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VA Hospital Benefits

The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs provides health care benefits to service members who were released or discharged under conditions that were not dishonorable. Enrolled veterans are assigned to a priority group based on health status and income, and all groups are provided with medical care that includes hospital benefits.

  1. VA Medical Centers

    • Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program can receive inpatient care at VA medical centers across the country. The centers provide hospital-based services including physical therapy, surgery, critical care, emergency care, radiology and orthopedics. Inpatient health care is also provided for veterans who require hospital care for recovering from mental health issues and substance abuse. Another VA hospital benefit included in the health care program is the assistance of patient advocates who help veterans with any of their questions and concerns regarding the care they receive at medical centers. The advocates help to resolve issues and refer veterans to the appropriate staff members at the medical center.

    Advanced Hospital Benefits

    • Many VA medical centers provide surgical specialty services such as oncology, neurology and prosthetics. Some medical centers also provide advanced surgical services, including plastic surgery for veterans who need reconstructive procedures because of trauma or disease. VA hospital benefits include organ transplant and bone marrow services to eligible veterans in select medical centers throughout the country. Organ transplants include heart, lung, heart/lung, kidney, kidney/pancreas and liver. Transplant referrals are given by VA physicians for veterans who need them after completing necessary tests. Veterans are placed on the United Network for Organ Sharing list and required to select a support person such as a relative or friend who will help them before, during and after the transplant.

    Hospital Benefits Co-Pays

    • Inpatient health care comes with full rate and reduced rate co-pay rates, which are computed over a period of 365 days. Enrolled veterans who meet specific income eligibility standards and live in high cost areas, according to the geographic means test, may qualify for VA hospital benefits at the reduced inpatient co-pay rate. The reduced rate is 80 percent of the full co-pay rate, and veterans belonging to certain priority groups will have to pay a $220 co-pay for the first 90 days of inpatient health care, as of 2010. If they are required to stay in the hospital longer, they will have to pay $110 for each additional 90 days as well as a $2 per diem charge.

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