Veterans Can Now Apply for Health Care Online

Veterans can now apply for benefits and health care online with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Two new systems will allow veterans quick, easy and secure access to apply for compensation, pension, rehabilitation benefits and health care.

"This is the first step toward an electronic VA," said Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs Hershel W. Gober. "We will use the best in the business world and the latest in the high technology sector to deliver world-class benefits and care to veterans. That's a promise."

To apply for health care, veterans can fill out and submit an Internet-based 10-10 EZ application available today for the first time nationwide at https://www.1010ez.med.va.gov/sec/vha/1010ez/. Initially tested at 30 VA facilities, the 10-10 EZ is automatically e-mailed to the VA health care facility selected by the veteran. VA employees register the data, print the form and mail it back to the veteran for signature. The veteran can also print out the completed form and mail it to a VA health care facility themselves.

To apply for compensation, pension, and vocational rehabilitation benefits through the Internet, a second application system called Veterans On Line Applications is available at http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/. Completed applications are sent electronically to the veteran's local VA office. Processing begins right away and veterans receive a response letting them know the status of their applications.

"Of course, security is of paramount importance," said Gober. "These forms are individually encrypted, ensuring the privacy of veterans' personal data. This is part of VA's approach to department-wide security planning and management."

VA aims to eventually put all its health care and benefits applications online. However veterans are not required to apply online and can continue to use paper applications.

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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