VA Health Care
Doctor visits, mental health, prescriptions, and more — most enrolled veterans pay $0 in monthly premiums. Find out which priority group you land in.
Overview
VA health care provides primary care, specialty care, mental health services, prescriptions, prosthetics, and more for eligible veterans and some special populations. Your eligibility, priority group, and any copays depend on your service history, income, and certain exposure-related rules.
VA Health Care Eligibility and Priority Groups Explained
How VA decides who gets care, how the priority group system works, and what you can expect to pay — walked through step by step.
Who may qualify
You served on active duty and separated under conditions other than dishonorable; veterans who enlisted after 1980 generally need 24 continuous months or the full period they were called to active duty.
The PACT Act expanded access — combat veterans and toxic-exposed veterans can enroll regardless of the usual income or time-in-service rules.
VA places you in one of 8 Priority Groups (Group 1 is highest). A service-connected rating, former-POW status, Purple Heart, or Medal of Honor raises your priority.
Household income compared with VA national and geographic thresholds determines copays for non-service-connected care.
Recently discharged combat veterans get an enhanced enrollment window of up to 10 years from separation.
How to apply
Apply for VA health care- 1
Gather your DD214, current health insurance cards, and last year’s gross household income.
- 2
Apply with VA Form 10-10EZ online, by phone, by mail, or in person at any VA medical center.
VA Form 10-10EZ - 3
Watch for your enrollment decision and welcome packet, which lists your Priority Group and any copays.
- 4
Set up My HealtheVet to schedule appointments, refill prescriptions, and message your care team.
Apply for VA health care
Free information — just ask
You can ask Albert, our AI claims assistant, further questions any time. But if you’d like a direct, personal response, tell us what’s going on below and we’ll get back to you — no cost, no obligation.
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For veterans who have decided they want us on their claim. Registering is free too. It involves the registration form and signing VA Form 21-22a — by law we can’t accept your claim, work on it, or contact the VA for you until that power of attorney is signed.
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702-992-4883Health Care — frequently asked questions
Straight answers to the questions veterans ask most about this benefit. Still stuck? Ask Albert in the chat, or request a free review with our accredited team.
Do I need a disability rating to get VA health care?
No. VA health care eligibility is based mainly on your service history, not on having a disability rating. Most Veterans who served the minimum active-duty period and did not receive a dishonorable discharge can enroll. A rating can improve your priority group and lower or eliminate copays, but it is not required to get in the door.
What are priority groups?
VA sorts enrolled Veterans into 8 priority groups (1 through 8). Group 1 includes Veterans rated 50% or higher and those deemed unemployable; lower-priority groups include Veterans with no service-connected conditions and higher incomes. Your group determines how soon you are enrolled and what, if anything, you pay for care and prescriptions.
How much does VA health care cost?
For most service-connected care, there is no premium and often no copay. Many Veterans in the higher priority groups pay $0. Copays for some non-service-connected care and medications depend on your priority group and income. There is no monthly premium to simply be enrolled in VA health care.
How does the PACT Act affect my health care?
The PACT Act (Public Law 117-168, August 10, 2022) expanded VA health care eligibility for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. Many post-9/11 combat Veterans now qualify for enrollment and toxic-exposure screenings they were previously denied. If you were turned away before, it is worth re-applying under the PACT Act.
How do I apply for VA health care?
You enroll with VA Form 10-10EZ, online at VA.gov, by phone, by mail, or in person at any VA medical center. You will generally need your discharge papers (DD-214) and basic income information. Enrollment is open year-round — there is no deadline window like private insurance.
Can I keep my private insurance or Medicare and still use VA?
Yes. VA health care works alongside private insurance, employer coverage, TRICARE, and Medicare. VA may bill your private insurer for non-service-connected care, but you are never required to drop other coverage. Many Veterans keep Medicare for civilian providers and use VA for service-connected and specialty care.
What if there’s no VA facility near me?
Under the MISSION Act, if the nearest VA facility is too far away or wait times are too long, you may qualify for community care — treatment from a local non-VA provider paid for by VA. Eligibility is based on drive-time and wait-time standards. Ask your VA team to check whether you meet the community-care criteria.
Can my family get VA health care?
Veterans’ own VA health care does not automatically cover family, but CHAMPVA provides health coverage to the spouses and dependent children of Veterans who are permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected condition (or who died from one). It is a separate program with its own application, and many eligible families never enroll.
