The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides a Medical Benefits Package, a standard enhanced health benefits plan available to all enrolled Veterans. This plan emphasizes preventive and primary care and offers a full range of outpatient and inpatient services within the VA health care system.

There is no monthly premium required to use VA care; however, Veterans may have to agree to pay copayments. If a Veteran has health insurance, it may cover the cost of copays. VA will provide combat Veterans free medical care for any illness possibly associated with service during a period of hostility for ten years from the Veteran's release from active duty.

Veterans in Panama

The VA suspended many VA health care providers in Panama as part of a long-term fraud scheme. Notifications were sent to Veterans who may have been affected. If you were affected by this fraud, you still have access to VA health care services.

For more information on the fraud scheme in Panama, please visit: https://www.va.gov/health/foreign_medical_program_alerts.asp

All Veterans are Potentially Eligible. Eligibility for most Veterans' health care benefits is based solely on active military service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Marines, Coast Guard (or Merchant Marines during WWII), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Commissioned Officer Corps (or its predecessor, the Coast and Geodetic Survey), or as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and a discharge under other than dishonorable conditions. Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard Service members who were called to active duty (other than for training only) by a Federal Executive Order may qualify for VA health care benefits. Retiring service members, including Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard Service 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 ten years following discharge from active duty.

VA administers its medical benefits through a patient enrollment system. The enrollment system is based on eight Priority Groups (PGs) to ensure health care benefits are readily available to all enrolled Veterans. If a Veteran is eligible for more than one PG, VA will always place them in the highest priority group that they are eligible for.

Priority Group 1

• Veterans with combined service-connected disabilities rated by VA as 50% or more
• Veterans determined by VA to be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities
• Veterans who have been awarded the Medal of Honor (MOH)

Priority Group 2

• Veterans with combined service-connected disabilities rated by VA as 30% or 40%

Priority Group 3

• Veterans who are former Prisoners of War (POWs)
• Veterans who have been awarded a Purple Heart medal
• Veterans whose discharge was for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty
• Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated by VA as 10% or 20%
• Veterans whose disability compensation is suspended due to the receipt of military retired pay
• Veterans receiving compensation at the 10% rate based on multiple non-compensable service-connected disabilities that clearly interfere with normal employability
• Veterans who have been awarded special eligibility classification under Title 38, U.S.C., 1151, “benefits for individuals disabled by treatment or vocational rehabilitation”

Priority Group 4

• Veterans who receive aid and attendance (A&A) or housebound benefits from VA
• Veterans who have been determined by VA to be catastrophically disabled

Priority Group 5

• Veterans with an annual household income below VA’s national and geographically-adjusted income limit who are non-service-connected (NSC) or non-compensable 0% service-connected (SC)
• Veterans who receive VA pension benefits
• Veterans who are eligible for Medicaid programs

Priority Group 6

• Veterans with a compensable 0% service-connected disability
• Radiation-exposed Veterans
• Vietnam-era Herbicide Veterans
• Toxic-exposed Veterans
• Toxic-exposed risk activity Veterans
• World War II Veterans
• Persian Gulf Veterans
• Camp Lejeune Veterans
• “Covered Veterans” under 38 U.S.C. § 1119(c)
• Combat-Theater Veterans

Note: Combat Veterans will be assigned to PG 6 for an enhanced enrollment period of up to 10 years, then placed in the appropriate priority group

Priority Group 7

• Veterans with gross household income below the geographically-adjusted VA income limit for their residence

Priority Group 8

• Veterans with gross household incomes above the VA income limits and the geographically-adjusted income limits for their residence
• Veterans eligible for enrollment: Veterans who are rated with a non-compensable 0% service-connected disability and are:
  • Sub-priority a: enrolled as of January 17, 2003, and who have remained enrolled since that date and/or were placed in this sub-priority due to changed eligibility status
  • Sub-priority b: enrolled on or after June 15, 2009, and whose income exceeds the current VA income limits or the geographically-adjusted VA income limits by 10% or less
• Veterans eligible for enrollment: Veterans who are nonservice-connected and:
  • Sub-priority c: enrolled as of January 17, 2003, and who have remained enrolled since that date and/or were placed in this sub-priority due to changed eligibility status
  • Sub-priority d: enrolled on or after June 15, 2009, and whose income exceeds the current VA income limit and geographic income limit by 10% or less
• Veterans not eligible for enrollment: Veterans whose income exceeds VA’s income limit by more than 10%:
  • Sub-priority e: non-compensable 0% service-connected
    Note: May receive care for their SC condition
  • Sub-priority g: nonservice-connected

Learn more about Priority Groups: https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/priority-groups/

Medical Benefits Package - Standard Benefits. VA's medical benefits package provides the following health care services to all enrolled Veterans, and offers a full range of outpatient and inpatient services within VA health care system, including but not limited to:

Preventive Care Services

• Immunizations

• Periodic health exams

• Routine vision testing and eye-care services

• Maintenance of drug-use profiles, drug monitoring and drug education

• Mental health and substance abuse preventive services

• Prevention of musculoskeletal deformity or other gradually developing disabilities of a metabolic or degenerative nature

• Genetic counseling concerning inheritance of genetically determined diseases

• Periodic reexamination of member of high-risk groups for selected diseased and for functional decline of sensory organs and the services to treat these diseases and functional declines

• Health Education Programs

Ambulatory (Outpatient) Diagnostic and Treatment Services

• Primary and Specialty Care

• Emergency care

• Surgical (including reconstructive/plastic surgery as a result of disease or trauma)

• Mental Health

• Substance Abuse

• Durable medical equipment

• Prosthetic and orthotic devices including eyeglasses and hearing aids (for qualifying Veterans)

Hospital (Inpatient) Diagnostic and Treatment Services

• Medical

• Surgical (including reconstructive/plastic surgery as a result of disease or trauma)

• Mental Health

• Substance Abuse

Prescription Drugs

Prescription Drugs, including over-the-counter drugs and medical and surgical supplies, are available under the VA national formulary system when prescribed by a VA health care provider.

