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A VA appointment that's weeks away doesn't always mean you're stuck waiting. VA Community Care lets you see a non-VA provider, at VA's expense, when your local VA facility can't meet its own access standards for drive time or appointment wait time.

Most veterans qualify for this without realizing it. The standards are specific and easy to check yourself, and knowing them before you call can turn a routine scheduling conversation into a real option instead of a dead end.

Choose your next move

Pick where you're starting

Choose the option closest to your situation right now.

Start by confirming whether your wait time or drive time already qualifies you.

Interactive toolWrite your I haven't asked about Community Care yet questions down before you callA specific question gets a specific answer. Bring this list to your next call or appointment.Show the toolHide the tool

Select core VA questions, add your own, and leave the appointment with clear next actions.

VA visit question planner

Select the questions to bring

Add your own question

Keep questions short so staff can answer each one clearly.

  1. What is the top priority before my next appointment?

How the Access Standards Work

VA measures two things: how far you'd have to drive to the nearest VA facility, and how soon VA can actually get you seen. For primary care, mental health care, and extended outpatient care, you can qualify for Community Care if your average drive time to a VA facility is longer than 30 minutes, or if the soonest VA appointment is more than 20 days out.

For specialty care, the drive-time standard is 60 minutes and the wait-time standard is 28 days. If either number is worse than the standard for the type of care you need, VA is supposed to offer you a non-VA option instead of a longer wait.

ChecklistConfirm your numbers before you callHave these ready so the scheduler can't easily brush past the question.Show the checklistHide the checklist

0 of 4 done.

Request It the Right Way

Community Care isn't something you arrange on your own by picking a doctor and sending VA the bill. You need a referral and an authorization from VA before your appointment, or you risk being stuck with a bill VA won't cover.

Start with your VA primary care provider or the scheduling line at your facility, tell them the wait or drive time you found, and ask directly for a Community Care referral. Get the authorization number in writing before you schedule anything with an outside provider.

TimelineWork it in this orderSkipping the authorization step is the most common way this goes wrong.Show the timelineHide the timeline

Reference the specific wait time or drive time that qualifies you.

Confirm the authorization number and what it covers before you book anything with an outside provider.

An out-of-network visit can leave you responsible for the bill even with an authorization.

If VA Says No

A denial doesn't automatically mean you don't qualify. Ask exactly which standard you failed to meet and what numbers VA used, since drive-time and wait-time data can be outdated or based on the wrong type of care.

If the numbers still don't add up once you've asked directly, you can appeal the decision the same way you'd appeal a benefits claim. What to Do After a VA Claim Denial covers that process step by step.

Save your plan

Save what you confirmed so you can follow through on the referral and authorization.