What Makes Your Client Eligible

To receive VA Health Care benefits, your clients must be veterans enrolled with VA unless they:

• Have a service-connected disability of 50 percent or more
• Want care for a disability that developed or worsened in the line of duty
• Want care for a service-related disability only

Your clients are eligible to enroll in VA if they:

• Were honorably discharged from active military service
• Served at least one day of active duty before September 7, 1980
• Served at least two years of active duty in a row after September 7, 1980
• Were a National Guardsman or Reservist who served the entire period of active duty by Federal order for other than training purposes

Every VA Medical Center has a Homeless Veterans Coordinator who helps veterans who are homeless with the eligibility process. When you or your client contacts the local VA Medical Center, you should ask the operator for the Homeless Veteran Coordinator.

To find your local VA Medical Center, visit
www.va.gov/sta/guide/division.asp?divisionId=1

Application Process
Renewal Process
Appeal Process

Application Process
To apply for VA Health Care benefits, your client must first complete the VA form 10-10EZ application for health benefits.

Your clients can obtain a 10-10EZ form by visiting, calling, or writing any VA health care facility or veterans' benefits office. The form is also available on the Internet at www.va.gov/1010ez.htm.

Enrollment is an ongoing process. To locate a local VA office, visit www.va.gov/sta/guide/home.asp.

Renewal Process
Once enrolled, your clients will remain enrolled from year to year without further action on their part.

Your clients may choose not to be re-enrolled, or changes in VA funding may reduce the number of priority groups VA can enroll in a given fiscal year. If your client is affected by this change, he/she will be notified in writing.

Appeal Process
If your client is a veteran, he/she has the right to appeal decisions made by a VA regional office or medical center staff. Your client has one year from the date of the notification of a decision to file an appeal. The first step in the appeals process is for your client to file a written notice of disagreement with the VA regional office or medical center that made the decision.

If your client needs to appeal a decision, please refer him/her to the “Understanding the Appeal Process” pamphlet at www.va.gov/VBS/bva/pamphlet.htm.