Switching To Va Insurance: A Guide

If you are a veteran, you can apply for VA health insurance, which will cover the services you need to help you get and stay healthy. This includes treating illnesses and injuries, preventing future health problems, improving your ability to function, and enhancing your quality of life. You can use VA health insurance benefits alongside other forms of health care coverage, such as private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, or TRICARE. To apply for VA health insurance, you can either fill out a form online, call a number, or send a form by mail.

How to update your VA health benefits information

You can update your VA health benefits information online, by phone, by mail, or in person.

Online

To update your health benefits information online, you'll need to sign in to VA.gov. You can also update some information (like your address and other contact information) in your VA.gov profile.

By phone

Call the Health Eligibility Center at 877-222-8387 and select 1 (TTY: 711). They're available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET.

By mail

Fill out a Health Benefits Update Form (VA Form 10-10EZR) and mail the completed form and any supporting documents to:

> Health Eligibility Center

> PO Box 5207

> Janesville, WI 53547-5207

In person

You can update your information in person at a VA health facility. Find your nearest VA health facility.

You can update the following types of information:

• Dependent information
• Income information for you, your spouse (if you’re married), and any dependents you may have
• Deductible expenses for you or your spouse (expenses that you can subtract from your income)
• Personal information, including your phone number, email address, and mailing address
• Insurance information for all health insurance companies that cover you, including coverage through a spouse or significant other, Medicare, private insurance, or insurance from your employer
• Military service history information, including details about exposure to toxins or other hazards

VA asks for this information because they are required by law to bill your private health insurance provider for medical care, supplies, and prescriptions provided for the treatment of non-service-connected conditions (illnesses or injuries that are not related to your military service).

Providing your insurance information may also help to offset your costs.

How to transfer your care to a new VA health facility

If you're moving to another state or simply want to switch your VA health care facility, you can transfer your care to a new VA health care facility. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Step 1: Contact your Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT)

Your first step is to get in touch with your PACT. This team includes you, your family or caregivers, and a group of healthcare professionals who work together to plan your care. Your PACT will coordinate with the Traveling Veteran Coordinator to assist in transferring your care to a new facility.

Step 2: Provide necessary information

When you contact your PACT, they will need some information from you to facilitate the transfer. This may include your personal information, such as your address, phone number, and email address. Make sure to have these details ready when reaching out.

Step 3: Choose a preferred facility

You can choose any VA facility that is convenient for you. When selecting a new facility, consider the services you require and whether the chosen facility can provide the necessary healthcare. If your preferred facility cannot meet your needs, the VA will make other arrangements based on administrative eligibility and medical necessity.

Step 4: Establish an appointment at the new facility

Your PACT and the Traveling Veteran Coordinator will assist in establishing an appointment for you at the new VA health care facility. They will work with the new facility to ensure a smooth transition of your care.

Step 5: Update your information

Once your transfer is in process, remember to update your information with the new VA facility. You can update your personal, financial, insurance, and military service history information online, by phone, by mail, or in person.

To update your information online, sign in to VA.gov and access your VA.gov profile. You can also call the Health Eligibility Center at 877-222-8387 (TTY: 711) or fill out and mail the Health Benefits Update Form (VA Form 10-10EZR) to the provided address. Additionally, you can update your information in person at your new VA health facility.

Remember, it is important to keep your VA doctor informed about any care you receive outside of the VA to ensure proper coordination of your treatment plan.

How to choose or change your preferred VA facility

When signing up for VA health care, you become part of the country's largest integrated health care system, with over 1,200 care locations serving nearly 9 million veterans annually.

Choosing a Preferred VA Facility

When you apply for enrollment, you will be asked to choose a preferred VA facility. This will be the VA facility where you will receive your primary care. You may select any VA facility that is convenient for you. If you do not choose a preferred facility, the VA will choose the facility closest to your home.

Changing Your Preferred VA Facility

You may change your preferred facility at any time. To do so, you can:

• Contact the Enrollment Coordinator or Health Benefits Advisor at your VA health care facility.
• Call the VA hospital appointment phone number of the hospital nearest to you.
• Show up at the clinic you want to switch to and talk to the information office.
• Contact your PACT (Patient Aligned Care Team) if you are transferring your care to another VA health care facility. Your PACT will work with the Traveling Veteran Coordinator to transfer your care and set up an appointment at the new facility.

How to cancel your VA health care coverage

You may request to dis-enroll from VA health care at any time. To do so, you must submit a signed and dated document requesting to be dis-enrolled from VA health care to a VA Medical Center. Alternatively, you can mail your request to:

> Health Eligibility Center Enrollment & Eligibility Division

> 2957 Clairmont Road, Suite 200

> Atlanta, GA 30329-1647

Please note that cancelling your VA health care coverage may impact your health care coverage requirements under the Affordable Care Act if you do not have other qualifying health care. You will be considered a new applicant if you choose to reapply for VA health care coverage, and your eligibility will be based upon the requirements in place at that time.

How VA health care works with other insurance

If you have other forms of health care coverage, such as a private insurance plan, Medicare, Medicaid, or TRICARE, you can continue to use VA health care benefits alongside these plans.

Private Health Insurance

Veterans with private health insurance may choose to use these sources of coverage as a supplement to their VA health care benefits. Veterans are not responsible for paying any remaining balance of VA's insurance claim not paid or covered by their health insurance.

VA is required by law to bill private health insurance providers for medical care, supplies, and prescriptions provided for the treatment of non-service-connected conditions. All Veterans applying for VA medical care are required to provide information on their health insurance coverage, including coverage under their spouse's plan. Any payment received by VA may be used to offset the Veteran's VA copayment responsibility.

Medicare

Enrollment in the VA health care system is considered creditable coverage for Medicare Part D purposes. This means that VA prescription drug coverage is at least as good as Medicare Part D coverage. However, VA health care is not considered creditable coverage under Medicare Part B, as this can only be provided through an employer.

Medicaid

VA does not bill Medicaid for services provided for Veterans.

TRICARE

TRICARE is a health care platform for active-duty, National Guard, and reserve service members, retired service members, military dependents, family members, and survivors of fallen service members. Most TRICARE plans meet the minimum essential coverage requirements for the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Every VA facility has a TRICARE point of contact and an established check-in process. When registering for a service, be sure to inform the VA provider that you are using your TRICARE benefit. If you don't, you may be charged higher out-of-pocket costs or payment may be denied.

Civilian Health Insurance

If you have other health care coverage, like private or civilian insurance plans, you can still receive your VA health care benefits together with these plans. As with TRICARE, the VA will bill your civilian health insurance for treatment that is not service-connected.

Frequently asked questions