Get to Know the Various VA Health Benefits

Your service has earned you these health benefits. We'll show you how they can help keep you healthy and thriving.

If you're a veteran or a family member of one, you might be wondering what health care benefits you can get. VA health care, TRICARE, and CHAMPVA are three key programs that provide quality medical care to those who served and their families. But figuring out who qualifies and how to apply can feel like a maze.

Don't worry, we've got you covered! In this guide, we'll break down what you need to know about each program in simple terms. We'll walk you through who can get it, how to apply, and what it covers. Here's the short version:

• VA health care is for veterans. The VA runs its own hospitals and clinics, and it can also send you to outside doctors.
• TRICARE is for active-duty service members, military retirees, Guard and Reserve members, and their families. It's run by the Department of Defense (DoD), not the VA.
• CHAMPVA is for certain spouses, surviving spouses, and children of veterans with severe service-connected disabilities. It's run by the VA.

Whether you're a veteran, a service member, or a family member, this guide will help you find the care you've earned. Let's get started!

To learn more about all the benefits available to you and your family, sign up now for BenefitKarma!

Key Summary: VA Health Benefits at a Glance

VA health care is for veterans, TRICARE is for the military community and their families, and CHAMPVA is for certain families of veterans with severe service-connected disabilities. Details below are current as of September 2026.

VA Health Care

VA health care is often called "VA health insurance," but it isn't really insurance. The VA gives you care directly at its own hospitals and clinics. When needed, it can also pay for care from doctors outside the VA. It does count as health coverage under federal health care law.

VA health care is for veterans who served in the active military, naval, air, or space service and weren't dishonorably discharged. Here's a quick rundown of who might qualify:

• Veterans who served on active duty
• National Guard and Reserve members who were called to active duty by a federal order and finished the full time they were called for
• Most veterans who started serving after September 7, 1980, need 24 months in a row of service, or the full time they were called to serve. This rule doesn't apply if you were discharged for a disability caused or made worse by your service, or for a few other reasons.

Big change: the PACT Act

The PACT Act is a 2022 law that expanded care for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. Since March 5, 2024, veterans exposed to toxins or other hazards during service can enroll in VA health care, even if they don't have a VA disability rating. This includes many veterans who served in Vietnam, the Gulf War, and after 9/11. It also includes veterans who never deployed but were exposed during training or active duty.

If you applied in the past and were turned down, you may now qualify. You'll need to reapply or call the VA to check again. It won't happen on its own.

Note: VA health care doesn't cover family members. Families may be able to get care through TRICARE or CHAMPVA, which we cover below.

How to Apply for VA Health Care

Applying for VA health care takes a few steps. Here's a simple guide to help you through it:

1. Check Your Eligibility: Make sure you meet the basic service rules above. If you're not sure, apply anyway. The VA will tell you.
2. Gather Your Documents: See the list below.
3. Apply: Fill out the Application for Health Benefits (VA Form 10-10EZ). You can apply online at VA.gov, call 877-222-8387, send the form by mail, or bring it to a VA medical center or clinic.
4. Wait for a Decision: The VA will review your application and send you a letter. It will tell you if you qualify and which priority group you're in.

What You Need to Apply

To apply for VA health care, you'll need:

• Discharge Papers (DD214): This shows your service history and type of discharge.
• Social Security Numbers: For you, and for your spouse and any dependents you list.
• Income Information: Your household income from last year. This helps the VA decide your priority group and whether you'll pay copays. Some veterans, like those with a high service-connected disability rating, may not need to share it.
• Health Insurance Information: Cards for any other coverage you have, like Medicare, Medicaid, or insurance from a job.

What Does VA Health Care Cover?

VA health care covers a wide range of services. Here's what you can expect:

• Primary Care: Regular checkups and preventive care, like screenings and shots.
• Specialty Care: Services like heart care, orthopedics, and cancer care.
• Hospital Services: Care when you stay in the hospital, and outpatient care when you don't.
• Prescriptions: Medicines, often mailed right to your home.
• Mental Health Care: Counseling, therapy, and treatment for PTSD, depression, and substance use. Veterans in crisis can get same-day help.
• Rehabilitation: Physical and occupational therapy.
• Urgent and Emergency Care: Including walk-in urgent care at approved clinics in your area.
• Toxic Exposure Screening: A short check at least every 5 years to look for possible exposures during service.

