About VA Health Benefits

We can help you learn about and apply for VA health care benefits. A member of our Concierge for Care (C4C) team will call you soon after your separation from military service. We can answer any questions you may have, process your application over the phone, and help you schedule your first VA medical appointment.

Learn about transitioning from TRICARE to VA health care.

• Preventive care services, like:
  • Health exams (including gender-specific exams)
  • Health education (including nutrition education)
  • Immunization against infectious diseases (like flu shots)
  • Counseling on genetic diseases (diseases that run in families)
• Inpatient hospital services, like:
  • Surgeries
  • Medical treatments
  • Kidney dialysis
  • Acute care (short-term treatment for a severe illness or injury or after surgery)
  • Specialized care (including organ transplants, intensive care for mental and physical conditions, and care for traumatic injuries).
    See more VA medical and surgical specialty care services.
• Emergency care in a VA hospital, outpatient clinic, or Vet Center.
  Find a VA health facility near you.
• Emergency care in a non-VA hospital, clinic, or other medical setting—only under certain conditions. For us to consider covering non-VA emergency care for a non-service-connected condition, you’ll need to meet several requirements.
  Learn more about non-VA emergency medical care.
• Mental health services to treat certain issues like posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), military sexual trauma (MST), depression, and substance use problems.
  Learn more about mental health services.
• Assisted living and home health care (depending on your needs and income as well as space in the programs).
  Learn more about assisted living and home health care.
• Prescriptions written by a VA doctor.
  Refill your prescriptions.

We may cover services that your VA primary care provider concludes you need to support your treatment (called ancillary services), like:

• Tests used to diagnose health conditions, including blood work, X-rays, and ultrasounds
• Therapy and rehabilitation services, including physical therapy, vision rehab, and therapy for traumatic brain injury
• Additional services, including prosthetic items, audiology (care for hearing loss), and radiation oncology (cancer care)

You may be able to get help with some non-medical services, like:

• Beneficiary travel benefits (help paying for travel related to treatment)
• Caregiver support (help for the person who cares for you)
• Veterans transportation service (help getting to and from appointments)

Contact the patient advocate at the VA medical center where you go for care. Your patient advocate can help you get foreign language or American Sign Language services to help you or your family members understand your medical or health care benefits.

To find out how to reach the patient advocate at your VA medical center, go to the website of the VA health care system that the medical center is part of. In the page’s navigation, click on “Patients & Visitors.” A submenu will appear. Select “Patient Information” and then “Customer Service.”
Find your medical center’s website.

We cover routine eye exams and preventive tests. In some cases, you may get coverage for eyeglasses or services for blind or low-vision rehabilitation.
Learn more about vision care through VA.

In certain cases, you may receive dental care as part of your VA health benefits.
Find out if you can get dental care through VA.

As a Veteran, you may be able to get assisted living, residential (live-in), or home health care through VA.
Find out how to access these long-term care services.

These services are not included in your VA medical benefits package:

• Abortions and abortion counseling
• Cosmetic surgery, unless we conclude that it’s medically necessary (needed to prevent or treat a certain illness, injury, condition, disease, or symptoms)
• Gender alteration (gender reassignment surgery)
• Health club or spa membership
• Medicines and medical devices that aren’t approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), except in 2 special cases:
  • You’re in an approved clinical trial, or
  • You’re seriously ill and your VA health care provider prescribes a new, unapproved medicine because there are no other comparable treatment options (called a compassionate use or expanded access exemption)
• Inpatient hospital or outpatient care if you’re a patient or inmate in a non-VA government agency institution, if that agency must provide the care or services by law

We’ll fill prescriptions by a non-VA provider only if you meet all the requirements listed below.

All of these must be true:

• You’re enrolled in VA health care
• You have an assigned VA primary care provider
• You’ve given your VA provider your medical records from your non-VA provider
• Your VA provider agrees with the prescription

This will depend on factors like your income level, disability rating, and military service history. Most Veterans need to complete a financial assessment when they enroll. This helps us determine if you qualify for free VA health care.

Learn more about VA copays.
Find out more about financial assessments.

At VA, we take a team approach to health care—with you at the center. Research shows this kind of approach leads to better quality care, more satisfied patients, and fewer hospital visits.
Find out who will care for you when you become part of the VA health care program.

When you sign up for VA health care, you become part of the country’s largest integrated health care system—with more than 1,200 care locations serving nearly 9 million Veterans each year.
Learn more about where you’ll get care.

If you have other forms of health care coverage (like a private insurance plan, Medicare, Medicaid, or TRICARE), you can use VA health care benefits along with these plans.
Learn more about how VA works with other health insurance.

Call our toll-free hotline at 1-877-222-VETS (1-877-222-8387), Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (ET).
Or contact your state’s Veterans agency.

Yes. If you’re signed up for the VA health care program, you can manage your VA health and benefits online:

Refill your prescriptions.
Send a secure message to your health care team.

You can also check the status of a disability or pension claim online.
Check your claim status.