What is the Choice Program?
If you are already enrolled in VA health care, the Choice Program allows you to receive health care within your community. Using this program does NOT impact your existing VA health care, or any other VA benefit.
Am I Eligible?
If you are already enrolled in VA health care, you may be able to receive care within your community, instead of waiting for a VA appointment or traveling to a VA facility.
You are eligible if any of these situations apply to you:
- You have been (or will be) waiting more than 30 days for VA medical care
- You live more than 40 miles away from a VA medical care facility or face one of several excessive travel burdens.
If you’d like to talk to someone, call 1-866-606-8198.
How do I Sign Up?
To get started, you’ll need to pick a health care physician, gather some information and give us a call. We will work with you to ensure you are approved for care in your community.
- Step 1: Check if you are eligible.
- Step 2: Explore which doctors are participating in your area.
- Step 3: Make sure you have information on hand about any other health insurance coverage you may have.
- Step 4:
Scheduling an Appointment:
If you are a Distance- eligible Veteran call 1-866-606-8198 to confirm eligibility and ensure the care needed is covered by VA. When you call, you will be asked for:
- Your first and last name
- Your full address
- The name of your preferred community physician. Unfortunately, not all physicians will be eligible to participate so if your preferred physician is not available, we will recommend other physicians in your area.
If you are a Wait List- eligible Veteran, you will receive a phone call from a VA partner (a non-VA phone number) to help set up your appointment. When you receive this call you will be asked for:
- Your first and last name
- Your full address
- Your date of birth
- The last 4 digits of your social security number
Note: To determine distance eligibility for the Choice Program, VA uses the current address that you have on file with VA. Learn how to update your address.
If you’d like to talk to someone, call 1-866-606-8198 or live chat with one of our representatives today.
Additional Program Information
- The Choice Program does not impact your existing VA health care or any other VA benefit.
- If you did not receive a Choice Card or if you cannot find your card, please call 1-866-606-8198 to learn more about eligibility for the Veterans Choice Program.
- If you are satisfied with your wait time at a VA facility and wish to continue waiting for VA care, there is nothing you need to do at this time.
- Care in the community is only covered by VA for medical needs which have been approved by your VA physician. We can happily schedule an appointment for other medical needs, but we can only cover the cost of care related to your VA-approved health needs.
- The Veteran Choice Program is part of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (VACAA). To learn more about VACAA click here.
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Call to Get Started
866-606-8198
If you have questions about other aspects of VA health care visit www.va.gov/health
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Need Help?
Live Chat
Monday Thru Friday
8am — 8pm Eastern
Locate A Participating Provider
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Is the Choice Program affecting your credit?
For assistance, call 1-877-881-7618 and Press 1 between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
VA will help you resolve adverse credit reporting and debt collection issues caused by use of the Choice Program.