A new VA urgent care program will let veterans enrolled in the VA health care system visit a civilian urgent care provider for free without an appointment. The program, effective June 6, 2019, is part of the Department of Veterans Affairs' Mission Act. This new program allows veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system and who have visited a VA doctor, or a civilian doctor under the VA Choice program, to see an urgent care doctor for free under certain circumstances. Veterans in Priority Groups 1 to 5, as well as some veterans in Priority Group 6, can visit an authorized urgent care center for free up to three times every year. After that, each visit will cost $30. Veterans in Priority Groups 7 and 8 will have a $30 co-payment for each visit. The VA says that most types of urgent care are covered under this program, including sprains, fever and cough due to cold. You should still go to the emergency room for things like broken bones or chainsaw accidents. You can get urgent care only from a provider who is part of the VA's contracted network. You can search for a provider online at the VA's website.
How to Use the VA's New Urgent Care Benefit
