Become a Patient
All Veterans are encouraged to enroll in the VA health care system. To begin the process, please apply for VA health care online or complete an Application for Health Care Benefits (Form 10-10EZ). You can submit the form online, or you may print the form and mail it to:
Minneapolis VA Health Care System
Patient Access Center (17A1)
One Veterans Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55417
All applications MUST include the following items:
- A copy of both sides of your current insurance card (including Medicare or Medicaid)
- A copy of your discharge papers: DD214, Report of Separation or Record of Enlistment
- If you are a Purple Heart recipient, include a copy of your award letter (not your certificate) if "Purple Heart" is not noted on your DD214
- A copy of any service connected disability award letters via a VA Regional Office
- Non-Service Connected Veterans and 0% Service Connected Veterans are required to provide previous calendar year income
- Please carefully read the instructions for Section V- Financial Disclosure. Although disclosure is completely voluntary, your detailed financial information will help us to more accurately determine for which of the eight Priority Groups you qualify. Currently new applicants qualifying for Priority Group 8 cannot be enrolled for VA health care benefits. If you choose not to provide financial information, you may be placed in Priority Group 8 and denied enrollment because all potentially qualifying information is not available (more information on enrollment priority groups).
If you have questions pertaining to an eligibility or enrollment application, please call Admissions at 612-467-1991.
For detailed information about your benefits, you can download a copy of the Information Booklet for Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents and Survivors.
Basic Eligibility
If you served in the active military, naval or air service and are separated under any condition other than dishonorable, you may qualify for VA health care benefits. Current and former members of the Reserves or National Guard who were called to active duty (other than for training only) by a federal order and completed the full period for which they were called or ordered to active duty may be eligible for VA health care as well.
Minimum Duty Requirements
Most 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 active duty in order to be eligible. This minimum duty requirement may not apply to Veterans who were discharged for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, were discharged for a hardship or received an “early out.” Since there are a number of other exceptions to the minimum duty requirements, VA encourages all Veterans to apply in order to determine their enrollment eligibility.
Veterans Health Benefits Handbook
VA produces a personalized “Veterans Health Benefits Handbook” for each Veteran enrolled in the VA health care system. The handbook provides a current and accurate description of VA health care benefits and services. Your handbook will be tailored specifically to you with personal identifying information, and should be safeguarded as you would any other sensitive personal document.
The “Veterans Health Benefits Handbook” includes:
- Eligibility and health care benefits,
- Contact information for your preferred facility,
- Information regarding copayment responsibilities,
- Instructions on how to schedule appointments,
- Guidelines to communicate treatment needs,
- Patient rights,
- Ways to obtain copies of medical records and
- Other important information.
You will receive your personalized handbook via U.S. mail; therefore, you should have a current address on file with VA. Handbooks are mailed based on Priority Group, beginning with Priority Group 1 and ending with Priority Group 8. For more information, go to www.va.gov/healthbenefits/vhbh. You may also call VA toll-free at 1-877-222-VETS (8387) if you need to update your address or receive more information.
Health Care Benefits Overview
VA publishes the "Health Care Benefits Overview" booklet, which provides general information and frequently asked questions about VA’s medical benefits package available for all enrollees, and other information such as eligibility for enrollment.
The publication is available and can be downloaded at http://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/resources/epublications.asp.
We encourage you to refer to it whenever you have questions about your eligibility for specific health care benefits. More information is available at the following resources:
- The Minneapolis VA Health Care System Enrollment Office
- VHA Health Benefits Website
- My HealtheVet
- VA toll-free 1-877-222-VETS (8387) Monday-Friday between 8 AM and 8 PM ET.
