Fee Program (Purchased Care for Veterans)

This website is designed to give the reader a general overview of the Fee Program. Veterans seeking health care at VA expense should obtain their care at a VA health care facility. Community care or the use of the Fee Program is generally authorized when appropriate VA services are not available or cannot be economically provided to eligible veterans. The use of community care is not considered a permanent solution for veteran health care needs. The Fee Program is not an entitlement program. The Fee Program is a method of health care delivery for those eligible veterans.

There may be times when VA cannot provide all of the necessary medical care and services. VA may authorize medical care in the community for those veterans who meet the eligibility requirements. The basic provisions of the Fee Program are provided in public laws passed by Congress. These laws have been codified into the United States Code and further clarified in the Code of Federal Regulations. Various VA Policies and Directives have been written to provide additional interpretation.

Individual eligibility determinations are difficult, and therefore outside the scope of this general information. Please contact your local VA health care facility for individual veteran eligibility questions or concerns.