Counseling
Members of the Veteran’s household, including immediate family, legal guardian or the individual in whose household the Veteran certifies an intention to live, may be eligible for consultation, professional counseling, marriage and family counseling, training and mental health services as necessary and appropriate in connection with the Veteran’s treatment.

Rehabilitation
Comprehensive rehabilitative services other than vocational services provided under 38 U.S.C. chapter 31.

Meeting Women Veterans’ Unique Needs
VA delivers the highest quality health care in a setting that ensures privacy, dignity and sensitivity. Your local VA facility offers a variety of services, including:

• Women’s health-screening and disease prevention
• Routine gynecologic and fertility treatment
• Reproductive health
• Screening Mammograms
• Pregnancy and delivery services
• Newborn care, post-delivery (date of birth plus seven calendar days after the birth of the child)

Women Veterans are eligible to receive care provided in the community when authorized by VA. Contact your local VA medical facility’s Women Veterans Program Manager for more information on available services or call 855-VA-WOMEN (855-829-6636).

Long-Term Care Standard Benefits

• VA Community Living Centers (VA Nursing Home) Programs

• Domiciliary Care

• Medical Foster Home

• State Veterans Homes

• Additional Services

  • Geriatric Evaluation

  • Geriatrics and Extended Care

  • Adult Day Health Care

  • Respite Care

  • Home Health Care

  • Home Telehealth

  • Hospice/Palliative Care

Enrollment - Veterans can apply for enrollment in the VA health care system by completing VA Form 10-10EZ, Application for Health Benefits. The application form can be obtained by visiting, calling, or writing any VA health care facility or Veterans' benefits office. Forms can also be requested toll-free from VA's Health Benefits Service Center at 1-877-222-VETS (8387). Completed applications must be signed and dated and may be returned in person or by mail to any VA health care facility. If the Veteran applies in person at a VA health care facility, VA staff will assign an initial priority group. After the application is processed, the VA Health Eligibility Center in Atlanta will confirm the enrollment status and priority group and will notify the Veteran of their enrollment status. Based on their specific eligibility status, they will be assigned to one of the following priority groups. The groups range from 1 through 8 with Priority Group 1 being the highest priority and Priority Group 8 the lowest.

Benefits on the Go - 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.

Financial Assessment - While many Veterans qualify for enrollment and cost-free health care services based on a compensable service-connected condition or other qualifying factors, certain Veterans will be asked to complete a financial assessment at the time of enrollment to determine their eligibility for cost-free medical care, medications and/or travel benefits. The assessment is based on the Veteran's, (spouse and dependents, if any) previous year gross household income. This financial information may also be used to determine the Veteran's enrollment priority group. Higher-income Veterans (Veterans whose income exceeds established national income limits) that are treated for nonservice-connected conditions may be required to share in the expense of their care by paying copayments.

Note: Unreimbursed medical expenses (what you paid out of pocket after medical insurance pays) may be deducted from your total gross household income. Unreimbursed medical expenses include travel expenses, cost of a long term care institution or assisted living, health related insurance premiums (including Medicare premiums), diabetic supplies, private caregivers, incontinence supplies, prescriptions and dialysis not covered by any other health plan. Only the portion of the unreimbursed medical expenses that exceed 5% of the basic pension may be deducted (see Medical Expense Deductible).

Once enrolled, VA will automatically match income information obtained from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Social Security Administration (SSA) to confirm the Veteran's continued health care eligibility. VA will send Veterans a letter only when clarification is needed regarding the financial information obtained. For more information, visit https://www.va.gov/health-care/about-va-health-benefits/cost-of-care/, call VA's toll-free number at 1-877-222-VETS (8387) or contact the Enrollment Coordinator at your local medical facility.

Foreign Medical Program (FMP)

The Foreign Medical Program (FMP) is a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care benefits program for U.S. Veterans who are residing or traveling abroad and have VA-rated, service-connected disabilities. Under FMP, VA assumes payment responsibility for certain necessary health care services received in foreign countries and associated with the treatment of service-connected disabilities, or any disability associated with and held to be aggravating a service-connected condition. (FMP administers all aspects of the program in Canada, except claims for service-connected care are filed with the Foreign Countries Operations in Canada.) Additionally, VA may authorize necessary foreign medical services for any condition for a Veteran participating in the VA Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E) Program.

Eligibility: The eligibility requirements for medical services for Veterans outside the United States are different from those for Veterans within the United States. VA may authorize foreign medical services for Veterans only for a VA-rated, service-connected disability, or any disability that is associated with and held to be aggravating a VA-rated service-connected disability. This means that disability percentages have no bearing when determining eligibility for foreign medical services.

For more information, please visit the official Veterans Affairs Medical Benefits webpage maintained by the Department of Veterans Affairs:
https://www.va.gov/health-care/about-va-health-benefits/

VA Health Care:
https://www.va.gov/health-care/

Health Care Benefits Overview:
https://www.va.gov/HEALTHBENEFITS/resources/publications/10-185_HCBO_2025.pdf

For more information on the Foreign Medical Program (FMP), please visit: 
https://www.va.gov/health-care/foreign-medical-program/

Annual Income Limits:
https://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/annual_income_limits_health_benefits.asp