While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and the following answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
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The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides healthcare coverage and services to qualified service members. It may also cover non-medical services, such as transportation to and from healthcare appointments.
Learn more about VA Healthcare on the federal website here.
You can enroll in VA Healthcare if you are eligible for benefits. VA medical benefits packages cover:
The program will not cover all medical services. The services that are not covered include:
Each medical benefit is unique, and the coverage you receive will depend on your priority group, your primary caregiver’s recommendation and the medical standards for your conditions. Click here for more details on covered health needs and conditions.
The VA uses 8 priority groups to determine the highest need. The VA priority group and the amount of coverage you are eligible for will be influenced by:
Learn more about eligibility for each priority group here.
Priority Group |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Copayment for the first 3 visits to urgent care |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$30 OR$0 if related to a condition covered by special authority |
$30 |
$30 |
Copayment for each additional urgent care visit in the same year |
$30 |
$30 |
$30 |
$30 |
$30 |
$30 |
$30 |
$30 |
First 90 days of inpatient care copay rates |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$296.80 + $2/day |
$1,484 + $10/day |
Each additional 90 days of care |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$140.80 + $2/day |
$704 + $10/day |
Medications |
$0 |
See Outpatient Medication Tier below |
||||||
Outpatient Medication Tier |
1-30 day supply |
31-60 day supply |
61-90 day supply |
Tier 1(preferred generic prescription medicines) |
$5 |
$10 |
$15 |
Tier 2(non-preferred generic prescription medicines and some over-the-counter medicines) |
$8 |
$16 |
$24 |
Tier 3(brand-name prescription medicines) |
$11 |
$22 |
$33 |
For more details about VA Health Care copayment rates, click here.
To qualify for benefits, you must have served in the active military, naval or air force and separated from service with any discharge other than dishonorable. You may not be eligible if your received any of the following discharges:
If you have one of the above discharges, you can apply for a discharge upgrade. Check out the upgrade instructions here.
The minimum active duty requirement is 24 continuous months or the full period of active duty for which you were called. However, you may be exempted from the active-duty requirement if you:
You may also be eligible for enhanced eligibility, which means the VA will place you in a higher priority level if you meet the requirements listed here.
Find out more about the eligibility requirements for VA Healthcare here.
To apply for VA Healthcare, you will need to complete the following three steps:
Check out the documents needed with your application here.
To apply online, you will need to file a claim on DS Logon, My HealtheVet or ID.me here.
To apply by phone, call the VA’s toll-free hotline at (877) 222-8387, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 ET.
To apply by mail, complete the Application for Health Benefits here and send it to:
Health Eligibility Center
2957 Clairmont Road, Suite 200
Atlanta, GA 30329
To apply in person, you can visit your local VA medical clinic or center. Find VA healthcare facility locations here.
Offices may be closed due to COVID-19, but you can still work with an accredited representative over the phone or through the online customer service tool. Click here to learn how to get help with your claim.
If you have questions about the application process or need help with your application, call the VA’s toll-free healthcare hotline at (877) 222-8387 Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 ET.
On average, it takes the VA less than 1 week to process a healthcare application. You can check your VA Disability Compensation claim status online by logging into your account here. To check your status online, you will need to sign into one of the following existing accounts:
You can also call the VA’s toll-free healthcare hotline at (877) 222-8387 Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 ET.
The VA will call you to schedule your first doctor’s appointment. It will also mail you a Veterans Health Benefits Handbook that details your healthcare benefits and your Veterans Health Identification Card (VHIC).
You may need to notify the VA of personal or medical changes, such as:
You can update your profile information online by signing into your existing DS Logon, My HealtheVet or ID.me account here.
To update your information by mail, complete the Health Benefits Update Form here and mail it to:
VA Health Eligibility Center
2957 Clairmont Road, Suite 200
Atlanta, GA 30329
To update your information by phone, call (800) 827-1000 Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 9:00 ET.
You can also contact or visit your local VA facility in person. Find VA healthcare facility locations here.
If your benefits claim is denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You have the following three appeal options: file a supplemental claim, request a higher-level review or file a board appeal.
To file a supplemental claim and present new evidence that supports your case, or request a higher-level review from a senior officer, you can fill out the application here and submit it in person at a local VA office. Find the nearest VA health care facility location here.
To file either a supplemental claim or request a higher-level review, you can send the application by mail to:
Department of Veterans Affairs
Claims Intake Center
PO Box 4444
Janesville, WI 53547-4444
The higher-level review form can be found here. Higher-level reviews can also be requested by fax to (844) 531-7818.
Board appeals can be requested in three different ways:
Regardless of the option you choose, you can submit the application form found here in person at a local VA office. Find the nearest VA health care facility location here.
You can submit your application by mail to:
Board of Veteran’s Appeals
PO BOX 27063
Washington D.C. 20038
You can also file your application by fax to (844) 678-8979.
To learn more about what to do after you request an appeal, click here.
The Veterans Administration has almost 2,000 locations all over the country. You can find VA locations and contact information here.
If you need help or have questions about VA Healthcare, call the following numbers Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 9:00 ET:
You can also call your nearby VA office. Find VA office locations and contact information here.
To ask questions online, click here for the Inquiry Routing and Information System (IRIS).
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research U.S. Veteran Affairs programs and compiled a guide that we believe is simple to use and easy to understand. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing detailed information on the process.
Our free Veteran Affairs Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply for VA benefits, program eligibility and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view or download our free guide here.
