrolling within the Marketplace, if they are currently enrolled with VA for their health care. For the latest information about VA and the health care law, visit www.va.gov/health/aca/FAQ.asp or call 1-877-222-VETS (8387).

Most Veterans not receiving VA disability compensation or pension payments must provide a financial assessment upon initial application to determine their eligibility for free medical care, medications and/or travel benefits. This financial information also may be used to determine the Veteran’s enrollment Priority Group.

For more information, visit  www.va.gov/healthbenefits/cost/financial_assessment.asp, call toll free 1-877-222-VETS (8387) Monday-Friday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. EST or contact the enrollment coordinator at your local VA medical facility. VA’s income limits are located at nationalincomelimits.vaftl.us/. 

As of 2014, VA no longer requires enrolled non-service connected and 0-percent non-compensable service-connected Veterans to provide their financial information annually. An assessment will continue to be collected from Veterans at the time of application for enrollment. In lieu of the annual financial reporting, VA will confirm the Veteran’s financial information using information obtained from the Internal Revenue Service and Social Security Administration.

While many Veterans qualify for free health care based on a VA compensable service-connected condition or other special eligibility, most Veterans are required to complete a financial assessment or means test at the time of enrollment to determine if they qualify for free health care services. Veterans whose income exceeds VA income limits, as well as those, choose not to complete the financial assessment at the time of enrollment, must agree to pay required copays for health care services to become eligible for VA healthcare services. For more information on medical services and copays, visit https://www.va.gov/HEALTHBENEFITS/cost/index.asp  

Veterans with private health insurance may choose to use these sources of coverage as a supplement to their VA benefits. Veterans are not responsible to pay for VA medical services billed to their health insurance company that are not paid by their insurance carrier.

By law, VA is obligated to bill health insurance carriers for services provided to treat a Veteran’s nonservice-connected conditions. Veterans are asked to disclose all relevant health insurance information to ensure current insurance information is on file, including coverage through a spouse. Identification of insurance information is essential to VA because collections received from private health insurance companies help supplement the funding available to provide services to more Veterans. Enrolled Veterans can provide or update their insurance information by:

1. Using the online 10-10-EZR, “Health Benefits Renewal” form at vets.gov/healthcare/apply/
2. Calling 1-877-222-VETS (8387) Monday – Friday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. EST
3. Using the self-service Kiosks available at their local VA health care facility. VA health care is NOT considered a health insurance plan.

Eligible Veterans and non-Veterans may be provided mileage reimbursement or, when medically indicated, special mode transport (e.g., wheelchair van, ambulance), when travel is in relation to VA medical care. Mileage reimbursement is 41.5 cents per mile and is subject to a deductible of $3 for each one-way trip and $6 for a round trip; with a maximum deductible of $18 or the amount after six one-way trips (whichever occurs first) per calendar month. The deductible may be waived, when travel is; in relation to a VA compensation or pension examination: by a special mode of transportation; by an eligible non-Veteran; or will cause severe financial hardship, as defined by current regulatory guidelines.

A Veteran may be eligible for beneficiary travel services if the following criteria are met:

• Have a service-connected (SC) rating of 30 percent or more, or
• Are traveling for treatment of an SC condition, or
• Receive a VA pension, or
• Your income does not exceed the maximum annual VA pension rate, or
• Are traveling for scheduled compensation or pension, or
• If not otherwise eligible as noted above and;
• Have a vision impairment, spinal cord injury or disorder, or
• A double or multiple amputations who’s travel in connection with care provided through a VA special disabilities rehabilitation program (including programs provided by spinal cord injury centers, blind rehabilitation centers, and prosthetics rehabilitation centers)
• If such care is provided on an in-patient basis or during a period in which you are provided with temporary lodging at a facility of the Department to make such care more accessible.

(ambulance, wheelchair van, etc.) If they meet one of the eligibility criteria in the list above and have a medical condition requires an ambulance or a specialty equipped van as determined by a VA clinician, and the travel is pre-authorized (authorization is not required for emergencies if a delay would be hazardous to life or health).

More information on Beneficiary Travel is available at: www.va.gov/healthbenefits/vtp/beneficiary_travel.asp.

Certain Veterans can participate in a VA health registry and receive free evaluations.VA maintains health registries to provide special health evaluations and health-related information. To participate, contact the Environmental Health Coordinator at the nearest VA health care facility or visit www.publichealth.va.gov/ exposures to see a directory which lists Environmental Health Coordinators by state and U.S. territory. Veterans should be aware that a health registry evaluation is not a disability compensation exam. A registry evaluation does not start a claim for compensation and is not required for any VA benefits. No in-person medical evaluation is required to become registered. Veterans not already enrolled in VA health care should contact an Environmental Health Coordinator at a nearby VA facility by visiting the following link: www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/coordinators.asp or calling 1-877-222-8387. To learn more and for a list of current health registries, visit: www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/benefits/registry-evaluation.asp.

VA provides readjustment counseling services, to include direct counseling, outreach, and referral, through 300 community-based Veteran Centers located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa. Veteran Center counselors provide individual, group, marriage and family readjustment counseling to Veterans who served in a theater of operations (combat zone) through community-based counseling centers, called Veteran Centers. Services also are available for their family members regarding military-related issues. Veteran Center staffs are available during normal business hours at toll-free 1-800-905-4675 EST and 1-866-496-8838 PT. For more information, visit www.vetcenter.va.gov.