Some services, like dental care, glasses, hearing aids, and long-term care, depend on your situation. For example, dental care is mostly for veterans with a service-connected dental problem or a 100% disability rating.

Getting Care Outside the VA (Community Care)

Sometimes the VA can send you to a doctor near you and pay for it. You may qualify if the VA can't see you within 20 days for primary or mental health care, or 28 days for specialty care. You may also qualify if you'd have to drive more than 30 minutes for primary or mental health care, or 60 minutes for specialty care. Your VA doctor can also refer you if it's in your best medical interest. Ask your VA care team about it.

How Much Does VA Health Care Cost?

Many veterans pay nothing, and there are no monthly premiums. What you pay depends on your priority group. The VA puts every veteran into one of 8 priority groups. Your group is based on things like your disability rating, income, and service history. Veterans with the highest disability ratings are in group 1. Veterans with higher incomes and no service-connected disabilities are usually in groups 7 or 8.

Here are some common copays:

• Outpatient Care: No copay if you have a service-connected rating of 10% or higher. Otherwise, it's usually $15 for a primary care visit and $50 for a specialty care visit.
• Free Services: Lab tests, X-rays, and preventive care like screenings and shots don't have copays.
• Urgent Care: Groups 1 to 5 get their first 3 visits each year free. After that, it's $30 a visit.
• Prescriptions: For medicines not tied to a service-connected condition, most veterans pay about $5 to $11 for a 30-day supply. Many veterans pay nothing.

Care for conditions linked to your service is free. So is care linked to certain combat service, toxic exposures, and military sexual trauma.

What about monthly payments?

VA health care pays for your care, not cash to you. If you want monthly money, look into other VA benefits. VA disability compensation is a tax-free monthly payment for veterans with service-connected conditions. VA pension is a monthly payment for wartime veterans with low income who are 65 or older or permanently and totally disabled.

Try it: Smart VA Disability Calculator Estimate your combined VA rating in under 2 minutes.

TRICARE

TRICARE is the health care program for the military community. It's run by the Department of Defense (DoD), not the VA. Here's who might be eligible:

• Active-duty service members and their families
• Retired service members and their families
• National Guard and Reserve members and their families
• Surviving family members of service members and retirees
• Medal of Honor recipients and their families
• Certain former spouses
• Adult children up to age 26, through TRICARE Young Adult

Note: Being a veteran doesn't make you eligible for TRICARE by itself. Most veterans who didn't retire from the military use VA health care instead. Some military retirees can use both.

TRICARE Plans

TRICARE has several plans. The main ones are:

• TRICARE Prime: You get a primary care manager who coordinates your care. It has lower costs but fewer choices. Active-duty members are signed up automatically.
• TRICARE Select: You can see any TRICARE-approved doctor without a referral. It has more choices but higher costs.
• TRICARE For Life: Works with Medicare for retirees and others who have Medicare Part A and Part B.
• TRICARE Reserve Select and TRICARE Retired Reserve: Plans you can buy if you're in the Guard or Reserve, or retired from them.

In the U.S., two companies manage TRICARE for the DoD. Humana Military runs the East Region, and TriWest Healthcare Alliance runs the West Region. TriWest took over the West Region on January 1, 2025, so older articles may list a different company.

How to Apply for TRICARE

1. Get Listed in DEERS: DEERS is the military's system that shows who's eligible for TRICARE. Service members and retirees are listed automatically, but you must add your family members. You can do this at a military ID card office.
2. Choose a Plan: Pick the plan that fits your needs, like TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select.
3. Enroll: Sign up online through milConnect, by calling your regional contractor, or by mail.
4. Watch the Timing: You can enroll or change plans during the yearly open season, which runs from November to December. You can also make changes within 90 days of a big life event, like getting married, having a baby, moving, or retiring.
5. Wait for Confirmation: You'll get a letter or email with your coverage details.

