How to Enroll in VA Health Care
VA health care is available to most veterans who served on active duty and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. Enrollment is not automatic — you must apply, even if you have a service-connected disability or VA benefits. The process is straightforward and typically takes 1–2 weeks to receive an eligibility decision.
Written by the Uplift editorial team · Verified against official program sources
Documents You Will Need
Gather these before you start — having everything ready speeds up your application and reduces the chance of delays.
- ☐DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) — the most important document
- ☐Social Security number
- ☐Photo ID (driver's license, state ID, or passport)
- ☐Insurance information (Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance) if you have it — VA bills other insurers but never bills you out-of-pocket beyond standard copays
- ☐Financial information (income and assets) if you are not receiving VA disability compensation — used to determine priority group and cost-sharing
Step-by-Step Application Process
Gather your DD-214
The DD-214 is your proof of military service and discharge. If you cannot find yours, request a copy at milConnect (milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil) or submit a Standard Form 180 to the National Personnel Records Center. The process can take a few weeks, so request it as soon as possible if you do not have it on hand.
Apply for enrollment
Apply online at va.gov/health-care/apply, by calling 1-877-222-8387, by mailing or faxing VA Form 10-10EZ, or in person at any VA medical center enrollment office. The online application takes about 30 minutes. There is no cost to apply.
Receive your eligibility determination and priority group
VA will review your application and assign you to a priority group from 1 to 8, based on your service-connected disability rating, income, and other factors. Priority Group 1 (veterans with 50%+ service-connected disability) pays no copays. Priority Groups 7 and 8 (higher-income veterans with no service-connected conditions) pay copays for some services. Veterans who served in combat after November 11, 1998, receive 10 years of free VA health care from separation.
Get assigned to a primary care team
Once enrolled, contact your nearest VA medical center or community-based outpatient clinic (CBOC) to schedule a first primary care appointment. You will be assigned a primary care team that coordinates your ongoing care. If the nearest VA facility is far from you, ask about community care options — veterans who live more than 30 miles from a VA facility or face significant wait times may receive care from community providers at VA expense.
Use MyHealtheVet to manage care
Create a MyHealtheVet account at myhealth.va.gov to view appointments, refill prescriptions, message your care team, and review medical records. VA prescriptions are shipped by mail from VA pharmacies — often more convenient than a local pharmacy and at lower cost.
Tips and Common Mistakes
- →Even if you have private insurance or Medicare, enroll in VA health care. VA provides services often not covered elsewhere — mental health, substance use treatment, prosthetics, and Agent Orange/burn pit related conditions — and enrollment preserves your access.
- →If you served in Vietnam (Agent Orange), Southwest Asia (Gulf War syndrome), or near burn pits, VA has presumptive conditions that do not require proof of service connection. Ask your VA provider.
- →VA dental care is limited — it is not part of basic enrollment. Veterans with 100% service-connected disability, former POWs, or certain other categories receive dental care. Others may qualify for a VA dental insurance plan.
- →If you are denied enrollment, you can appeal. Veterans with low income who were denied for priority group reasons should reapply if their income decreases.
After You Apply
Keep your enrollment information current at va.gov. If your income changes significantly or you receive a new disability rating, notify VA — it can affect your priority group and cost-sharing. VA sends an annual financial assessment request to Priority Groups 7 and 8 veterans; respond promptly or you may be unenrolled.
Ready to apply for VA Health Care?
Opens the official application on the program's website.
Other application guides