Nearly all veterans who qualify for U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs healthcare benefits receive free medical care. This comprehensive health benefits package offers services and care designed to foster good health, preserve existing conditions, restore impaired ones and enhance functional abilities.
The VA provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient hospital care, from general surgery, medicine, rehabilitation, outpatient therapy and outpatient treatment services to audiology/speech pathology/dermatology/geriatrics/ophthalmology pharmacy radiology physical therapy services – some facilities also offering advanced procedures like organ transplantation or plastic surgery as part of this care.
To qualify for VA healthcare, you must possess a service-connected disability rating of at least 30% due to active military service. In most cases, this means your disability was caused or worsened by military service activities.
Eligible veterans can access health care at one of over 300 VA medical centers located throughout the country. Most facilities are within 50 miles of major cities or towns, making it convenient for veterans to access medical treatment quickly.
Cost of VA healthcare will depend on the service you choose and your income level. The Affordable Care Act has not altered VA health coverage standards. There is a program called CHAMPVA that provides health insurance coverage for spouses and children of eligible veterans who do not meet TRICARE eligibility but do not yet qualify for Medicare benefits.
There are various methods of paying your health care costs at the VA, including online, by phone, or mail. If you require help paying your health care costs, visit the VA Benefits Help Desk where a representative is on-hand to assist.
Dependent upon your priority group, certain outpatient services may require copayments such as x-rays and lab tests. Copayments account for 14 percent of VA’s overall health care costs to ensure all veterans can access quality health care.
In addition to providing free healthcare for qualifying veterans, the VA offers assistance programs designed to assist family and caregivers of eligible veterans. This may include financial stipends and help paying for health insurance plans as well as respite care services.
Support services typically offered to veterans include adult day health care, community care, family caregiver training and home-based long-term care. These services aim to assist Veterans and their families with daily activities like bathing, dressing and eating – visit the VA website to see how you may qualify for these services.