VETERANS PRESS: Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center (MGVAMC) Spokane: Become a patient

Choose VA for your health care needs. With VA health care, each veteran’s medical benefits package is unique. You can apply for VA health care online from the comfort of your own home.

All veterans are encouraged to enroll in the VA Health Care System.

To begin the process, please complete an Application for Health Care Benefits at https://www.va.gov/health-care/how-to-apply/.

You can submit the form online, or you may print the form and mail it to us at: Spokane VA Medical Center, Business Office/Eligibility, 4815 N. Assembly St., Spokane, WA 99205.

You can also bring the form to the medical center. The Eligibility Office is located on the seventh floor of the main building.

Whether mailing or bringing your application, please include the following items:

• a copy of both sides of your current insurance card (including Medicare or Medicaid)

• a copy of your DD214, “Armed Forces Report of Transfer or Discharge”

• (Purple Heart recipients only) a copy of your award letter if “Purple Heart” is not noted on your DD214

To speak to someone in our eligibility office, please call 509-434-7009 or 800-325-7940.

Basic Eligibility

If you served in the active military, naval or air service and are separated under any condition other than dishonorable, you may qualify for VA health care benefits. Current and former members of the Reserves or National Guard who were called to active duty (other than for training only) by a federal order and completed the full period for which they were called or ordered to active duty may be eligible for VA health care as well.

VA encourages all veterans to apply in order to determine their enrollment eligibility.

Veterans Health Benefits Handbook

VA produces a personalized “Veterans Health Benefits Handbook” for each veteran enrolled in the VA health care system. The handbook provides a current and accurate description of VA health care benefits and services. Your handbook will be tailored specifically to you with personal identifying information, and should be safeguarded as you would any other sensitive personal document.

The “Veterans Health Benefits Handbook” includes:

• Eligibility and health care benefits,

• Contact information for your preferred facility,

• Information regarding copayment responsibilities,

• Instructions on how to schedule appointments,

• Guidelines to communicate treatment needs,

• Patient rights,

• Ways to obtain copies of medical records and

• Other important information.

You will receive your personalized handbook via U.S. mail; therefore, you should have a current address on file with VA. Handbooks are mailed based on Priority Group, beginning with Priority Group 1 and ending with Priority Group 8. For more information, go to www.va.gov/healthbenefits/vhbh. You may also call VA toll-free at 1-877-222-VETS (8387) if you need to update your address or receive more information.

Health Care Benefits Overview

VA publishes the “Health Care Benefits Overview” booklet, which provides general information and frequently asked questions about VA’s medical benefits package available for all enrollees, and other information such as eligibility for enrollment.

The publication is available and can be downloaded at https://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/resources/epublications.asp.

We encourage you to refer to it whenever you have questions about your eligibility for specific health care benefits. More information is available at the following resources:

• The Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center Enrollment Office

• VHA Health Benefits Website: https://www.va.gov/health-care/

• My HealtheVet: https://www.myhealth.va.gov/mhv-portal-web/home

• VA toll-free: 1-877-222-VETS (8387) Monday-Friday between 8 AM and 8 PM ET.

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For more local help, see the North Idaho Resource Directory.