VA provides up to $6,800 lifetime benefits for service-connected Veterans/service members and up to $2,000 lifetime benefits for nonservice-connected Veterans to make home improvements and/or structural changes necessary for the continuation of treatment or for disability access to the Veterans/service members home and essential lavatory and sanitary facilities. For application information, contact the Prosthetic Representative at the nearest VA medical center.

VA provides comprehensive health care benefits, including outpatient, inpatient, pharmacy, prosthetics, medical equipment, and supplies for certain Korea and Vietnam Veterans’ birth children diagnosed with spina bifida (except spina bifida occulta).

Severely disabled blind Veterans may be eligible for case management services at a VA medical center and for admission to an inpatient or outpatient VA blind or vision rehabilitation program.

Veterans eligible for VA medical care may receive general and specialty mental health treatment as needed. Mental health services are available in primary care clinics (including Home Based Primary Care), general and specialty mental health outpatient clinics, inpatient mental health units, residential rehabilitation and treatment programs, specialty medical clinics, and Community Living Centers. For more information on VA mental health services, visit: www.va.gov/healthbenefits/access/mental_health_care.asp and www.mentalhealth.va.gov or contact your local VA health care facility’s Enrollment Office.

The Veterans Crisis Line is a toll-free, confidential resource that connects Veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring VA responders. Veterans and their loved ones can call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat online at www.vets.gov, or send a text message to 838255 to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year even if they are not registered with VA or enrolled in VA health care. The professionals at the Veterans Crisis Line are specially trained and experienced in helping Veterans of all ages and circumstances – from Veterans coping with mental health issues that were never addressed to Veterans struggling with relationships or the transition back to civilian life. European access: Veterans and members of the military community in Europe may dial 0800-1273-8255 or DSN 118. For more information about VA’s suicide prevention program, visit: www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/ or www.Veteranscrisisline.net.

VA would like all Veterans to have access to good oral health care: however, VA is limited to providing dental benefits to those Veterans who meet certain eligibility criteria. To help Veterans who are not eligible for VA dental benefits or need more comprehensive dental care. VA offers enrolled Veterans and beneficiaries of CHAMPVA the opportunity to purchase dental insurance at a reduced cost through its VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP). For more information about this program, call toll free 1-877-222-8387) Monday – Friday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. or visit www.va.gov/healthbenefits/vadip.

VA provides institution-based services (nursing home level of care) to Veterans through three national programs: VA owned and operated Community Living Centers (CLC), State Veterans’ Homes owned and operated by the states, and the community nursing home program. Each program has admission and eligibility criteria specific to the program. VA is obligated to pay the full cost of nursing home services for enrolled Veterans who need nursing home care for a service-connected disability, or Veterans or have a 70 percent or greater service-connected disability and Veterans with a rating of total disability based on individual un-employability. VA provided nursing home care for all other Veterans is based on available resources. For more information on Extended Care Services and Geriatrics, visit www.va.gov/healthcarebenefits/access/geriatrics.asp.

A medical emergency is generally defined as a condition of such a nature that a sensible person would expect that a delay in seeking immediate medical attention would be hazardous to life or health. Eligible Veterans may receive emergency care at a non-VA health care facility, possibly at VA expense, when a VA facility (or other Federal health care facility with which VA has an agreement) cannot furnish efficient care due to the distance from the facility, or when VA is unable to furnish the needed emergency services. Since payment may be limited to the point when the condition is stable enough for the Veteran to travel to a VA facility, a family member or friend must contact the closest VA medical facility as soon as possible. The emergency is deemed to have ended when a VA provider has determined that, based on sound medical judgement, the Veteran could be transferred from the non-VA facility to a VA medical center. For more information on urgent care, visit www.va.gov/HEALTHBENEFITS/access/seamless.care.asp.

VA’s Foreign Medical Program (FMP) provides health care payment/reimbursement for U.S. Veterans with VA-rated service-connected conditions who live or travel abroad. Veterans calling from within the Philippines may contact the VA Medical Services office at 1-800-1888-8782. If calling from outside of the Philippines, the number is 011-632-318-8387. Veterans may also register by email at IRIS.va.gov. All other Veterans living or planning to travel outside the U.S. should register with the Foreign Medical Program, P.O. Box 469061, Denver, CO 80246-9061, USA; telephone 303-331-7590. For more information, visit: https://www.va.gov/COMMUNITYCARE/programs/veterans/fmp/index.asp.

The Caregivers Benefit Program provides certain medical, travel, training and financial benefits to caregivers of certain Veterans and service members who were seriously injured during their military service on or after September 11, 2001. Eligible primary family caregivers can receive a stipend, training, mental health services, travel and lodging reimbursement and access to health insurance if they are not already under a health care plan. For more information, contact your local VA medical facility and speak with a caregiver support coordinator, visit www.caregiver.va.gov or call toll-free at 1-855-260-3274.

Enrolled Veterans who receive their health care with VA, will receive the same, consistent care whether at their local VA treatment site or an alternate VA site of care. In order to help VA ensure Veterans receive consistent care while they are traveling, are asked to notify their VA Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT), preferably 4 to 6 weeks prior to departure, or as soon as they are aware of the trip. Early planning will allow time for PACT and the Traveling Veteran Coordinator to coordinate care at an alternate VA facility. To coordinate health care with another VA health care facility. Veterans should inform their PACT of the following:

• Travel destination(s), and temporary address
• A valid telephone number
• Arrival and departure dates
• Specific care concerns

Their PACT will contact the Traveling Veteran Coordinator, who will assist in coordinating care at the alternate facility. For more information, contact PACT or a Traveling Veteran Coordinator at the local VA facility.

Click here to read the Health Benefits FAQ’s page.