Frequently Asked Questions
We offer primary care, mental health care, specialty services, and gender-specific care to support your whole health. Work with your VA primary care provider to access available services:
- General Health Services
- Primary care including care for acute and chronic (long-lasting) conditions
- Immunizations
- Cancer screenings such as mammograms, Pap tests, and colonoscopies
- Birth control, family planning, and preconception counseling
- Menopause care
- Well-being Services
- Health coaching
- Mind-body therapies, yoga, and stress reduction
- Specialty Care Services
- Gynecology care including infertility counseling, treatment for pelvic pain, and gynecologic cancers
- Management of chronic or complex conditions
- Maternity Care Services (Fully covered for those eligible. Services are sometimes provided in your community instead of a VA facility.)
- Full physical exams, lab tests, and ultrasounds
- Genetic tests and specialty consultations
- Labor and delivery
- Newborn care
- Support for breastfeeding and chestfeeding
- Mental Health Services
- Evaluation, counseling, and treatment for:
- Depression, mood, and anxiety disorders
- Alcohol and drug use and addiction
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Stress and adjustment concerns related to deployment
- Care related to experiences of intimate partner violence
- Care for experiences with military sexual trauma (MST)
- Evaluation, counseling, and treatment for:
Even if you are not eligible to receive other VA health care, you may still be able to get certain health care services, like care related to military sexual trauma (MST) (that is, experiences of sexual assault or sexual harassment during military service). All former service members and Veterans are eligible for one year of free mental health care services following discharge, regardless of discharge status.
You may be eligible for VA health care benefits if you served on active duty and didn't receive a dishonorable discharge. To find out, check the eligibility requirements.
You can apply online, by phone, by mail, or in person. Find out how to apply for VA health care benefits as a Veteran or transitioning service member.
If you would like help, you can call, text, or chat online with the Women Veterans Call Center (WVCC) at 855-829-6636 to get help and find available resources and services in your area. Trained women representatives can also help you with issues such as:
- Enrolling in VA health care if you have not already
- Setting up a medical appointment in your area
- Answering questions about eligibility (including questions about disability ratings) and other VA benefits like employment, education, and home loans
WVCC representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET, and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET.
The fastest way to make all your VA appointments is usually to call the VA or community care health facility where you want to receive care. Find a location here.
If you can't find the facility or women's health services you're looking for, call, text, or chat online with our Women Veterans Call Center (WVCC) at 855-829-6636. WVCC representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET, and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET.
You can also schedule, cancel, and manage some health appointments online through My HealtheVet.
All of our medical centers have a Women Veterans Program Manager to help you coordinate services. If you are having difficulty scheduling an appointment, call your local facility and ask for the Women Veterans Program Manager.
For urgent health conditions, go to your local VA urgent care walk-in clinic or the emergency room.
You may also call, text, or chat online with our Women Veterans Call Center (WVCC) at 855-829-6636. WVCC representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET, and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET.
You can receive your care at VA medical centers, community-based outpatient clinics, or Vet Centers. For some specialty services, like maternity care, VA covers the cost, but you will receive that care at a non-VA health facility close to you. Check with your Women's Health Primary Care Provider if you have questions on referrals for specialty services.
We also offer some health care services through telehealth, where you connect with a VA provider through a computer or mobile device. To set up telephone or video appointments, you can send your health care team a secure message on My HealtheVet by visiting www.myhealth.va.gov. Find more information on video appointments.
The best place to start is the Women Veterans Call Center (WVCC). Call, text, or chat online with the WVCC at 855-829-6636 to get help and find available resources and services in your area. Trained women representatives can also help you with issues such as:
- Enrolling in VA health care if you have not already
- Setting up a medical appointment in your area
- Answering questions about eligibility (including questions about disability ratings) and other VA benefits like employment, education, and home loans
WVCC representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET, and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET.
You may be able to receive compensation for conditions that started or got worse in the line of duty. Explore disability eligibility. If you have questions, a Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) representative at your nearest regional office can explain more. Find your nearest regional office.
We are committed to providing a safe and comfortable environment for all Veterans. If you experience harassment while at a VA facility, please report the incident to the VA Police. You may also report it to the facility Patient Advocate who will ensure your report is relayed to the facility leadership.
