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).

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/).

After you have enrolled for benefits,contactyour local VA health care facility to arrange a primary care 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.

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.

VA covers pregnancy care typically through arrangements with community providers. VA will pay for prenatal care, delivery, and postnatal care for eligible women Veterans.

VA covers pregnancy care through arrangements with community providers. VA will 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 service connected 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.

Yes, VA covers care to newborns for the first seven days after birth, for eligible women Veterans who are receiving VA maternity care.

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.

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), emergency center, or call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and press “1” to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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.

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:

1. Have a service-connected disability rating of 70 percent or more
2. Need nursing home care for a service-connected disability
3. 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 at http://www.va.gov/GERIATRICS/Guide/LongTermCare/Eligibility.asp. 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.

The Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7. Call 1-800-273-8255 and press “1” to talk with someone immediately. Or text “838255” for a confidential chat.

VA provides free services to help Veterans who have experienced sexual trauma. Call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and press “1” to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

VA’s 24/7 NationalCallCenter 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 (877-424-3838). You can also contact your nearest VA health care facility (found online at www.va.gov/directory) and ask for the VA Homeless Coordinator or the Women Veterans Program Manager.

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 contact the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Women’s Health Services at 202-461-0373 or VA Center for Women Veterans at 202-461-6193.

Read a VA report on the History of Military Women and their use of VA Benefits and Services at http://www.va.gov/VETDATA/docs/SpecialReports/Final_Womens_Report_3_2_12_v_7.pd for go to the Women in Military Service for America Memorial website at www.womensmemorial.org.

Women Veterans, caregivers and family members can call the WomenVeteransCallCenter at 1-855-VA-WOMEN (1-855-829-6636) for assistance. Caregivers can also reach out to the Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274.