Health Care

APPLY FOR VA HEALTH

Veteran's Affairs (VA) provides world-class health care to eligible Veterans. The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, with more than 1,200 sites of care, and it is consistently ranked among the nation’s top health care providers.

Benefits

Many Veterans may be eligible for VA health care and the following benefits:

  • All enrolled Veterans have access to VA’s comprehensive medical benefits package including:
    • Geriatrics and extended care
    • Home health care
    • Medical equipment and prosthetics
    • Mental health care
    • Prescriptions
    • Preventive, primary, and specialty care
  • Most Veterans qualify for cost-free health care services, although some Veterans must pay modest copays for health care or prescriptions.
  • Women Veterans can receive primary care, breast and cervical cancer screenings, prenatal care, maternity care coverage, and other gender-specific services.
  • Veterans who have served in combat zones, and their family members, may visit VA’s many community-based Vet Centers, which provide no-cost counseling, outreach, and referral services to help the whole family adjust to life after deployment.
  • Combat Veterans who were discharged or released from active service on or after January 28, 2003, are eligible to enroll in the VA healthcare system for five years from the date of their discharge or release, regardless of their disability claim status. Combat Veterans who enroll with VA under this enhanced Combat Veteran authority will continue to be enrolled after their enhanced eligibility period ends, although their enrollment priority group may change.

Eligibility for VA Health Care

  • Veterans must have served in the active military, naval, or air service and separated under any conditions other than dishonorable.
  • Most Veterans who enlisted after September 7, 1980, or who 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. This includes current and former members of the Reserve or National Guard called to active duty by a federal order.