HEALTHCAREVA program
Hospice and Palliative Care
Comfort-focused care for veterans with terminal illnesses and symptom management for serious illness at any stage, available in VA facilities, community settings, or at home.
Available to enrolled veterans with qualifying terminal or serious illness
Step-by-step guide
What VA hospice care covers
- Enrolled in VA health careThe medical benefits package opens with enrollment in VA health care. VA.gov says long-term care services start with being signed up for VA health care.
- A terminal conditionVA.gov says hospice care is for a terminal condition (one that cannot be treated), with less than 6 months to live, when you are no longer seeking treatment other than to ease pain.
Source: 38 CFR 17.36(a) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.38(a)(1)(xi)(A) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care (opens in new tab)
Which kind of comfort care is this?
- Hospice care
Hospice care is part of the VA medical benefits package. VA.gov describes it as skilled caregivers who come into your home to give comfort care to you and your family.
Source: 38 CFR 17.38(a)(1)(xi)(A) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care (opens in new tab)
- Palliative care
Palliative care is also part of the medical benefits package. VA.gov describes it as skilled caregivers who come into your home to ease pain and control symptoms so you can do as much as possible in daily life.
- Your VA care team finds it is neededVA gives care in the medical benefits package only if appropriate health care professionals find it is needed. VA.gov says VA decides you need the service, and the service must be available near you.
Source: 38 CFR 17.38(a)(1)(xi)(A) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.38(b) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care (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 treatment records The records of the care you get at VA, including your diagnosis and treatment plan. | A terminal or serious illness and the care plan | VA already has these. Your VA care team reads them in VA systems. | |
| VA care team finding Your VA provider or care team deciding that hospice or palliative care is needed. | That the service is needed for your care | Your VA care team makes this finding. Ask your VA provider or social worker. |
Your VA care team works 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)
- Talk to your VA social worker
Contact your VA social worker, or your VA provider, and ask about hospice or palliative care at home.
Source: VA.gov: nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care (opens in new tab)
- Agree on the care with your VA team
VA decides you need the service, and the service must be 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)
- Ask about support for your caregiver
VA long-term care includes support for caregivers, such as respite care so a family caregiver can take a break.
Source: VA.gov: nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.38(a)(1)(xi)(A) (opens in new tab)
Good to know
Hospice care is on the list of care not subject to VA inpatient, outpatient, or urgent care copays. It is also not one of the extended care services that carry a daily copay. Palliative care is not on that list, so copays may apply.
Source: 38 CFR 17.108(e)(15) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.111(c)(3) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care (opens in new tab)
VA.gov says to contact your VA social worker to find out how to access long-term care services like hospice and palliative care.
Source: VA.gov: nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care (opens in new tab)
For long-term care services, VA.gov says VA may also consider other factors, like service-connected disability status or insurance coverage.
Source: VA.gov: nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care (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)(xi)(A) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 17.38(b) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 17.108(e)(15) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 17.111(c)(3) (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: how to apply for VA health care (opens in new tab), VA Form 10-10EZ (opens in new tab)