You can also call, text, or chat online with the Women Veterans Call Center at 1-855-829-6636. WVCC representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET, and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET.
Call, text, or chat online with our Women Veterans Call Center (WVCC) at 855-829-6636. WVCC representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET, and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET.
You can also speak with a Patient Advocate at your VA. Call your VA and ask to speak with the Patient Advocate. Learn more about Patient Advocates.
Maternity care is provided by non-VA providers in non-VA facilities. A Maternity Care Coordinator (MCC) can help you coordinate maternity care and your other care at VA during your pregnancy. Maternity care services covered by VA include:
- Full physical exams and lab tests
- Prenatal education and screenings
- Obstetrical ultrasounds
- Genetic tests and specialty consults
- Prescription drugs
- Labor and delivery
- Newborn care on the date of birth plus 7 days immediately after birth
- Lactation support
- Support and services in case of miscarriage or stillbirth
- Social work and mental health services
- Maternity Care Coordinators
We offer a range of services to help you build your family. Infertility services available through VA include:
- Infertility assessments and counseling
- Laboratory blood testing
- Imaging services, such as ultrasounds and X-rays
- Hormone therapies
- Surgical correction (e.g., endometriosis, polyps, tumors, or scars)
- Genetic counseling and testing
- Fertility medications
- Artificial and intrauterine insemination
- Tubal ligation (tube tie) reversal
- Vasectomy reversal
- Oocyte cryopreservation (egg freezing)
- Sperm retrieval techniques (including sperm washing for intrauterine insemination)
If you have a service-connected condition that causes infertility, you (and your spouse) may be eligible for:
- In vitro fertilization (IVF) or other forms of assisted reproductive technology (ART) services
- Some adoption reimbursement of costs (up to $2,000)
We offer treatment for mental and physical health conditions related to experiences with MST and are ready to support you in whatever way will help you best. Note that you may be able to receive free MST-related care even if you are not eligible for other VA care.
MST-related services available through VA include:
- An MST Coordinator available at every VA health care system who can answer any questions you have about MST-related services and can help you find and access VA services and programs
- Free MST-related mental health and medical care at every VA medical center and many VA community-based outpatient clinics
- Free MST-related counseling at Vet Centers
- Residential (live-in) or inpatient programs for more intensive mental health treatment and support. Some facilities have separate residential programs for women only. All residential programs have separate sleeping areas for men and women
Learn more about eligibility for MST-related care and learn how to access MST-related care on our MST home page.
As a result of stigma, stress, and discrimination, LGBTQ+ Veterans face increased health risks and unique challenges in health care. We want you to be comfortable talking with your VA providers about all .aspects of your life, so we can offer you the best care possible. VA is here to help you manage your health needs, including issues related to fertility and growing your family. Learn more about health services for LGBTQ+ Veterans.
For questions and help, there is an LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinator (LGBTQ+ VCC) at every facility to help you get the care you need. Contact the LGBTQ+ VCC at your nearest facility.
Contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838 for free, confidential help 24/7. A trained VA counselor can give you information about VA homeless programs, health care, and other services in your area.
Visit VA Homeless Programs to learn about VA programs for Veterans who are homeless. You can also call or visit your local VA Community Resource and Referral Center. Our staff can help you find non-VA resources you may qualify for in your community.
If you or a Veteran you know is in crisis, call the Veterans Crisis Line now: Dial 988 then Press 1 or visit http://www.veteranscrisisline.net. You can call, text, or chat online with caring, qualified VA responders. Many of them are Veterans or family members of Veterans.
If you or someone you know is a justice-involved Veteran, the VA Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) Specialist at your local VA Medical Center may be able to help connect you to community resources for legal assistance.
You can also visit the Justice for Vets* website to learn more about Veterans Treatment Courts.
It is important justice-involved Veterans are familiar with VA benefits including:
- What VA benefits they may still be eligible to receive
- What happens to the VA benefits they are already receiving if they become incarcerated
- What programs are available to assist them with reentering the community once released from incarceration
Incarcerated Veterans can also receive assistance with re-entry.
Learn more about Health Care for Re-entry Veterans Services and Resources, (HCRV), a program designed to promote success and prevent homelessness among Veterans returning home after incarceration.
