Toll-Free: (888) 234-5758
Phone: (954) 523-3870
The Department of Veterans Affairs offers a wide range of benefits for returning veterans. Below you will find a list of transitional benefits for Active Duty, National Guard and Reserve service members of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), including access to the suicide prevention hotline.
Enhanced VA Health Care Benefits for Combat Veterans
Most veterans including National Guard and Reservists, who served in a theater of combat operations after November 11, 1998, are eligible to receive cost-free VA health care for combat-related conditions and enhanced enrollment priority for 5 years after separation from active duty. Combat veterans not previously enrolled who separated from active duty prior to January 28, 2003, are eligible for the enhanced benefits until January 27, 2011.
Veterans are encouraged to enroll with VA during this enhanced eligibility period to take advantage of these special benefits. Applying for enrollment is as easy as completing VA Form 10-10EZ, Application for Health Benefits.
Once enrolled, veterans may start receiving VA health care right away.
One-Time Outpatient Dental Treatment
Veterans who served on active duty 90 days or more are eligible for one-time dental treatment if their certificate of discharge does not indicate they received necessary dental care within 90 days of separation and they apply for a VA dental exam within 180 days of separation.
VA provides further dental examinations and benefits to veterans with service-related dental conditions.
Visit the VA's Office of Dentistry for general patient information.
Primary Care Health Services
The Veterans Healthcare Administration provides general and specialized health care services to meet the unique needs of veterans returning from combat deployments. When you establish care at your local VA medical center or clinic you will be teamed up with a primary care provider. Your primary care provider is part of a team that can assist you in meeting your post-combat health care needs including specialized services for:
Services may include: specialty medical or surgical care, rehabilitative services including vocational rehabilitation, prosthetics, social work and family services, benefits counseling, community resource information and referral assistance.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Other VA benefits include:
Education
Disability Compensation and Pension
Vocational Rehabilitation
Home Loans
Survivors' Benefits (Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and others)
Life Insurance