VA Health Care Eligibility & Enrollment
Apply or Enroll for VA Medical Benefits
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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 proposed regulation. Check to see if you qualify under the new rules for VA health care:
You May Be Eligible!
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.
VA provides a Medical Benefits Package, a standard enhanced health benefits plan available to all enrolled veterans. This plan emphasizes preventive that primary care that offers a full range of outpatient and inpatient services within VA health care system.
VA maintains an annual enrollment system to manage the provision of quality hospital and outpatient medical care and treatment to all enrolled veterans. A priority system ensures that veterans with service-connected disabilities and those below the low-income thresholds are able to be enrolled in VA’s health care system.
- 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.
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.
Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents
VA National Income Thresholds |
VA National Geographic Income Thresholds
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VA Health Care Eligibility & Enrollment Site Map
For questions about Health Care Eligibility, please visit the VA inquiry website.
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