VA provides world-class health care to eligible Veterans.
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, with more than 1,200 sites of care, and it is consistently ranked among the nation’s top healthcare providers.
Many Veterans may be eligible for VA health care. Enrollment in VA health care satisfies your Affordable Care Act health coverage requirement—no add-on insurance plan is needed. VA encourages you to explore your health care benefits, including the following services:
- All enrolled Veterans have access to VA’s comprehensive medical benefits package including preventive, primary, and specialty care; prescriptions; mental health care; home health care; geriatrics and extended care; medical equipment and prosthetics; and more
- Most Veterans qualify for cost-free health care services, although some Veterans must pay modest copays for health care or prescriptions
- Women Veterans can receive primary care, breast and cervical cancer screenings, prenatal care, maternity care coverage, and other gender-specific services
- Veterans who have served in combat-zones—and their family members—may visit VA’s many community-based Vet Centers, which provide no-cost counseling, outreach, and referral services to help the whole family adjust to life after deployment
- Combat Veterans who were discharged or released from active service on or after Jan. 28, 2003, are eligible to enroll in the VA healthcare system for five years from the date of their discharge or release, regardless of their disability claim status. Combat Veterans who enroll with VA under this enhanced Combat Veteran authority will continue to be enrolled after their enhanced eligibility period ends, although their enrollment priority group may change.
Military Service Requirements for Enrollment
- Veterans must have served in the active military, naval, or air service and separated under any conditions other than dishonorable
- Most Veterans who enlisted after Sept. 7, 1980, or who entered active duty after Oct. 16, 1981, must have served 24 continuous months or the full period for which they were called to active duty. This includes current and former members of the Reserve or National Guard called to active duty by a federal order.
Application Requirements
- DD214
- Any additional health insurance information
- Wage and financial information, including previous calendar-year gross income for the Veteran, spouse, and dependent children
Minnesota Part of VISN 23
Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN)
The Network serves more than 440,000 enrolled Veterans residing in the states of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and portions of Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Minnesota Veterans have access to 4 Major Medical Centers:
- Fargo, with Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) at: Bemidji, Fergus Falls, and Grand Forks (ND).
- Minneapolis, with CBOCs located in Albert Lea, Chippewa Valley, Ely, Hayward (WI), Hibbing, Mankato, Maplewood, Ramsey, Rice Lake (WI), Rochester, Shakopee, St. James, and Superior (WI).
- Sioux Falls, with a CBOC located in Spirit Lake (IA)
- St. Cloud, with CBOCs located in Alexandria, Brainerd, and Montevideo
Just for Women--VA Women’s Clinics.
VA Women’s Clinic is a multi-disciplinary clinic offering a full range of preventive care and treatment services for women of all ages. If you are already enrolled for VA medical benefits, contact your Primary Care Team for information about services available in the Women’s Clinic.
Women’s Comprehensive Primary Care Services
Exams and services:
- History and physical, including pelvic exam and breast exam
- Menopause treatment, including hormonal therapy, if appropriate
- Family planning and contraceptive care
- Maternity care referrals
- Assessment for heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke risk
- Tobacco use cessation counseling
- Sexual trauma referrals
- Flu and other vaccines
- Social Work referrals
- Medication therapy education
- Referrals for other services as needed by the patient
Screenings for:
- High blood pressure
- Breast cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Osteoporosis
- High cholesterol
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Diabetes
- Nutrition and dietary needs
- Psycho-social issues that impact women’s health
Gynecology
Gynecology Clinic provides special services, including major or minor surgical procedures for treatment of women’s gender-specific or reproductive disorders. These may include urologic-gynecology for treatment of urinary incontinence and referrals for gynecological oncology for treatment of cancers of the female reproductive organs.
Not Your Father’s (or Mother’s) VA
All Gave Some - Some Gave All - Some Still Give. Most Veterans are eligible for some medical services. Some Veterans are eligible for all medical services. Some Veterans volunteer their time to ensure everyone is treated with compassion and dignity. Come on in and take advantage of the benefits that you have earned. Start by visiting your County Veterans Service Officer.
