Hardship Veterans Outreach

Are you a veteran who is suffering from financial distress or struggling with your VA copays? Have you lost your job, or currently face significant decrease in your household income?

Let Us Know - VA Has Programs That Can Help You

Veterans Who Are Not Currently Enrolled

VA’s Medical Care Hardship program could help veterans qualify for VA enrollment for health care services if they had a recent change in their income, even if they were previously denied enrollment based on their household income. Veterans who have put off applying for VA enrollment because they thought their income was too high may want to reconsider applying if their projected current year’s income is lower. Hardship may be approved if the veteran’s current year income is substantially reduced from the prior year. Personal circumstances such as loss of employment, sudden decrease in income or increases in out-of-pocket veteran or family health care expenses factor into VA’s hardship determination.

NOTE: Veteran’s income information is subject to verification through matching of IRS and SSA records.

If your projected year income is below the Means Test Threshold or Geographic Means Test Threshold, you may qualify for cost-free VA medical care. For additional information and qualifications for this assistance program, veterans should contact their local VA Medical Center Enrollment Coordinator. Find your local medical facility with the Facilities Locator. Veterans may also contact VA’s Health Benefits Service Center at 1-877-222 VETS (8387). Check our web page on Copays and Charges for further information on costs for VA health care services.

Enrolled Veterans

If you are a veteran currently enrolled and receiving VA health care services, but are now having problems with your VA health care debt, there are several programs that could provide assistance.

Hardship — VA can eliminate future health care debt and qualify veterans for health care without copays and enrollment based on their current year income even if they were previously denied enrollment based on their household income. Medical care hardship may be appropriate if the veteran’s current year income is substantially reduced from the prior year. Personal circumstances such as loss of employment, sudden decrease in income or increases in out-of-pocket veteran or family health care expenses factor into VA’s hardship determination. Veteran’s income information will be subject to verification.

If your projected year income is below the Means Test Threshold or Geographic Means Test Threshold, you may qualify for cost-free VA medical care.

Repayment Plan — Veterans having a problem making copays may contact their VA health care facility to request that a repayment plan be established. If approved, the plan will result in a more affordable monthly payment by spreading their payments over a 12 month period of time. To avoid administrative charges, the veterans must establish a written payment plan within 30 days of the statement date. Veterans would need to notify their VA health care facility if they cannot make one of the monthly payments. If the veteran misses a payment and does not notify VA, the veteran will not able to use the repayment plan option again.

Compromise — Veterans who are unable to pay their debt in full or clear the debt in a reasonable timeframe through monthly payments, may request a compromise. A compromise means VA can accept a lesser amount of money as full settlement of the veteran’s debt. VA will consider both the current income and anticipated future income in making this determination. Most offers in compromise that are accepted must be for a lump sum payment payable in full 30 days from the date of the acceptance of the offer.

Waiver — VA can waive a veterans existing health care debt when there has been a job loss or significant decrease in income or the veteran has experienced significant expenses for funeral arrangements, veteran’s educational expenses or for medical care for the veteran or other family members. Waivers must be requested in writing within 180 days from the date of the statement on which the charge first appears. VA can also waive the Beneficiary Travel mileage reimbursement deductible for eligible veterans.

For additional information and qualifications for these specific assistance programs, veterans should contact their local VA Medical Center Enrollment Coordinator. Find your local medical facility with the Facilities Locator. Veterans may also contact VA’s Health Benefits Service Center at 1-877-222 VETS (8387). Check our web page on Copays and Charges for further information on costs for VA health care services.

Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents
VA National Means Test Income Threshold | GMT Income Threshold
Viewers, Plug-Ins, & Readers | VA Health Care Eligibility & Enrollment Site Map

For questions about Health Care Eligibility, please visit the VA inquiry website.