United States Department of Veterans Affairs

VA Health Care Overview Home - Questions? Call us at 1-877-222-8387(VETS)

VA provides a Medical Benefits Package to all enrolled Veterans. This comprehensive plan provides a full range of preventive outpatient and inpatient services within VA health care system. Also, once you enroll in the VA’s health care system, you can be seen at any VA facility across the country.

VA operates an annual enrollment system that helps to manage the provision of health care by providing an overall population of beneficiaries. Additionally, the enrollment system ensures that Veterans who are eligible can get care and ensures that care is given to Veterans who are eligible. VA applies a variety of factors in determining Veterans’ eligibility for enrollment, but once a Veteran is enrolled, that Veteran remains enrolled in the VA health care system.

Do You Qualify? There are many ways that a Veteran may qualify to receive top-notch VA health care at over 1,400 medical centers and clinics across the nation. The VA has highly trained physicians and clinicians that allow the VA to address many specialties. You may also be able to receive assistance with prescription medication. VA health care is portable. Once enrolled, you may receive care at your home facility as well as the nearest VA facility while traveling. If you are a Veteran, and you want low-cost, high-quality health care, please take a moment to see if you qualify.

Apply now for V A Health Care

"Agent Orange Benefits" for Vietnam Veterans

VA’s special authority to provide care for Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam has been made permanent by Public Law 111-163, S. 1963, Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010, enacted on May 5, 2010. VA has long provided elevated Priority Group placement and cost free care for conditions potentially related to herbicide exposure (Agent Orange). The presumption of service connection for Agent Orange exposure for those Veterans who physically served or visited Vietnam now makes it easier to apply for VA health benefits. For more information, see Agent Orange Benefits

Stop Loss Application Deadline Extended

Servicemembers looking to receive due compensation for time they spent deployed beyond their original orders now have an extra two months to apply. The deadline for eligible servicemembers, veterans and their beneficiaries to apply for retroactive stop loss special pay has been extended to December 3, 2010.

To apply, or for more information on retroactive stop loss, including submission requirements and service-specific links, go to this Department of Defense web site: http://www.defense.gov/stoploss.

Qarmat Ali Medical Surveillance Program

During the spring and summer of 2003, about 800 Service members guarded a water injection facility in the Basrah oil fields at Qarmat Ali, Iraq. Service members included National Guard, Reserve, and Active Duty Soldiers. This facility was contaminated with sodium dichromate dust which is a source of hexavalent chromium, a chemical that is known to cause cancer.

VA has set up a free, special medical surveillance program to monitor the health of Veterans who were at Qarmat Ali. For more information, see OEF/OIF Hazardous Exposures: Qarmat Ali Water Injection Facility

Signature Eliminated for Online 10-10EZ Application for Health Benefits

Now applying online for VA health services is easier and faster than ever! VA has removed the signature requirement for Veterans who electronically submit an online 10-10EZ "Application for Health Benefits", part of VA’s efforts to streamline access to benefits. This change will reduce the enrollment process for Veterans applying online substantially, and provide Veterans quicker access to their benefits.

Another recent improvement is Veterans are now able to save a partially completed form on their computer, and return to finish it at a later time. For more information, and to apply for VA health care services, go to the Online 10-10EZ Application.

Security of Veterans Identification Card (VIC)

Since the Veterans Identification Card (VIC) contains Veteran’s personal information (name and social security number) in the bar code, it is advised that Veterans assure that their VIC is protected from inappropriate use and identity theft. Some bar code readers have the ability to scan the bar code on the back of the card and reveal the Veteran’s name and social security number. For more information on the VIC, go to the VIC Fact Sheet, or call VA at 1-877-222-VETS (8387).

Apply For VA Health Benefits

With the recent Priority Group 8 Enrollment Relaxation, and other ongoing evaluation and changes by VA, you may now be eligible to enroll with VA for health care services. You can apply for care by completing VA Form 10-10EZ, Application for Health Benefits, and VA will let you know what health care benefits you may qualify for. You can find more information at Applying for Care.

If you need more assistance, you may call VA toll free at 1-877-222-VETS (8387), Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time.

All Veterans are Potentially Eligible

You may be eligible! Below are some of the basic factors that go into determining your eligibility for health benefits:

  • Eligibility for most veterans’ health care benefits is based solely on active military service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard (or Merchant Marines during WW II), and discharged under other than dishonorable conditions.
  • Reservists and National Guard members who were called to active duty by a Federal Executive Order may qualify for VA health care benefits. Returning service members, including Reservists and National Guard members who served on active duty in a theater of combat operations have special eligibility for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for five years following discharge from active duty.
  • Health Care eligibility is not just for those who served in combat.
  • Other groups may be eligible for some health benefits.
  • Veteran’s health care is not just for service-connected injuries or medical conditions.
  • Veteran’s health care facilities are not just for men only. VA offers full-service health care to women veterans.

Click here to get started in determining your eligibility for VA health care benefits or click on a menu button to the left to learn about specific programs and benefits.

Priority Group 8 Enrollment Relaxation Changes

In order to ensure the availability of quality and timely health care to veterans with service connected conditions, special authority based on military service, low income, and those with special health care needs, in January 2003 VA made the difficult decision to stop enrolling new Priority Group 8 (high income) veterans whose income exceeded VA Income Thresholds.

The new regulations went into effect on June 15, 2009 and enable the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to relax income restrictions on enrollment for health benefits. While this new provision does not remove consideration of income, it does increase income thresholds. You may be eligible for enrollment under this new provision.

For more information:

An Enrollment Calculator is available to help Veterans determine their potential eligibility for VA health care services under the new regulations. Check to see if you qualify under the new rules for VA health care:

Enrollment Calculator Link

Benefits on the Go

VA enrollment allows health care benefits to become portable throughout the entire VA system. Enrolled veterans who are traveling or who spend time away from their primary treatment facility may obtain care at any VA health care facility across the country without the worry of having to reapply.