Veterans Affairs Care Options | MyHealthcareFinances

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Veterans Affairs (VA) Care Options

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Overview

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides health care to certain eligible Veterans, based on factors such as when, where, and how they served.
If you qualify for VA health care, you will get coverage for most health care services, such as regular checkups with your primary care provider, appointments with specialists, medical equipment, prosthetics, and prescription drugs.

More information

For more information about how to apply for VA health care, visit:
https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/

How to Receive Care

Veterans can access VA health care in two main ways:

Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

When you sign up for VA health care, you have access to the VHA, the country’s largest integrated health care system – with more than 1,380 care locations serving more than 9 million Veterans, each year.
VHA care locations may include VA medical centers, VA community-based outpatient clinics, Vet Centers, VA Community Living Centers, or even your own home (if needed). You may also be able to access telehealth care through VA Health Connect (phone) or the VA Health Chat (app).
To find VA locations, visit: https://www.va.gov/find-locations
For more information, visit: https://www.va.gov/health/connect-to-va-care

Community Care Network

The Community Care Network is a VA program that offers Veterans the ability to get health care from providers in their local community, when needed.
There are specific requirements to qualify, to receive care through the Community Care Network.
For more information about the Community Care Network, visit: https://www.va.gov/resources/eligibility-for-community-care-outside-va

How to Access the Community Care Network

To qualify to receive care through the VA Community Care Network, the Veteran’s VA health care provider must decide if at least one of the following requirements is met:

It is in the Veteran’s best medical interest to get care from an in-network community provider

The Veteran needs a service that is not provided at any VA health facility.

The Veteran lives in a U.S. state or territory without a full-service VA health facility.

The Veteran lives a certain distance from a VA health facility.

The VA cannot provide needed care within certain standards for drive and wait times.

The VA cannot provide needed care in a way that meets the VA’s quality standards.

Steps to Get Care Through the Community Care Network

Eligibility

Ask your VA health care provider if you qualify to get care through the Community Care Network.

Find an in-network community care provider or ask your VA health care team for help.

Appointments

Get a referral to the community care provider, from your VA health care team.

Schedule an appointment with community care provider or ask your VA health care team for help.

Get an authorization letter from the VA to give to your community care provider.

Getting Care

Veteran receives care from community care provider.

Provider sends medical record to VA.

Billing

Provider bills the third-party administrator (Optum or TriWest) for the care.

How Claims For Your Care Are Handled

The VA’s Community Care Network is administered by two third-party administrators: Optum & TriWest, based on geographic location (see the map below). Contact your administrator if you have questions about your claims.

Optum Covers regions 1, 2, and 3

https://vacommunitycare.com/

TRIWEST Covers regions 4 and 5

https://www.triwest.com/

VA Community Care Contact Center

1-877-881-7618

How Do I Get Prescription Drugs?

For prescription medication, the prescription should be sent to and filled by the nearest VA pharmacy
- To find participating pharmacies, go to: https://www.va.gov/find-locations/
Immediate need prescriptions may be filled (up to a 14-day supply with no refills) at a VA pharmacy OR a retail pharmacy participating in the network.
- For a list of prescriptions this applies to, go to: https://www.va.gov/formularyadvisor/urgent-emergent-formulary/
A prescription for more than a 14-day supply must be filled by a VA pharmacy

For Help

Call the Office of Integrated Veteran Care (IVC) at 877-881-7618,
or visit: https://www.va.gov/COMMUNITYCARE/about-us/support.asp

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Disclaimer: The information on this site is intended for U.S. residents only and is provided purely for educational purposes. Health, legal, regulatory, insurance, or financial related-information provided here is not comprehensive and is not intended to provide individual guidance or replace discussions with a healthcare provider, attorney, or other experts. All decisions must be made with your advisers considering your unique situation. © Triage Cancer & Pfizer Inc. 2025