Community Care
Montana VA health care provides care to Veterans through community providers when the VA cannot provide the care needed. Community care is based on specific eligibility requirements, availability of VA care, and the needs and circumstances of individual Veterans.
VA also provides health care to Veterans’ family members and dependents through programs like the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA). This care is also provided based on specific eligibility requirements, which varies by program.
Veteran Care Overview
VA provides health care for Veterans from providers in your local community outside of VA. Veterans may be eligible to receive care from a community provider when VA cannot provide the care needed. This care is provided on behalf of and paid for by VA.
Learn About Community Care
Eligibility
Montana Veterans have several options available to them that can determine their eligibility for Community Care. These include Veterans needing a service that is not available at their VA facility; Veterans live a certain distance away from VA services; and the VA cannot provide care the Veteran needs within designated access standards.
Watch the video below to learn all about your eligibility to receive Community Care!
VETERAN COMMUNITY CARE: ELIGIBILITY
Making an Appointment
Montana Veterans have choices when it comes to making a medical appointment. If a Veteran chooses to use Community Care, they must remember a couple things such as confirming the Veteran is BOTH eligible and authorized for Community Care, and the provider is in the VA provider network.
Watch the video below to learn all the details concerning making your next Community Care appointment!
VETERAN COMMUNITY CARE: MAKING AN APPOINTMENT
Urgent Care
Montana Veterans are very busy people. Sometimes, life happens, and Veterans need to receive Urgent Care. To receive Urgent Care in the community, Veterans still have to meet a few requirements such as being enrolled in the VA and receiving care within the last 24 months. However, eligible Veterans do NOT need to get prior authorization to receive Urgent Care, and some Veterans may not need to pay a copay.
Watch the video below to learn more about using Community Care’s Urgent Care program!
VETERAN COMMUNITY CARE: URGENT CARE
Filing a Community Care Claim
Once Montana Veterans have completed their Community Care appointment, they must finalize their Community Care process by filing a reimbursement claim. Claims can be complicated. Online filing helps ensure claims are filed correctly. To avoid having a claim denied, make sure you have received an official authorization for care.
Watch the video below to learn how to effectively file a Community Care claim!
VETERAN COMMUNITY CARE: FILING A CLAIM
Information for Family Members and Dependents
In some cases, VA offers health care and services for a Veteran’s family members and dependents (beneficiaries) based on certain conditions and eligibility requirements. VA serves more than 360,000 beneficiaries through its family member and dependent health care benefit programs. In general, these programs reimburse the costs of specific types of covered services provided.