Information on this page provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs

The U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs operates the nation's largest integrated healthcare system which includes hospitals, community clinics, nursing homes, domiciliary, readjustment counseling centers, and various other facilities. 

Basic Eligibility

A person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable may qualify for VA healthcare benefits. Reservists and National Guard members may also qualify for VA healthcare benefits if they were called to active duty (other than for training only) by a federal order and completed the full period for which they were called or ordered to active duty may be eligible for VA healthcare.

Minimum Duty Requirements

To be eligible, Veterans who enlisted after September 7, 1980, or who entered active duty after October 16, 1981, must have served 24 continuous months or the full period for which they were called to active duty. This minimum-duty requirement may not apply to veterans discharged for hardship, early out or a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.

Certain VA benefits require service during wartime. Under these laws, the VA recognizes the following war periods:

  • WORLD WAR II
    December 7, 1941 through December 31, 1946, inclusive. If the veteran was in service on December 31, 1946, continuous service before July 26, 1947 is considered World War II service.
  • KOREAN WAR
    June 27, 1950 through January 31, 1955, inclusive.
  • VIETNAM WAR
    February 28, 1961 through May 7, 1975, inclusive, in the case of a veteran who served in the Republic of Vietnam during that period. August 5, 1964 through May 7, 1975 is inclusive in all other cases.
  • GULF WAR
    August 2, 1990 through a date to be set by law or Presidential Proclamation.

Enrollment

For most Veterans, entry into the VA Healthcare System begins by applying for enrollment. While some Veterans are not required to enroll due to their special eligibility status, all Veterans - including those who have special eligibility - are encouraged to apply for enrollment. Enrollment helps the VA determine the number of potential Veterans who may seek VA healthcare services and is a very important part of their planning efforts.

Note: Enrollment in the VA Healthcare System does not necessarily mean that a Veteran has a service-connected disability.

To apply, complete VA Form 10-10EZ, Application for Health Benefits. This form can be obtained from any VA healthcare facility or regional benefits office, downloaded at www.va.gov/vaforms, or requested by contacting the Columba VA Regional Office at (803) 647-2434 or contacting your local County Veterans' Affairs Office.

Once enrolled, Veterans can receive treatment at a VA healthcare facility anywhere in the country. Veterans enrolled in the VA healthcare system are afforded privacy rights under federal law. The following four categories of Veterans are not required to enroll, but are urged to do so to permit better planning of health resources:

  • Veterans with a service-connected disability of 50 percent or more;
  • Veterans seeking care for a disability the military determined was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, but which VA has not yet rated, within 12 months of discharge;
  • Veterans seeking care for a service-connected disability only;
  • Veterans seeking registry examinations (Depleted Uranium, Ionizing Radiation, Agent Orange, Gulf War/Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom veterans).

During enrollment, each Veteran is assigned to a priority group. The U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) uses priority groups to balance demand for VA healthcare enrollment with available resources. Changes in availability of resources may reduce the number of priority groups the VA can enroll. If this occurs, the VA will publicize the changes and notify affected enrollees.  Priority groups are defined on the VA website.

Every VA Medical Center has a team ready to welcome Operation Enduring Freedom & Operation Iraqi Freedom OEF/OIF service members and help coordinate their care.

Combat veterans who served in a theater of combat operations after November 11, 1998, are eligible for enrollment in Priority Group 6, unless eligible for a higher Priority Group. These veterans are not charged copayments for medications and/or treatment of conditions that are potentially related to their combat service. Veterans who enroll with the VA under this enhanced authority will continue to be enrolled even after their enhanced eligibility period ends, although they may be shifted to Priority Group 7 or 8 depending on their income level and required to make applicable copayments.

Combat veterans discharged from active duty on or after January 28, 2008, are eligible for this enhanced enrollment health benefit for five years after the date of their most recent discharge from active duty.

For more information about the various programs available for recent returning service members, go to the Returning Service Members website at www.oefoif.va.gov/.

In the case of medical emergencies, the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) may reimburse or pay for non-VA medical care not previously authorized that is provided to certain eligible veterans when the VA or other federal facilities are not feasibly available. This benefit may be dependent upon other conditions, such as notification to the VA, the nature of treatment sought, the status of the veteran, the presence of other healthcare insurance, and third-party liability.

There are different regulatory requirements that may affect VA payment and veteran liability for the cost of care; therefore, it is very important that the nearest VA medical facility that provides emergency services is notified as soon as possible after emergency treatment is sought. If emergency inpatient services are required, the VA will assist in transferring the veteran to a VA facility, if available.

The U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) online health portal offers Veterans, active-duty service members and their dependents, and caregivers anywhere, anytime access to VA healthcare information and services via the internet. The online portal is a free, personal health record that allows Veterans to become more informed by accessing trusted and secure health and benefits information at their convenience.

With the online portal, Veterans can access:

  • VA prescription refill services

  • VA benefits services

  • Local VA events activities

  • Personal health journals

  • Vitals tracking graphing

  • Military health history

  • Activity/food journals

  • Healthy living centers

  • VA news feature stories

  • Disease condition centers

  • Trusted health information

To register, go to https://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/access/, and begin making more informed decisions in collaboration with healthcare providers.