Posted on Nov 9, 2023
Why don't VA health benefits apply nationwide for active duty members who ETS?
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Why is it that one must re-establish VA health care benefits whenever they move to another state, even if they ETS-ed from active-duty service? (I can understand why this is so for National Guard/Reservists)
When I took the oath of enlistment, I didn't do so solely to protect the citizens of [state], but the whole nation. So why don't VA health-care benefits extend nationwide, the way that VA education benefits do?
When I took the oath of enlistment, I didn't do so solely to protect the citizens of [state], but the whole nation. So why don't VA health-care benefits extend nationwide, the way that VA education benefits do?
Posted in these groups: 
Veterans Affairs (VA)
Veterans Affairs (VA)
Posted 6 mo ago
Responses: 4
I'm not sure what you're referring to as your VA health care benefits DO work nationwide.
Are you referring to moving to another location? That's not "health care benefits", that's "bureaucracy associated with changing your VA healthcare location". The process is easy (just a phone call), but the VA says it can take up to a month to complete (no idea why it could take so long).
However, that's just for routine care. If you're under VA health care and an emergency comes up, then there are procedures to cover that. If it's urgent care related, then they cover up to three times a year if you need to go to a community care provider without pre-authorization by the VA.
Are you referring to moving to another location? That's not "health care benefits", that's "bureaucracy associated with changing your VA healthcare location". The process is easy (just a phone call), but the VA says it can take up to a month to complete (no idea why it could take so long).
However, that's just for routine care. If you're under VA health care and an emergency comes up, then there are procedures to cover that. If it's urgent care related, then they cover up to three times a year if you need to go to a community care provider without pre-authorization by the VA.
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MSG Stan Hutchison
Very true.
Last year I moved from South Dakota to Arizona. I called the local VAMC and they started the process of transferring me down here and assigning me a PC. That took about 2 weeks. In the meantime, my wife (also a VA patient) had some issues and I took her to the VAMC ER. No problem. Got seen, got cared for, and got her Meds.
There is also a program for "in transit."
Last year I moved from South Dakota to Arizona. I called the local VAMC and they started the process of transferring me down here and assigning me a PC. That took about 2 weeks. In the meantime, my wife (also a VA patient) had some issues and I took her to the VAMC ER. No problem. Got seen, got cared for, and got her Meds.
There is also a program for "in transit."
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SGT (Join to see)
Thanks, sir. I think what I was referring to was in fact the bureaucracy. It just seemed unnecessary was all.
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I have received care while on vacation in Hawaii, just walked in and showed them my VHIC
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VA health benefits are nationwide. They do however have some red tape you have to navigate when you are getting service outside of your normal Hospital network but that is a result of the VA cracking down on scammers trying to perform fraud and get services that they aren't eligible for. The ability to quickly switch hospital networks even for a brief period of time is fairly easy. I spent two weeks in Boston while going to a PTSD clinic and while there I switched to the Boston VA to get services while in town and it was quick and easy.
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