FAQ document

women veterans health care
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What health care services are available to women
Veterans?
A full continuum of health care, including comprehensive
primary care (care for acute and chronic illness and
gender-specific care), specialty care, mental health care,
disease prevention and screening, emergency care, and
women’s health specialty care (e.g., advanced breast and
gynecological care, maternity care, and some infertility
treatments). In addition, VA offers services such as
inpatient medical/surgical/mental health care, physical
rehabilitation, substance abuse treatment, long-term
care, and pharmacy benefits. For more information on
VA services provided to women Veterans, call 1-855-VAWOMEN (1-855-829-6636).
2. How can I learn about eligibility and enroll for
VA health care?
Veterans can apply for VA health care enrollment and
other Veterans benefits by completing VA Form 10-10EZ.
Apply online at www.1010ez.med.va.gov or visit, call, or
write to any VA health care facility or Veterans’ benefits
office. You can also call the VA Health Benefits Call Center
toll free at 877-222-VETS (8387), or get more information
online about VA benefits (www.vba.va.gov) and eligibility
(http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/).
3. How do I get started with getting my health care
in VA?
After you have enrolled for benefits (see #2 above),
contact your local VA health care facility (found online
at www.va.gov/directory) to arrange a primary care
appointment.
4. How do I get a clinic appointment? What if there is
a waiting list for an initial appointment?
It is the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) goal
that every new patient be scheduled for a non-urgent
appointment within 14 days. If you have an urgent
or emergent medical condition, contact your local
VA health care facility (found online at www.va.gov/
directory) or visit their walk-in (urgent care) clinic or
emergency room.
5. Does VA provide gynecologic care for menstrual
problems and services such as Pap smears and
birth control? What about breast care such as
mammograms and breast cancer treatments?
VA provides women Veterans with a full range of

reproductive health services necessary for optimal health
throughout their lives, including the services above and
more. Gynecology and maternity care are available either
at your VA facility or through referrals to appropriate
providers in the community. This referred care is covered
by VA.

6. Does VA provide pregnancy care?
VA covers pregnancy care typically through
arrangements with community providers. VA can pay
for prenatal care, delivery, and postnatal care for eligible
women Veterans.
7. If VA covers pregnancy care, why aren’t babies
delivered in VA hospitals?
VA covers pregnancy care through arrangements with
community providers. VA can pay for prenatal care,
delivery, and postnatal care for eligible women Veterans,
as well as care to newborns for the first seven days
after birth for all eligible women Veterans. Many details
are involved with pregnancy care. Contact a Women
Veterans Program Manager as early in pregnancy as
possible to discuss local processes regarding prenatal
care and to explore your options. If a pregnant Veteran
has a permanent, total disability resulting from a serviceconnected injury, and the child is not otherwise eligible
for medical care under the Civilian Health and Medical
Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS), then the
child could receive care under VA’s Civilian Health and
Medical Program (CHAMPVA), which is different from VA’s
routine, seven-day newborn coverage.
8. Does VA cover newborn care?
Yes, VA covers care to newborns for the first seven
days after birth, for eligible women Veterans who are
receiving VA maternity care.
9. Does VA provide health care for my children?
The provision of health care to children who are not
Veterans is limited to those instances where specific
authority is given to VA by law. Contact your nearest
VA health care facility (found online at www.va.gov/
directory) and ask to speak with the Women Veterans
Program Manager. Also, to find out if your child qualifies
for health care through Medicaid and the Children’s
Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in your state, see
http://www.insurekidsnow.gov/state/index.html
or call 1-877-543-7669.

10. Where can I get inpatient psychiatric care as a
woman Veteran?
Most VA Medical Centers have inpatient mental health
programs. Contact your VA Primary Care Provider, Women
Veterans Program Manager, or the local Mental Health
Program Office for assistance. If you already have a therapist
and need inpatient care, please discuss your concerns with
your therapist. If you have urgent or emergent needs, you
can contact your local VA health care facility (found online
at www.va.gov/directory) or emergency center.
11. Where can I get inpatient medical/surgical care as
a woman Veteran?
Most VA Medical Centers have inpatient medical units
and surgery departments. Contact your VA Primary Care
Provider or Women Veterans Program Manager for more
information. If you have urgent or emergent needs,
you can contact your local VA health care facility (found
online at www.va.gov/directory) or emergency center.
12. How do I get evaluated for nursing home care?
If you have never been seen at a VA health care facility,
you must first enroll for benefits (see #2 above). Then
you must enroll in a primary care clinic (see #3 above)
and ask to be evaluated for nursing home care. The
evaluation will be done either by the primary care
provider or a geriatric
care team.
Under the Millennium Health Care Act of 1999, VA must
provide or pay for nursing home care for Veterans who
require it and who meet the following criteria:
•• Have a service-connected disability rating of 70
percent or more
•• Need nursing home care for a service-connected
disability
•• Are rated 60 percent service-connected and are
either unemployable or have an official rating of
“permanently and totally disabled.”
Veterans enrolled in the VA healthcare system who require
nursing home care for any other reason must meet income
and asset criteria to be eligible. Placement is made based
on nursing home availability and the Veteran may be
assessed a co-payment for such services. Specific eligibility
and admission criteria are unique to each nursing home.
Learn more about long term care eligibility:
http://www.va.gov/GERIATRICS/Guide/LongTermCare/
Eligibility.asp

13. How can I get help if I am in crisis or to help
another Veteran who is?
The Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7. Call 1-800-2738255 and press “1” to talk with someone immediately. Or
text “838255” for a confidential chat.
14. How do I contact a coordinator for women Veterans
who are homeless with children?
Contact your nearest VA health care facility (found online
at www.va.gov/directory) and ask for the VA Homeless
Coordinator, the Social Work Services department, or
the Women Veterans Program Manager. Any of these
contacts can discuss the options available in your area.
VA’s 24/7 National Call Center for Homeless Veterans
is staffed by VA counselors trained to help homeless
Veterans or Veterans at-risk for homelessness. The call
center can be reached by calling 877-4AID-VET (877-4243838).
15. What is the process for getting quality of care
issues addressed?
Contact the Women Veterans Program Manager or
Patient Advocate at your nearest VA facility (found online
at www.va.gov/directory). During normal business hours
you can also contact the Veterans Health Administration
(VHA) Women Veterans Health Group at 202-461-1070 or
the VA Center for Women Veterans at 202-461-6193.
16. Are VA services authorized for women Veterans
who were involuntarily discharged from the
military for pregnancy prior to May 1974? If not,
how does one get this issue addressed?
The provision of health care services to Veterans is
established by certain eligibility criteria and discharge
status requirements. Learn more about your eligibility for
services: http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/, or contact
your nearest VA health care facility (found online at www.
va.gov/directory).
17. How and where do I find historical information on
women Veterans?
Contact the Women in Military Service for America
Memorial (www.womensmemorial.org or 800-222-2294),
or read a VA report on the History of Military Women
and their use of VA Benefits and Services: http://www.
va.gov/VETDATA/docs/SpecialReports/Final_Womens_
Report_3_2_12_v_7.pdf.

WOMEN VETERANS HEALTH CARE
Women’s Health Services, Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, DC 20420
06/13