Many Veterans may not be aware of life-changing benefits they’ve earned—and deserve—through military service. This outreach kit about VA urgent care services includes flyers, social media graphics and suggested corresponding language, radio public service announcements (PSA), newsletter content and a sample blog post to help you spread the word. Please share this information broadly with your networks, family and friends.
Flyer (Print and Digital)
Veterans enrolled in VA health care can use over 4,000 urgent care locations for free to treat non-life-threatening conditions.
VA covers urgent care services at VA medical centers and in network community providers,
- If you’re a Veteran enrolled in VA health care and
- You received care at a VA or in-network provider sometime in the past 24 months.
Check your eligibility by contacting your local VA health facility. Or call 1-800-MyVA411 (1-800-698-2411) (TTY: 711). Select option 1, then option 3, then option 1. Family members can’t use your urgent care benefit.
You can print a copy of the urgent care assistance card or show the card on your mobile device. Download the VA urgent care billing information card.
- What do to when you arrive at a community urgent care provider:
- Confirm that the provider is in VA’s network. Check for a posted sign or ask a staff member. If you go to an out-of-network urgent care provider, you may have to pay for the full cost of care. By law, VA can’t pay claims for out-of-network providers.
- Show your VA Health Identification Card and fill out the provider’s intake form.
- Tell the provider you want to use your VA urgent care benefit. Show the provider your urgent care assistance card if requested. The provider will call the phone number for your region listed on the card to check your eligibility.
- Find a VA-approved urgent care provider and pharmacy at VA.gov/find-locations before seeking care. Providers can change over time. Before seeking care, print this VA Billing Information Guide for you, your provider, and your pharmacy.
- If you need help using your VA urgent care benefit, call:
- 1- 888-901-6609 if the provider is in Puerto Rico, Washington, D.C., or any of these states: AL, AR, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, VA, VI, VT, WI, or WV.
- 1-866-620-2071 if the provider is in any of these states: AK, AS, AZ, CA, CO, GU, HI, ID, MP, MT, NM, NV, OR, TX, UT, WA, or WY.
When to choose VA urgent care: VA and in-network urgent care providers can meet many of your health care needs. They may be able to provide some diagnostic tests, like certain blood and urine tests. You can often get care for minor illnesses or injuries much faster than in an emergency room.
When to call 911 or go to the emergency room: If you need emergency care, you don’t need a VA referral or approval to go to a non-VA emergency room in your community.
Choosing VA means getting everything you need in one spot. Learn more about VA urgent care, eligibility requirements and examples of urgent care services by visiting VA’s dedicated urgent care benefit page.
Social media graphics and content (right click and “Save as”)
Why use VA Urgent Care?
Veterans enrolled in VA health care can use over 4,000 urgent care locations across the country for free to treat non-life-threatening conditions. Learn more:
- Urgent care may be right for you if you have health problems or symptoms like these:
- Sore throat or persistent cough
- Strains, sprains, or minor broken bones
- Deep cuts that are no longer bleeding a lot
- Allergies
- Mild burns
- Mild nausea or vomiting
- Urinary tract infection symptoms (like needing to pee often or urgently or urine that looks cloudy or smells bad)
- Make sure you bring a
- Valid, government-issued photo ID and a
- Copy of your VA urgent care assistance card
- Suggested Tweet (X): Did you know if you’re enrolled in VA, you also have access to over 4,000 urgent care locations across the country for free to treat non-life-threatening conditions?
- Suggested Tweet (X): Not an emergency? Then visit a VA urgent care clinic. VA has over 4,000 urgent care locations across the country that treat non-life-threatening conditions. This service is free.
- Suggested Tweet (X): Why choose a VA urgent care clinic? VA and in-network urgent care providers can meet many of your health care needs. They may be able to provide diagnostic exams like certain blood and urine tests. You can often get care for minor illnesses or injuries much faster than in an emergency room.
Learn more about VA urgent care, eligibility requirements, and examples of urgent care services by visiting VA’s dedicated urgent care benefit page.
Radio PSAs
When is a Veteran eligible to use VA urgent care?
What’s the benefit of VA urgent care?
Newsletter content
Because of your service, you may be eligible for VA urgent care. Veterans enrolled in VA health care can use over 4,000 urgent care locations across the country for free—including VA medical centers and in network‑ community providers—to treat non-life-threatening conditions.
Sample blog post
Because of your service, you may be eligible for VA urgent care. Veterans enrolled in VA health care can use over 4,000 urgent care locations across the country for free—including VA medical centers and in-network community providers—to treat non-life-threatening conditions.
- VA covers urgent care services at VA medical centers and in‑network community providers
- If you’re a Veteran enrolled in VA health care, and
- You received care at a VA or in-network provider sometime in the past 24 months.
- Examples of covered urgent care services include:
- Minor injuries and illnesses like strep throat, pink eye, sprained muscles, and skin and ear infections
- Diagnostic services like X-rays and some types of lab tests
- Some types of medicines and vaccines
VA and in-network urgent care providers can meet many of your health needs. They may be able to provide some diagnostic tests, like certain blood and urine tests. You can often get care for minor illnesses or injuries much faster than in an emergency room.
Common questions about VA urgent care
Should I pay a copay at a non-VA urgent care clinic?
No. Don’t pay anything at the time of your visit. If you have a copay, we’ll send you a bill.
Copays for urgent care are $30 in some cases. Having a copay depends on factors like your priority group and how many times you go to urgent care in a year.
Learn more about urgent care copays.
Can I fill my urgent care prescription at a non-VA pharmacy?
Yes. We pay for up to a 14-day supply of urgent care prescriptions from in-network community pharmacies.
Here’s what to know:
- You must visit an in-network pharmacy in the same state as your urgent care visit. Or you can fill your prescription through VA.
- If your prescription is for a routine medicine or more than a 14-day supply, you must fill it through VA.
- If you fill a prescription at an out-of-network pharmacy, you may have to pay the full cost. You can file a claim to request reimbursement for the cost.
Find an in-network community pharmacy
Can I be reimbursed for travel costs to non-VA urgent care?
We’ll pay you back for the cost of travel if both descriptions are true for you:
- You’re eligible for VA travel reimbursement and
- You travel to get care at a non-VA urgent care location in your community
We base your payment on the one-way distance to the nearest VA health facility or community provider that could have provided the care or service. We pay for only one-way (not round-trip) travel costs for unscheduled care. Learn about VA travel pay reimbursement
Can I use in-network urgent care as my primary care provider?
No. Urgent care isn’t a replacement for your primary care provider. And your urgent care benefit doesn’t cover the preventive health care services your primary care provider offers.
Use urgent care when you need treatment right away for minor illnesses and injuries. If you think the urgent care provider won’t understand your medical history or medicines, contact your primary care provider.
What do I do if there are no in-network urgent care providers near me?
Contact your nearest VA health care facility. All VA medical centers offer same-day primary care and mental health services. If you think your life or health is in danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Know that we can only pay for your emergency care under certain conditions.
Choosing VA means getting everything you need in one spot. Learn more about VA urgent care, eligibility requirements, and examples of urgent care services by visiting VA’s dedicated urgent care benefit page. Have questions? 1-800-MyVA411 (1-800-698-2411) is always the right number.
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