HEALTHCAREVA program
Home-Based Primary Care
A VA health care team, led by a VA doctor, gives primary care and services such as nursing care, physical therapy, and help with daily tasks in your home, for veterans who need in-home support for ongoing illnesses that affect their health and daily activities, often because their illness makes clinic visits hard (being homebound is not required), and for veterans who are isolated or whose caregiver is strained. It is not offered everywhere; a VA doctor or social worker can say whether it serves your area.
Available to enrolled veterans when a VA provider finds the care is needed, where the program is offered
Step-by-step guide
What VA.gov lists for care at home
- 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 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)
Where are you starting from?
- Already enrolled in VA health care
Home Based Primary Care is a VA health care team, led by a VA doctor, that provides services like nursing care, physical therapy, and help with daily tasks in your home. Home health services are part of the medical benefits package for enrolled veterans.
Source: VA.gov: nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.38(a)(1)(ix) (opens in new tab)
- Not yet enrolled in VA health care
Care at home through VA starts with enrollment in VA health care. Once enrolled, you can ask VA about care at home.
- Enrolled in VA health careApply for VA health care with VA Form 10-10EZ. Enrollment opens the medical benefits package, which includes home health services.
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)(ix) (opens in new tab)
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. | |
| VA care team assessment Your VA care team looks at your ongoing treatment and personal care needs. | Whether care at home is needed for your ongoing care | Ask your VA social worker or VA primary care team. VA does the assessment. | |
| DD214 Your certificate of release or discharge from active duty. | Your service, for the health care application | You keep a copy. Have it with you when you apply to VA for health care. | Yes |
Your VA care team decides on care at home from VA records. BeneVets does not ask for copies of them.
Steps, in order
- Get free help from a VSO
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)
- 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
VA.gov says to contact your VA social worker to find out how to get long-term care services, including care at home.
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 it 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)
- Check copays
Some covered services may carry a copay. The VA.gov copay rates page lists current rates.
Source: VA.gov: current VA health care copay rates (opens in new tab); VA.gov: nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care (opens in new tab)
Good to know
VA.gov says the home care services open to you depend on your needs and what is available in your area, and you may be able to use more than one at the same time.
Source: VA.gov: nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care (opens in new tab)
Other VA home care services include homemaker and home health aide services, skilled home health care from a community agency, home telehealth, adult day health care, and hospice and palliative care.
Source: VA.gov: nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care (opens in new tab)
VA covers some long-term care services under your health benefits if you are enrolled. VA.gov says you may still need to pay a copay for some covered services. Other long-term care services fall outside VA health benefits, and VA.gov says you may be able to pay for them through Medicaid, Medicare, or private insurance. The VA.gov copay rates page lists current copays.
Source: 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)
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 8, 2026: 38 CFR 17.36(a) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 17.38(a)(1)(ix) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 17.38(b) (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)