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When you enrolled in VA health care, the VA placed you into one of eight priority groups. That number, not your discharge status or your age, is what actually decides whether a visit or a prescription refill comes with a bill.
Most veterans never see the number written down anywhere obvious, and it can change if your disability rating, income, or exposure history changes. Confirming it now takes a few minutes and prevents a copay surprise later.
Choose your next move
Pick what you need to sort out first
Choose the option closest to where you stand right now.
Start by confirming which of the eight groups you're actually in.
Interactive toolBring your I don't know my priority group number into your next callWrite the question down before you call the enrollment coordinator so the conversation stays focused.Show the toolHide the tool
Select core VA questions, add your own, and leave the appointment with clear next actions.
How the Eight Priority Groups Work
The VA assigns every enrolled veteran to one of eight groups, numbered 1 through 8, based on service-connected disability rating, certain service exposures, income, and a few other factors. Group 1 covers veterans with a service-connected disability rated 50% or higher, and generally comes with no copays for care connected to that disability. Groups 2 and 3 cover lower disability ratings, former prisoners of war, Purple Heart recipients, and veterans awarded the Medal of Honor.
Groups 4 through 6 cover veterans who are housebound or need daily living assistance, veterans exposed to Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune water contamination, or other recognized hazards, and veterans whose income falls under the VA's national income limits. Groups 7 and 8 cover veterans whose income is above those limits, who may owe a copay for non-service-connected care depending on the specific subgroup.
ChecklistConfirm your group before your next visitA short call now beats a surprise bill later.Show the checklistHide the checklist
0 of 3 done.
What Your Group Actually Decides You'll Pay
Your priority group, combined with whether the care is connected to a service-connected condition, decides whether you owe a copay for an outpatient visit, an inpatient stay, or a prescription refill. Veterans in groups 1 through 6 generally owe little or no copay for care tied to a rated disability or a recognized exposure. Veterans in groups 7 and 8 are more likely to see a copay on non-service-connected care, and the exact amount depends on the type of visit and your specific subgroup.
The dollar amounts change from year to year, so treat any number you remember from a past visit as out of date. Confirm your current copay schedule directly rather than guessing from an old statement.
Quick calculator
Add up what you've actually paid VA health care this year
Enter your rough totals so far. This gives you a real number to bring up if you think your group or income status should lower it.
Estimated VA health costs so far this year: $0
Confirm or Update Your Priority Group
A change in your disability rating, your household income, or a newly recognized exposure can move you into a different priority group, but the VA doesn't always make that move automatically. If your circumstances changed and your copays didn't, it's worth checking whether an update is overdue.
Updating your income information is the most common reason a group changes, and it's also the one veterans forget to do every year. The VA asks enrolled veterans to update household income annually through a short form.
TimelineWork through this in orderCheck each step off as you complete it.Show the timelineHide the timeline
Check VA.gov or call the enrollment coordinator, and note the date.
File VA Form 10-10EZR online or by mail if your income, dependents, or address changed in the last year.
A new or increased rating can lower or eliminate copays going forward, but only once the VA has the updated decision on file.
If you're also managing a separate benefits claim alongside your health care enrollment, A Calm Checklist for Veterans Benefits Reviews covers how to keep both organized.
Save your plan
Save what you confirmed and what still needs updating so you can follow through.