If you're retiring and have Medicare Part A and Part B, you're covered by TRICARE For Life automatically. You don't need to enroll.

What Does TRICARE Cover?

TRICARE covers a wide range of services, including:

• Medical Care: Doctor visits, specialist care, preventive care, and hospital stays.
• Prescriptions: Medicines at military pharmacies, through home delivery, and at retail pharmacies.
• Mental Health Care: Counseling, therapy, and psychiatric care.
• Other Services: Maternity care, physical therapy, and some eye exams.

Dental and vision are separate:

• Active-duty service members get dental care through the military.
• Families of active-duty members, and Guard and Reserve members and their families, can buy the TRICARE Dental Program.
• Retirees and their families can buy dental and vision plans through a program called FEDVIP. It replaced the old TRICARE Retiree Dental Program.

CHAMPVA

CHAMPVA is a health care program run by the VA for certain family members of veterans. You can't get CHAMPVA if you can get TRICARE. It covers the spouse, surviving spouse, and children of a veteran who:

• Is rated permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected disability. This means a 100% rating that isn't expected to improve.
• Was rated permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected condition when they died.
• Died from a service-connected disability.
• Died in the line of duty (in some cases), if the family can't get TRICARE.

Children can usually stay covered until 18, or until 23 if they're in school. A surviving spouse who remarries before age 55 usually loses coverage. Primary family caregivers of veterans may also get CHAMPVA through the VA's caregiver program.

If you have Medicare: You must have Medicare Part A and Part B to keep CHAMPVA. A Medicare Advantage plan also works.

How to Apply for CHAMPVA

1. Check Eligibility: Make sure you meet the rules above.
2. Gather Your Documents: You'll need a marriage or birth certificate, the veteran's VA rating letter or DIC award letter, and Social Security numbers.
3. Fill Out the Application: Complete the Application for CHAMPVA Benefits (VA Form 10-10d). If you have other health insurance, including Medicare, also fill out VA Form 10-7959c.
4. Submit It: Apply online at VA.gov, or send it by mail or fax. Applications are handled by the VA's Office of Integrated Veteran Care (it used to be called the Office of Community Care).
5. Wait for a Decision: The VA will let you know if you qualify. You can call CHAMPVA at 800-733-8387 with questions.

What Does CHAMPVA Cover?

CHAMPVA covers many services, including:

• Medical Care: Doctor visits, specialist care, and preventive care.
• Hospital Care: Inpatient and outpatient care.
• Mental Health Care: Counseling and therapy.
• Prescriptions: Including free home delivery of many medicines through the Meds by Mail program.
• Other Services: Medical equipment, skilled nursing care, and dental care only in limited cases linked to a medical condition.

What it costs: CHAMPVA shares costs with you. There's usually a yearly deductible of $50 per person or $100 per family. After that, CHAMPVA pays 75% of covered costs and you pay 25%. Your total costs are capped at $3,000 a year.

Good to know: CHAMPVA now covers weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy only for certain approved medical reasons, like type 2 diabetes. It doesn't cover them for weight loss.

Not sure what you qualify for?

VA health care, TRICARE, and CHAMPVA can work together to keep you and your family covered. But the rules can feel confusing. Here are a few tips to make it easier:

• Apply Anyway: If you're not sure you qualify for VA health care, apply. The VA will check for you. Rules changed a lot under the PACT Act, so it's worth checking again if you were turned down before.
• Know Which Program Fits: Veterans usually use VA health care. Active-duty members, retirees, and their families usually use TRICARE. Families of veterans with a permanent and total service-connected disability may use CHAMPVA.
• Get Free Help: Call the VA at 877-222-8387 for health care questions, or contact a Veterans Service Organization (VSO) like the DAV, the American Legion, or the VFW. For TRICARE, call your regional contractor.
• In Crisis? Call 988 and press 1, or text 838255, to reach the Veterans Crisis Line. It's free, private, and open 24/7, even if you're not enrolled in VA health care.

Rules and costs can change each year, so check VA.gov and TRICARE.mil for the latest details. To learn more about all the benefits available to you and your family, sign up now for BenefitKarma!