Veterans Affairs Facilities

Most Veterans Affairs facilities are network providers, but you should check with your regional contractor before you make an appointment. Find a VA facility near you.

When and how you get care at a VA facility depends on your military status and your healthcare needs.

Active Duty and National Guard and Reserve Members

In the following scenarios, you can get limited healthcare services at VA facilities.

Emergency Care

• You can get emergency care without a referral or authorization.
• Call your primary care manager or regional contractor within the first 24 hours or the next business day so the care can be authorized.

Urgent and Routine Care

• You can get urgent and routine care if you have a valid referral and authorization from your PCM or regional contractor.
• The VA may see you without a referral, but to follow TRICARE’s rules, you must have a referral to get care from any provider other than your PCM.

Separated and Retired Service Members

Separated and retired service members may qualify for VA benefits upon separation or retirement.

If You Separate

If you separate from active duty before you retire, you qualify for transitional coverage, but you’ll eventually lose all TRICARE benefits. After you lose TRICARE coverage, you can get care through the VA when you qualify. 

• Learn more about separating.
• Learn more about transitioning to the VA when you separate.

If You Retire

If you retire and qualify for VA benefits, you can use your TRICARE and VA benefits together. You’ll see the VA for service-connected conditions and use TRICARE for everything else.

• Learn more about retiring.
• Learn more about transitioning to the VA when you retire.

Beneficiaries Using TRICARE For Life

VA facilities aren’t Medicare-authorized providers, even if they’re in the TRICARE network.

• Medicare can’t pay for care at a government facility.
• The VA can’t bill Medicare when you use TRICARE For Life to get care for a non-service-connected condition from a VA facility. TRICARE can pay only up to 20% of the TRICARE-allowable chargeThe maximum amount TRICARE pays for each procedure or service.  This is tied by law to Medicare's allowable charges.. You’re responsible for the remaining balance.

You should get care for your service-connected disability at a VA facility. For all other care, consider all your options, including using a Medicare-authorized provider. When using Medicare providers, you typically have no out-of-pocket costs for services Medicare and TRICARE both cover. If you use your TRICARE For Life benefit at a VA facility and you have no other VA benefit to cover those costs, you’ll be required to pay the remaining balance after TRICARE pays its 20% of the TRICARE-allowable charge. 

Talk to your VA facility about your VA options, including how VA claims are processed if you’re eligible for Medicare or you have other health insuranceHealth insurance you have in addition to TRICARE, such as Medicare or an employer-sponsored health insurance. TRICARE supplements don’t qualify as "other health insurance.".