VA Health Care Navigator
A plain-language field guide to enrolling, understanding your priority group, using Community Care, handling emergency visits, requesting travel pay, and finding family coverage.
Choose your path
What do you need today?
Start with the situation closest to yours. You can always use the section bar to move around the full guide.
01 · Basic eligibility
Do not count yourself out
You may qualify if you served in the active military, naval, or air service and did not receive a dishonorable discharge. Service history, discharge, disability status, toxic exposure, income, and other factors can affect eligibility.
Other than dishonorable
Most applicants must not have received a dishonorable discharge. Other discharge situations may require a character-of-discharge review.
Minimum duty rules
Many veterans who enlisted after September 7, 1980, or entered active duty after October 16, 1981, must meet a 24-month or full-call-up requirement. Exceptions exist.
Federal activation matters
Eligibility commonly depends on being called to active duty by a federal order, for more than training only, and completing the ordered period.
Exposure, combat, disability
Service-connected disability, combat service, toxic exposure, certain medals, pension, income, and other statuses may create or strengthen eligibility.
02 · Priority groups
Eligibility is not the whole story
After enrollment, VA assigns you to one of eight priority groups. Your group can affect access and whether you owe copays. If you qualify for more than one group, VA places you in the highest group you qualify for.
| Group | Common qualifying examples | Plain-language note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 50% or higher service-connected rating; VA unemployability; Medal of Honor | Highest enrollment priority. Generally no medication copays. |
| 2 | 30% or 40% service-connected rating | High priority based on compensable service-connected disability. |
| 3 | 10% or 20% rating; former POW; Purple Heart; certain service-related discharge or statutory categories | Includes several distinct service and disability pathways. |
| 4 | VA Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits; catastrophic disability | Based on significant care needs or qualifying benefits. |
| 5 | VA pension; Medicaid eligibility; qualifying low household income | Income and benefit-based pathway. |
| 6 | Compensable 0% rating; certain toxic exposure, combat, radiation, Gulf War, Camp Lejeune, and other special authorities | Special eligibility rules can apply to specific cohorts and conditions. |
| 7 | Income below geographically adjusted limits, with agreement to pay copays | Income and location affect placement. |
| 8 | Income above VA and geographically adjusted limits, with specific subpriority requirements | Enrollment depends on the exact subgroup. Some applicants may be ineligible. |
03 · Enrollment
Apply once. Keep the record.
There is no open enrollment season for VA health care. You can apply online, by phone, by mail, or in person.
Gather your information
Have your Social Security number, separation records, service history, exposure details, insurance information, and household financial information available.
Choose how to apply
Apply online, call VA, mail VA Form 10-10EZ, or bring the form to a VA medical center or clinic.
Save confirmation
Keep a copy of the form, upload confirmation, date submitted, and any records you sent.
Watch for the decision
VA says decisions are usually made in less than one week. If more than a week passes, call instead of submitting a duplicate application.
Application checklist
- DD214 or other separation documents
- Service dates and military history
- Toxic or hazardous exposure details
- Insurance cards, including Medicare or coverage through a spouse
- Household income and eligible deductible expenses, if needed
VA Form 10-10EZ
Mail a signed application to:
Health Eligibility Center
PO Box 5207
Janesville, WI 53547-5207
Use VA Form 10-10EZR later to update personal, insurance, or financial information.
04 · Covered care
What VA health care may include
Enrolled veterans may receive a broad medical benefits package. Your provider determines what is clinically needed, and some services have separate eligibility rules.
Primary & preventive care
Routine exams, immunizations, health screenings, disease prevention, nutrition, and ongoing primary care.
Mental health care
Counseling, therapy, medication support, substance-use treatment, and specialized services, including PTSD care.
Pharmacy services
Prescriptions ordered by a VA provider or an authorized community provider, subject to formulary and copay rules.
Specialty & hospital care
Specialists, diagnostic services, surgery, critical care, inpatient treatment, and other medically necessary services.
Rehabilitation & prosthetics
Physical and occupational therapy, durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and qualifying sensory aids.
Specialized programs
Women’s health, maternity coordination, geriatrics, caregiver support, home health, long-term care, and other programs may be available.
05 · Community Care
Outside care usually needs VA approval
Community Care allows eligible veterans to receive VA-paid care from approved non-VA providers. For routine care, you generally need VA to determine eligibility and issue a referral or authorization first.
Drive time
Community Care may apply when average drive time exceeds 30 minutes for primary, mental health, or extended outpatient care, or 60 minutes for specialty care.
