How to get urgent care

How to get care weekdays, evenings, weekends, and holidays

VA covers urgent care services for eligible patients, but there are specific steps to follow. In-network urgent care clinics treat minor injuries and illnesses that are not life-threatening, such as colds, strep throat, sprained muscles, skin infections, and ear infections.

Veterans can speak with a nurse over the phone about a medical condition or health care question by calling and pressing option 3. The advice line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Tele Emergency care providers are also available. Learn more about choosing the right type of care at VA’s choosing between urgent and emergency care webpage.

If your condition is life-threatening, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Learn more about emergency care at VA’s national emergency care webpage.

Veterans in the Pacific Northwest can follow VA Puget Sound’s step-by-step guide below to learn how to get urgent care. You can also visit VA’s national urgent care webpage.

Step 1: Ensuring you are eligible

VA only covers urgent care for Veterans who are currently enrolled in VA health care and have received care at either a VA facility or an authorized in-network community provider within the past 24 months. To verify your eligibility, call 800-MyVA411 (800-698-2411).

Step 2: Find an in-network urgent care clinic

VA will only cover costs for in-network urgent care clinics. You can find in-network urgent care clinics by following three easy steps:

Visit www.va.gov/find-locations to use the Find VA locations online tool.
Select “Urgent care” in the facility type dropdown menu.
Select “All In-network community urgent care” under the service type dropdown menu

Note: Only non-VA locations will appear, as VA Puget Sound facilities currently do not offer urgent care. You can also get help finding an in-network urgent care by calling 877-881-7618 from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT.

Step 3: Get treated at an in-network urgent care clinic

When you visit the urgent care clinic, confirm that they are in-network with VA and let them know that you would like to use your VA urgent care benefit. You should not pay anything at the time of your visit. If you have a copay, VA will send you a bill by mail.

You should also show these instructions to the clinic:

The clinic/provider must call 833-4VETNOW (833-483-8669) right away to activate the Veteran’s urgent care and pharmacy benefit.
Prescriptions should be written for a 14-day or less supply (7-days or less for opioids). No refills. There is an exception for pre-packaged items. Must be on the VA’s urgent/emergent formulary
For more information, visit the VA’s information for providers webpage.

Having issues getting urgent care or filling a prescription? You, the clinic, or the pharmacy can call the Urgent Care Support Line at 866-620-2071

Step 4: Fill your prescription at an in-network pharmacy

You can fill your prescriptions at an in-network pharmacy or directly at a VA facility. You should not pay anything when picking up your medication. If you have a copay, VA will send you a bill. You can find in-network pharmacies by following the three easy steps listed below:

Visit www.va.gov/find-locations to use the Find VA locations online tool.
Entering your zip code or a city and state in the search box.
Select Community pharmacies in the facility type dropdown menu.

You should also show these instructions to show the pharmacy:

Prescriptions should be written for a 14-day or less supply (7-days or less for opioids). No refills. There is an exception for pre-packaged items. Must be on the VA’s urgent/emergent formulary.
Enter VA pharmacy claims using the following information: Step 1: Enter BIN: 003858. Step 2: Person Code: 01. Step 3: Enter PCN: A4. Step 4: Enter Rx Group: VAPC3RX. Step 5: Enter 10-digit Veteran member ID (DoD ID) or SSN Step 6: Enter Veteran’s date of birth (YYYYMMDD format)
For questions, please call the Express Scripts Pharmacy Help Desk at 800-922-1557 (available 24/7).
For more information, refer to the VA’s urgent care billing information card

If you’re having issues getting urgent care or filling a prescription, please call the Urgent Care Support Line at 866-620-2071.

Prescription Reimbursement:

If you paid out-of-pocket for your prescriptions, you may be eligible for reimbursement by VA.
Go to www.va.gov/resources/reimbursement-of-non-va-prescriptions-or-medical-expenses/ and follow the instructions to print, fill, and mail
VA Form 10-320 to the Western Region VA Consolidated Payment Center address listed.

Step 5: Understanding your copays

You do not pay a copay for in-network urgent care at the time of treatment. Instead, the VA may bill you later. There is no limit on the number of times you can visit an urgent care clinic.

Urgent care visit copays will be either $0 or $30 depending on your assigned priority group and the number of times you visit an urgent care provider in a calendar year.
Learn more about urgent care copays at the VA’s copay website