Healthcare

VA Health Benefits

Veterans with active military service and an honorable discharge may be eligible for VA health care. Enrollment in VA health care provides comprehensive care and services designed to promote good health, preserve your current health, or restore you to better health. This includes treating illnesses and injuries, preventing future health problems, improving functional abilities and enhancing quality of life.

Health care provided by the VA includes preventive care, inpatient care, ancillary services, specialty care, and mental health services. Inpatient care includes a full spectrum of treatment services, such as medical, surgical, mental health, dialysis and acute care. The VA also provides care for mental health needs, such as counseling and specialized programs including intensive case management, work programs, and psychosocial rehabilitation.

Veterans receiving care from the VA may be treated on-site during inpatient hospitalization, at one of their primary or specialty care clinics, at a Community Based Outpatient Clinic or Health Care Center, in a VA Community Living Center (formerly known as a VA nursing home), or in a residential care facility.

While VA operates over 1,700 health care facilities, not all services are available at every location. In that instance, the VA may refer patients to another VA facility or the VA will pay for care from a community provider through its Community Care or Veteran’s Choice Programs.

Eligibility for VA health care is determined by need, gross household income, and service-connection status. The VA operates eight priority groups of health care access, with the VA absorbing the costs of caring for more severely disabled or low-income veterans. Other veterans without service-connected disabilities and higher gross incomes may have some care provided by the VA, with co-pays. 

There are multiple ways to apply for VA health care, you can:

• Contact the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services at 207-287-7020 or email mbvs@maine.gov  
• Apply in person at Togus: 1 VA Center Health Benefits Advisor Office, Building 200 Augusta, ME 04330 
• Apply for VA healthcare online