If you served, you've earned care. Here's how to actually use it.

Who qualifies

Most veterans who served on active duty and have an honorable, general, or under-honorable-conditions discharge qualify. Active duty must total 24 continuous months OR the full period for which you were called/ordered to active duty (some exceptions apply for medical or hardship discharges).

Reserves and Guard

Activated members of the Reserves or Guard who completed their full call-up period qualify. Title 10 federal activations count; some Title 32 activations also count.

Combat veterans (5-year window)

If you served in combat or a hazardous-duty area after 9/11, you get 5 years of free VA healthcare after separation, in Priority Group 6 — regardless of disability rating. The clock starts at separation. Enroll while you can.

OTH and bad-paper discharges

You can still get care for service-connected mental health, substance use, and other conditions even with an OTH. Request a Character of Discharge determination. See discharge upgrade.

How to enroll — three options

1. Online: va.gov/health-care/apply. Takes ~30 min. Have your DD-214 handy.
2. By phone: Call 1-877-222-VETS (8387). Mon-Fri 8am-8pm ET.
3. In person: Walk into any VA medical center or CBOC. The enrollment coordinator will help.

What's covered

• Primary care — annual physicals, preventive care
• Specialty care — cardiology, orthopedics, dermatology, oncology, etc.
• Mental health — therapy, medications, MST care, PTSD treatment
• Prescriptions — most generic drugs free; brand-name copays based on priority group
• Hospital and surgical care
• Hearing aids and prosthetics
• Limited dental (only for 100% disabled, former POWs, or recently discharged combat vets)
• Limited vision (eye exams, glasses for service-connected vision issues)
• Toxic Exposure Screening — every 5 years, free
• Community Care — non-VA providers paid by VA when wait/distance criteria met

The 8 Priority Groups

• PG 1: 50%+ disabled, individually unemployable
• PG 2: 30-40% disabled
• PG 3: 10-20% disabled, former POWs, Purple Heart, MoH
• PG 4: Catastrophically disabled (non-service-connected)
• PG 5: Low income, no service-connection
• PG 6: Combat veterans within 5 years post-separation; 0% service-connected
• PG 7: Sub-threshold income with copay assistance
• PG 8: Higher income; copays apply

Lower priority group = lower or no copays. Higher priority group = copays for some services.

Community Care — when the VA can't see you fast enough

If the VA can't schedule you within 20 days for primary care or mental health (28 days as of late 2024), or you'd have to drive over 30 minutes for primary care or 60 minutes for specialty, you qualify for Community Care — VA pays a non-VA provider.

Ask your primary care provider for a Community Care referral. If you hit resistance, escalate to the medical center Patient Advocate.

Common pitfalls

• Not enrolling within the 5-year combat window. If you blow it, future enrollment depends on income or disability rating.
• Not requesting a Toxic Exposure Screening. Free, every 5 years, foundational for PACT Act presumptive claims.
• Letting "you don't qualify" be the final answer. The first call doesn't always get it right. Escalate, get a written denial, request a Character of Discharge determination if needed.
• Not knowing about Community Care. If your local VA can't see you in time, you don't have to wait — you have rights.

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