How to enroll in VA health care — eligibility (including the PACT Act and the 10-year rule for post-9/11 combat veterans), VA Form 10-10EZ, priority groups and what happens after you apply
You may be eligible for VA health care if you served in the active military, naval or air service and did not receive a dishonorable discharge. If you enlisted after September 7, 1980 or entered active duty after October 16, 1981, you must have served 24 continuous months or the full period for which you were called, unless you were discharged for a disability caused or worsened by service, for hardship or early out, or served before September 7, 1980. Guard and Reserve members qualify through federal active-duty orders, not training. Under the PACT Act, every veteran who served in Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan or any combat zone after 9/11, or who was exposed to toxins or hazards in service, is eligible to enroll. Veterans without one of those routes may still qualify on income. After enrollment VA assigns one of eight priority groups based on service-connected disability, service history, income and other benefits, which determines whether you pay copays. Apply online, by phone at 877-222-8387, by mail on VA Form 10-10EZ, in person at a VA facility, or with an accredited representative.
What you'll need
- VA Form 10-10EZ (Application for Health Benefits), online or on paper
- Social Security numbers for you, your spouse and dependents; DD-214 or other separation documents; information on toxic exposures
- Insurance cards (Medicare, private or employer coverage); gross household income and deductible expenses for last year (needed only if eligibility depends on income)
- VA health benefits hotline 877-222-8387, Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. ET
Step-by-step
Step 1: Confirm you are eligible
Basic rule: active military, naval or air service and no dishonorable discharge, with the 24-month minimum for service that began after September 7, 1980 (officers after October 16, 1981) unless an exception applies. Enhanced eligibility (a higher priority group) applies if you receive VA compensation, were discharged for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, are a combat veteran discharged on or after September 11, 2001, get a VA pension, are a former POW, received a Purple Heart or Medal of Honor, qualify for Medicaid, were exposed to toxins or hazards even in training, served in Southwest Asia between August 2, 1990 and November 11, 1998, served 30 days at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987, or served in the Republic of Vietnam (January 9, 1962 – May 7, 1975), Thailand (1962–1976), Laos, Cambodia, Guam, American Samoa or Johnston Atoll during the listed periods. Otherwise, income limits decide. Other than honorable discharges: ask for a character of discharge review or a discharge upgrade; care for PTSD, other mental health problems and MST is available in the meantime.
Step 2: Gather the information
You will need Social Security numbers for yourself, your spouse and qualified dependents; your discharge papers (DD-214 or other separation documents), service history and details of any toxic exposure; insurance card information for every plan that covers you, including Medicare and a spouse's plan; and, if your eligibility depends on income, gross household income from the previous calendar year and deductible expenses (certain health care and education costs). You do not have to report income if you qualify on another basis.
Step 3: Apply
Apply online at VA.gov; by phone at 877-222-8387 (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. ET); by mail — sign and date VA Form 10-10EZ and send it to Health Eligibility Center, PO Box 5207, Janesville, WI 53547-5207 (include a copy of any power of attorney; a signature by "X" needs two witnesses); in person at any VA medical center or clinic with a signed form; or through an accredited representative or your state veterans department. VA will send a letter with its decision and your priority group.
Step 4: Understand your priority group
VA assigns one of eight priority groups: group 1 for a service-connected disability rated 50% or more, individual unemployability or the Medal of Honor; group 2 for ratings of 30% or 40%; group 3 for former POWs, Purple Heart recipients, those discharged for a service-connected disability, ratings of 10% or 20% and special eligibility; lower groups for pension, Medicaid, catastrophic disability, exposure and income-based eligibility, with group 8 for higher-income veterans without compensable service-connected conditions, some of whose subgroups are not eligible. If you qualify for more than one, VA assigns the highest. Your group determines whether you pay copays for care and medications; care for service-connected conditions is free.
Reference: https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/priority-groups/
Step 5: After enrollment
Schedule your first primary care appointment with your assigned VA medical center or clinic; you will be matched with a care team. Get a Veteran Health Identification Card for check-in, and sign in at VA.gov or the VA: Health and Benefits app to message your care team, refill prescriptions, view records and manage appointments. Combat veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan after 9/11 get free care for conditions related to that service for 10 years after discharge. If VA cannot provide care within its access standards — 30 minutes' drive and 20 days for primary and mental health care, 60 minutes and 28 days for specialty care — or does not offer the service you need, you may be eligible for community care paid by VA; ask your care team.
Reference: https://www.va.gov/health-care/get-health-id-card/
Critical tips
- Having Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance does not affect your VA health care eligibility; VA bills other insurance for non-service-connected care and the payments can reduce your copay.
- Every enrolled veteran is entitled to a toxic exposure screening under the PACT Act — ask for it at your first visit.
- Dental care is covered only in certain cases (for example a 100% rating, a service-connected dental condition or former POW status); vision exams are covered, glasses in some cases.
- Mental health care, MST-related care and Vet Center counseling have their own, broader eligibility rules; see the mental health and MST guides.
- A county veterans service officer or your state veterans department can file the application with you for free: warriorsfund.org/find-cvso.