Wait time
Community Care may apply when the wait exceeds 20 days for primary, mental health, or extended outpatient care, or 28 days for specialty care.
Clinical or service factors
You may also qualify when VA lacks a needed service, Community Care is in your best medical interest, or VA care does not meet applicable quality standards.
Ask your VA care team
Explain the care you need and why Community Care may apply.
VA reviews eligibility
VA confirms whether you qualify and prepares the referral.
Schedule approved care
Use the authorized provider and tell VA within 14 days if you schedule it yourself.
Read the authorization
Confirm the approved service, provider, date range, and number of visits before treatment.
06 · Emergency & urgent care
Know which rule you are using
Emergency care is for threats to life or health. Urgent care is for minor illnesses or injuries that need prompt attention but are not life-threatening.
Report non-VA emergency treatment to VA within 72 hours of when the care begins.
844-724-7842 · TTY 711
Go first. Report quickly.
- Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department when life or health is in danger.
- Ask the facility to notify VA, but report it yourself if they do not.
- VA must receive notice within 72 hours for the care to be considered authorized under the notification pathway.
- Coverage still depends on the facts and eligibility rules; notice alone does not guarantee payment.
Use an in-network provider
- You must be enrolled in VA health care.
- You must have received care from VA or an in-network provider within the past 24 months.
- No referral is required, but the urgent care provider must be in VA’s network.
- Bring government-issued identification and the VA urgent care billing information card.
07 · Beneficiary Travel
Your appointment may qualify for travel pay
Eligible veterans and caregivers may receive mileage or other approved travel reimbursement for VA care and VA-authorized community care.
At least one qualifying reason applies
- Your VA disability rating is 30% or higher
- You traveled for treatment of a service-connected condition
- You receive VA pension or meet applicable income/financial hardship rules
- You traveled for a scheduled C&P exam, approved service-dog care, or VA-approved transplant care
Build the paper trail
- Set up separate direct deposit for VA travel pay
- Track mileage and keep parking, toll, transportation, lodging, and meal receipts
- Get proof of attendance for Community Care appointments
- Request preapproval for transportation, meals, or lodging when required
08 · Dental, vision & hearing
The benefit rules are different
Routine eye and hearing evaluations may be part of enrolled care, but eyeglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, and dental treatment can have separate eligibility or clinical requirements.
Full VA dental care is limited
Dental eligibility is divided into specific classes based on disability, service history, clinical circumstances, and other factors. Enrolled veterans and CHAMPVA beneficiaries may purchase discounted coverage through VADIP.
Check VA dental eligibilityEye exams are broader than glasses
VA health benefits cover routine eye exams and preventive vision testing. VA covers eyeglasses when a veteran meets at least one applicable eligibility requirement.
Review VA vision careStart with VA audiology
Enrolled veterans may receive audiology care. Hearing aids require an authorized clinical evaluation and must meet VA’s eligibility and prescribing requirements.
How to request hearing aids09 · Family coverage
CHAMPVA is separate from the veteran’s enrollment
CHAMPVA shares the cost of certain covered health services for eligible spouses, dependent children, survivors, and some primary family caregivers.
A spouse or dependent child may qualify when
- The veteran is rated permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected disability
- The veteran died from a service-connected disability
- The veteran was permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected disability at death
- Other qualifying survivor or caregiver rules apply
Gather the supporting record
- Health insurance and Medicare cards, when applicable
- Proof of marriage or dependent relationship
- School enrollment proof for qualifying dependent children
- Any documents requested by the CHAMPVA application instructions
10 · Common questions
Quick answers before you leave
These are general answers. Your facility or VA eligibility team should confirm how the rules apply to your situation.
No. A disability rating is one path to eligibility and priority, but it is not the only one. Service history, discharge, toxic exposure, combat service, income, pension, and other factors may also matter.
VA does not recommend canceling or declining Medicare or other health coverage simply because you enroll in VA health care. Other coverage can protect you when VA eligibility, location, authorization, or family needs differ.
Usually not. Routine non-VA care normally requires VA eligibility approval, a Community Care referral or authorization, and an approved provider. Urgent and emergency care use different rules.
You can ask your care team to explain the reason and may use VA’s Clinical Appeals process to challenge a medical treatment or Community Care decision. Keep the denial, appointment dates, drive-time information, and relevant medical evidence.
Update VA so your records, priority group, billing, and facility communications remain accurate. You can update information online, by phone, or with VA Form 10-10EZR.
Update VA health information