After you apply for health care benefits 
After you ve applied for VA health care , we ll send you a letter in the mail to let you know if your application has been approved. Find out when to expect your letter and what to do next. 

When will I hear back about my application? 
If more than a week has passed since you gave us your application and you haven t heard back , please don t apply again. Call our toll - free hotline at 877 - 222 - 8387. 

If you approve my application, what do I do next? 
Wait for your welcome call from VA . We ll call you to welcome you to the VA health care program, help you with scheduling your first doctor s appointment, and answer any questions you may have about your health care benefits. Read your Veterans Health Benefits Handbook. We ll send this to you by mail. Your handbook will explain your specific health care benefits based on the priority group we assigned you, how much you ll pay in copays, and other helpful information. Download a sample handbook PDF Get your Veterans Health Identification Card VHIC. This is the card you ll use for ID and to check in at your VA health care appointments. To get your card , contact your local VA medical center and speak with the enrollment coordinator. Ask the coordinator to help you arrange to have your picture taken for your new VHIC. Or , you can request your VHIC at your next VA health care appointment. Learn more about the VHIC Find a VA medical center near you Go to your first VA doctor s appointment. You may have requested a doctor s appointment when you applied either in person or on your application. If you did , we ll set up an appointment for you with a VA doctor or provider and send you a notice with your appointment time in the mail. If you didn t ask for a doctor s appointment when you applied , we ll help you set up your appointment during your welcome call. 

Other questions you may have 
Contact your local VA medical center or clinic and ask for : The enrollment coordinator 

user: What happens after I have applied for VA health care benefits?

assistant: After your application, we will send you a letter to let you know if your application has been approved

user: How do I get my Veterans Health Identification Card?

assistant: You can contact your local VA medical center and speak with the enrolment coordinator. This coordinator can help you arrange to have your picture taken for your new VHIC. You can, alternatively, request your VHIC at your next VA health care appointment

user: How long does it take to hear back after I apply for VA health care? 

assistant: Has it been more than a week since you applied?

user: No, it hasn't

user: Where do I go if I need help accessing VA services?

assistant: You can contact our toll free number at 877-222-8387, Monday through Friday from 8.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. ET

user: Can I cancel my enrolment in VA healthcare at any stage?

assistant: You can cancel your enrolment but this may impact your health care coverage requirements under the Affordable Care Act, if you don't have other health care

user: What can I do if I disagree with a decision that is made on my VA healthcare application?

assistant: In this instance, you can file an appeal. If your application is not approved, you will receive a letter outlining the reasons why, and this letter will also include instructions on how to appeal the decision