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: Hi, What is the procedure after I apply for VA health care benefits?

assistant: After your application, we will send you a letter outlining the decision that has been made on your application

user: What can I do if I have re-signed up for VA health care?

assistant: In this instance, you can manage your VA health and any benefits online through VA.gov. You can also refill your prescription, send messages securely to your health care team and even check the status of any disability or pension claim

user: I didn't ask for a doctor's appointment when I applied, can this be done now?

assistant: We can organise this when we make your welcome call to you

user: How do I know what benefits are covered by Veterans Health?

assistant: We will send you a Veterans Health Benefits Handbook by way of mail. This handbook will explain your specific health care benefits based on the group that you have been assigned to and cover off other useful information for you

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

assistant: Has it been over a week since you applied for VA  health care?

user: Yes, it has been more than a week, maybe two

assistant: In this case, please don't make another application, please call us on our toll free hotline on 877-222-8387