Benefits & Healthcare

The VA operates the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States with over 1,300 facilities. Most veterans who served on active duty and were not dishonorably discharged are eligible for VA healthcare. There are no premiums, and copays are minimal for most veterans.

How to Enroll

1. 1
   Apply online at VA.gov/health-care/apply, by phone at 1-877-222-VETS (8387), or in person at your local VA medical center.
2. 2
   Gather your documents: DD-214, insurance information, and financial details for means testing (determines your priority group and copay rates).
3. 3
   Get assigned a priority group (1-8) based on disability rating, income, and service history. Groups 1-5 have little to no copays.
4. 4
   Schedule your first appointment. You will receive a Veterans Health Identification Card (VHIC) at your first visit.

VA disability compensation is a monthly tax-free payment for injuries or illnesses that happened during or were made worse by active military service. Ratings range from 0% to 100% in 10% increments.

Steps to File a Claim

1. 1
   File an Intent to File at VA.gov. This preserves your effective date (and potential back pay) for up to one year while you gather evidence.
2. 2
   Gather your evidence: Service medical records, private medical records, buddy letters from fellow service members, and any relevant documentation.
3. 3
   Submit your claim online through VA.gov, with the help of a VSO (Veterans Service Organization), or through an accredited attorney.
4. 4
   Attend your C&P exam (Compensation & Pension). This is where a VA examiner evaluates your conditions. Be thorough and honest about your worst days.
5. 5
   Receive your decision. If you disagree, you can file a Supplemental Claim, request a Higher-Level Review, or appeal to the Board of Veterans Appeals.

The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 is the most significant expansion of VA healthcare and benefits in decades. It primarily helps veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances.

Key Provisions

• ✓Expands VA healthcare eligibility for veterans with toxic exposures
• ✓Adds 20+ presumptive conditions for burn pit and toxic exposure veterans
• ✓Extends the presumptive period for claims related to Agent Orange
• ✓Extends combat veteran healthcare eligibility from 5 to 10 years
• ✓Adds new presumptive conditions for Gulf War and post-9/11 veterans including several cancers

Military retirees with a VA disability rating may be subject to a dollar-for-dollar offset of their retirement pay. Two programs restore some or all of that pay:

Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E), formerly Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, helps veterans with service-connected disabilities prepare for, find, and maintain suitable careers. Benefits can include:

• ✓Career counseling and employment services
• ✓Education and training (college, trade school, on-the-job training, apprenticeships)
• ✓Monthly subsistence allowance during training (similar to BAH)
• ✓Books, tools, supplies, and equipment paid for by VA
• ✓Resume development, interview coaching, and job placement
• ✓Self-employment assistance and business startup support
• ✓Independent living services for severely disabled veterans

Eligibility

• ●VA disability rating of at least 10% with an employment barrier, OR 20% or higher
• ●Must apply within 12 years of receiving your VA rating (exceptions exist)
• ●Can be used instead of or after exhausting GI Bill benefits

VA mental health services are available to all enrolled veterans at no cost. You do not need a service-connected disability rating. Same-day mental health services are available at every VA medical center.

When you separate from active duty, your TRICARE coverage changes. Here are your options:

• ●
  Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP) — 180 days of continued TRICARE coverage after separation for most service members. This is automatic; no enrollment required.
• ●
  Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP) — 18-36 months of temporary health coverage you can purchase after TAMP expires. Premium-based, similar to COBRA.
• ●
  TRICARE Retired Reserve / TRICARE Select — Available for retirees and their families. Premiums are significantly lower than civilian insurance.
• ●
  VA Healthcare — For most separating veterans, enrolling in VA healthcare is the best long-term option. It can be used alongside private insurance.

VA dental and vision care eligibility is more limited than medical care, but several categories of veterans qualify:

• ✓Veterans with a 100% disability rating (or 100% due to individual unemployability)
• ✓Veterans with a service-connected dental condition
• ✓Former POWs
• ✓Veterans in a VA vocational rehabilitation program
• ✓All veterans may purchase dental insurance through the VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP) at group rates