The Veterans Administration (VA) serves the needs of America's veterans. Men and women who have been in the military service can get healthcare and social support services from the VA.
The VA provides healthcare in over 1300 medical centers in the US. It provides hospital care. It may also provide:
VA benefits do not usually cover hearing aids and eyeglasses. However, these items may be covered if you need them for a problem related to your service in the military.
You may be eligible for VA benefits if:
You may be eligible for services that are not standard benefits. You need to apply for them and there are some restrictions. These services include:
A geriatric assessment determines your ability to live on your own or with various disabilities. It may help determine if you need assistance or special equipment.
To get VA benefits, you must enroll. You can sign up at any VA healthcare facility or office.
The number of veterans who can be enrolled in the health care program is determined by the amount of money Congress gives VA each year. Because funds are limited, VA set up priority groups. This helps make sure that certain groups of veterans are able to be enrolled before others. When you sign up, you are placed in one of the eight priority groups. Priority 1 is the highest priority for enrollment.
You don’t have to pay a monthly premium for VA care. However, if your annual income is over a set amount, you may have to pay co-payments.
If you are enrolled for VA healthcare, you can still use other sources of insurance for healthcare, such as private health insurance. If you have insurance, it may cover co-payments.
You may also be able to get VA benefits for your spouse or children.
For current benefit information, call the VA Health Care Benefits Service Center. The phone number is 1-877-222-VETS (1-877-222-8387). You can also visit the VA Web site at http://www.va.gov.
