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: I applied for health care benefits and want to know what happens next

assistant: After you have applied for VA health care we will send you a letter in the mail to let you know if your application has been approved .

user: okay and where can I go for answers if I have them?

assistant: Contact your local VA medical center or clinic and ask for the enrollment coordinator or the urgent care clinic.

user: okay, and they will tell me about benefits and where to go for services?

assistant: Yes we can help you learn more about your VA health care coverage

user: and can you tell me about that letter I have coming?

assistant: we'll help you find out when to expect your letter and what to do next .

user: okay but first help me with what to do if I get denied. Do you have info about how I appeal?

assistant: You can download our How Do I Appeal booklet PDF

user: If I lose my coverage does it end abruptly and leave me hanging or can I appeal and you guys wait on stopping my benefits?

assistant: You will have 60 days after you receive our letter to make your case and during these 60 days you can continue to use your VA health care benefits

user: about when will I get something from you guys for my application since it's been over a week?

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