Veterans Day comes in November, and it is a good time for anyone who works with veterans to review how a veteran can get care. Here is what the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) says about health care eligibility, community care, crisis support and help with homelessness, and how Hope Health Network fits in.
VA health care eligibility
The VA says a veteran may qualify for VA health care if they served in the active military, naval or air service and did not receive a dishonorable discharge. Minimum service rules and exceptions apply, so the VA is the place to confirm eligibility.
How VA community care works
The VA can pay for care from a community provider in its community care network when a veteran is eligible. The VA says a veteran needs approval from their VA health care team before getting care from a community provider, except in certain cases such as urgent or emergency care.
One way to qualify is through the VA's access standards. For primary care and mental health care, the standard is a 30-minute average drive or a 20-day wait. Before a veteran books a visit expecting the VA to pay, they should get approval from their VA care team and confirm that the practice is in the VA's community care network.
Crisis support, any time
The Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7. Dial 988 then press 1, text 838255, or chat online at veteranscrisisline.net. It serves veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and the people who support them, and a veteran does not have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect. In an emergency, call 911.
If a veteran is homeless or about to be
The VA's National Call Center for Homeless Veterans answers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 877-424-3838, for veterans who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness.
Need to Refer a Patient?
One phone call routes to the right practice.
Care at Hope Health Network
Veterans can also use the coverage they already have. Our practices accept Medicare, most major commercial plans, and all South Carolina Medicaid managed care plans except Select Health (First Choice), and self-pay rates are available. Hope Medical Associates provides primary care, and Hope Behavioral Medicine provides psychiatric medication management and counseling. Mental health care is available by video anywhere in South Carolina.
Call our referral line, listed on our referral page, where veterans service staff can also send a referral. Initial evaluations are often able to be scheduled within a week of the request. Veterans service staff can read more on our veterans page.
Sources: VA, Eligibility for VA Health Care; VA, Eligibility for Community Care Outside VA; Veterans Crisis Line; VA Homeless Programs for Veterans.
This article is general information, not medical advice, and does not create a patient–provider relationship. Every situation is different, so see a provider who can evaluate yours and develop a plan of care. Any medication discussed here may not be right for you: the right choice depends on your diagnoses, other health conditions and current medicines, so take medication only as directed by the provider managing your care. If you are ever in doubt about an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in most cases. The VA says a veteran needs approval from their VA health care team before getting care from a community provider, except in certain cases such as urgent or emergency care.
For primary care, mental health care and extended outpatient care, the VA's standard is a 30-minute average drive time or a 20-day wait time.
Dial 988 then press 1, text 838255, or chat online at veteranscrisisline.net. It is available 24/7, and a veteran does not have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect.
Yes, using other coverage the practices accept, such as Medicare, most major commercial plans or South Carolina Medicaid managed care (except Select Health), or self-pay. For the VA to pay, the veteran needs VA approval and a provider in the VA's community care network.