HEALTHCAREVA program
VA Whole Health Program
Personalized health planning combining conventional care with complementary approaches (yoga, tai chi, meditation, acupuncture, chiropractic, and nutrition), focused on what matters most to the veteran rather than solely on illness.
Available to enrolled veterans at participating VA facilities
Step-by-step guide
What you get
Care built around what matters to you. VA says your health team will get to know you, then work with you on a personal health plan based on your values, needs, and goals.
How Whole Health starts
- A conversation with your VA health teamWhole Health services may be available at your local VA health care facility. VA asks you to check with your health care team to see which services you can get there.
Where are you starting from?
- Enrolled in VA health care
Whole Health centers on what matters to you, not what is the matter with you. VA says your health team will get to know you as a person, then work with you to develop a personal health plan based on your values, needs, and goals.
Source: VA.gov: Whole Health (opens in new tab); VA.gov: health and wellness programs (opens in new tab)
- Not enrolled in VA health care
VA says the Introduction to Whole Health course is open to veterans who are not enrolled in VA health care. Other Whole Health care at VA comes through VA health care, which starts with enrollment. VA.gov lists service in the active military, naval, or air service without a dishonorable discharge as the starting point, with a 24 continuous month rule for many who enlisted after September 7, 1980, and a federal call to active duty, completed in full, for Guard and Reserve members.
- Enrolled in VA health care, for care beyond the courseVA health care opens with enrollment. VA.gov lists service in the active military, naval, or air service without a dishonorable discharge as the starting point. If you enlisted after September 7, 1980, or entered active duty after October 16, 1981, VA looks for 24 continuous months or the full period you were called to, with some exceptions. Guard and Reserve members need a federal call to active duty, completed in full; active duty for training only does not count.
Source: VA.gov: Whole Health Pathway (opens in new tab); VA.gov: VA health care basics (opens in new tab); VA.gov: how to apply for VA health care (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.36(a) (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. | Your application to VA for health care | Apply to VA online, by phone, by mail, or in person at a VA medical center or clinic. | |
| Personal Health Inventory A self-assessment VA offers to help you decide what really matters in your life and what goals you want to reach. | What matters to you, for your health plan | You can complete it yourself, with a Health and Wellness Coach or Whole Health Partner, or in a Taking Charge of My Life and Health class. It does not go to BeneVets. | |
| Your personal health plan The plan you and your VA health team build from your values, needs, and goals. | Which Whole Health services fit your plan | Your VA health team builds it with you. |
You talk this through with your VA health team. BeneVets does not ask for copies of anything.
Steps, in order
- Free help with VA enrollment
Whole Health is not a VA claim. A VSO can help with the VA health care application. 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)
- Contact a Whole Health staff member
Start on the Whole Health Pathway by contacting a Whole Health staff member at your local VA. They can tell you about local Whole Health clinics, programs, and services, and the introduction course.
Source: VA.gov: Whole Health Pathway (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Whole Health (opens in new tab)
- Enroll in VA health care
For Whole Health care beyond the introduction course, 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)
- Start the conversation with your health team
Talk with your VA health team about Whole Health. The Personal Health Inventory can guide the talk about your hopes and goals.
Source: VA.gov: Whole Health (opens in new tab); VA.gov: build your personal health plan (opens in new tab)
Good to know
VA describes Whole Health as care that helps you create a personal health plan focused on self-care, skill building, and support.
Source: VA.gov: health and wellness programs (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Whole Health (opens in new tab)
The Pathway includes the Introduction to Whole Health course, open to enrolled and non-enrolled veterans; the Taking Charge of My Life and Health course and other groups, online or in person; and ongoing individual or group support from Whole Health experts. VA staff and veteran peers can support you.
Source: VA.gov: Whole Health Pathway (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Whole Health (opens in new tab)
VA's Whole Health pages list approaches such as acupuncture, biofeedback, clinical hypnosis, guided imagery, medical massage, meditation, tai chi and qigong, and yoga, plus health and wellness coaching. Ask your health team which are offered where you get care.
VA warns about misleading online ads for free athletic shoes and massages that may link to the Whole Health website. VA says they contain misinformation.
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), VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab), VA.gov: Whole Health (opens in new tab), VA.gov: Whole Health Pathway (opens in new tab), VA.gov: build your personal health plan (opens in new tab), VA.gov: health and wellness programs (opens in new tab), VA.gov: VA health care basics (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)