HEALTHCAREVA program
Adult Day Health Care
Daytime programs at VA and community facilities providing health monitoring, social activities, therapeutic programming, and respite for family caregivers of veterans who cannot be left alone.
Available to enrolled veterans based on clinical need
Step-by-step guide
What adult day health care needs
- VA finds the service is neededVA.gov lists three things that must all be true: you are signed up for VA health care, VA concludes you need the service for your ongoing treatment and personal care, and the service (or space in the care setting) is available near you. VA may also consider other factors, like service-connected disability status or insurance coverage.
- Financial information, unless you are exempt from copaysUnless a copay exemption applies to you, the rule says you give VA Form 10-10EC when you first ask for extended care, and the form says that if you decline to give financial details, VA charges the maximum copay. Veterans exempt from adult day health care copays include those with a compensable service-connected rating, those whose yearly income is below the basic VA pension rate for a veteran with no dependents, Medal of Honor recipients, veterans VA finds catastrophically disabled, and veterans who meet the federal definition of Indian or urban Indian and have given VA the documentation the rule asks for; the rule also exempts some kinds of care. If you are not sure whether you need the form, ask your VA medical facility.
Source: VA.gov: nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.38(b) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.111(e) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.111(f) (opens in new tab); VA Form 10-10EC (opens in new tab)
Where are you starting from?
- Already enrolled in VA health care
Adult day health care is a program you go to during the day for social activities, companionship, and recreation, as well as care and support. Noninstitutional adult day health care is part of the medical benefits package.
Source: VA.gov: nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.38(a)(1)(xi)(B) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.111(c)(1) (opens in new tab)
- Not yet enrolled in VA health care
Adult day health care through VA starts with enrollment in VA health care. Once enrolled, you can ask VA about it.
- Enrolled in VA health careApply for VA health care with VA Form 10-10EZ. Enrollment opens the medical benefits package, which includes noninstitutional adult day health care.
Source: VA.gov: nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care (opens in new tab); VA.gov: how to apply for VA health care (opens in new tab); VA Form 10-10EZ (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.36(a) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.38(a)(1)(xi)(B) (opens in new tab)
Time limits
Unless a copay exemption applies to you, give VA Form 10-10EC to a VA medical facility when you first ask for extended care, when you ask again after a break in care of more than 30 days, and each year when you update your financial information for VA health care. If you are receiving extended care, report changes that might change your copay by giving your VA medical facility a new VA Form 10-10EC within 10 days of the change.
What to gather, and what it shows VA
| Document | What it shows | How VA gets it | Have it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| VA health care application VA Form 10-10EZ, the application for VA health care. | Enrollment in VA health care | Apply to VA online, by phone, by mail, or in person at a VA medical center or clinic. | |
| VA care team assessment Your VA care team looks at your ongoing treatment and personal care needs. | That adult day health care is needed for your ongoing care | Ask your VA social worker or VA primary care team. VA does the assessment. | |
| Application for extended care services VA Form 10-10EC, the financial form VA uses to set extended care copays. | Your income, assets, and expenses, which VA uses to set any copay | If no copay exemption applies to you, give it to your VA medical facility at the times under Time limits. If you are not sure whether you need it, ask your VA medical facility, which can also help you fill it out. |
Your VA care team arranges adult day health care from VA records. BeneVets does not ask for copies of them.
Steps, in order
- Get free help from a VSO
A VSO can help you apply for VA health care. Free help: an accredited VSO can file this with you. Find one near you in the BeneVets VSO directory at Find an accredited VSO near you.
Source: VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab); VA.gov: how to apply for VA health care (opens in new tab)
- Enroll in VA health care
Apply for VA health care with VA Form 10-10EZ, online, by phone, by mail, or in person. If you are already enrolled, skip this step.
Source: VA Form 10-10EZ (opens in new tab); VA.gov: how to apply for VA health care (opens in new tab)
- Ask your VA social worker
Contact your VA social worker to find out how to get long-term care services, adult day health care included. Or call the VA toll-free hotline at 877-222-8387, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET.
Source: VA.gov: nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care (opens in new tab)
- Talk through your needs with VA
Your VA care team decides whether you need the service for your ongoing treatment and personal care, and whether a program is available near you.
Source: VA.gov: nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.38(b) (opens in new tab)
- Give VA the extended care form, unless you are exempt
If no copay exemption applies to you, give VA Form 10-10EC to your VA medical facility at the times under Time limits. VA uses it to set any copay after the first 21 days. The financial information rule above lists who is exempt, and what happens if you decline to give financial details. If you are not sure whether you need the form, ask your VA medical facility.
Source: VA Form 10-10EC (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.111(e) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.111(f) (opens in new tab)
- Report changes that affect your copay
If you are receiving extended care, report changes that might change your copay, such as in marital status, income, assets, expenses, or whether a spouse or dependent lives in the community, on a new VA Form 10-10EC given to your VA medical facility. Time limits gives the deadline.
Source: 38 CFR 17.111(e) (opens in new tab); VA Form 10-10EC (opens in new tab)
Good to know
Under the rule, adult day health care is a therapeutic outpatient program that offers medical services, rehabilitation, therapeutic activities, socialization, nutrition, and transportation in a group setting.
VA.gov lists adult day health care among the home care services that can also support a family caregiver.
Source: VA.gov: nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care (opens in new tab)
There is no copay for the first 21 days of extended care in a 12-month period, and days of other extended care, such as respite or nursing home care, count toward the 21. After that, the daily copay depends on the level of care and the financial information on VA Form 10-10EC, and it can be zero. Each day you attend counts. After 180 days of extended care, VA also counts assets.
Source: 38 CFR 17.111(b) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.111(d)(1) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: current VA health care copay rates (opens in new tab)
Among others, no extended care copay applies to a veteran with a compensable service-connected disability, to a veteran whose yearly income is below the basic VA pension rate for a veteran with no dependents, to care for a zero percent service-connected disability, or to a Medal of Honor recipient. A veteran VA finds catastrophically disabled pays none for adult day health care, and neither does a veteran who meets the federal definition of Indian or urban Indian and gives VA the documentation the rule asks for. Once VA accepts that documentation, the rule says VA refunds copays paid for adult day health care provided on or after January 5, 2022. The rule lists more.
Source: 38 CFR 17.111(f) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.111(g) (opens in new tab)
BeneVets is informational and is not an accredited representative. Free help: an accredited VSO can work through VA benefits with you at no cost. Find an accredited VSO near you
Sources checked October 15, 2026: 38 CFR 17.36(a) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 17.38(a)(1)(xi)(B) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 17.38(b) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 17.111(b) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 17.111(c)(1) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 17.111(d)(1) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 17.111(e) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 17.111(f) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 17.111(g) (opens in new tab), VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab), VA.gov: nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care (opens in new tab), VA.gov: current VA health care copay rates (opens in new tab), VA.gov: how to apply for VA health care (opens in new tab), VA Form 10-10EZ (opens in new tab), VA Form 10-10EC (opens in new tab)