If you’re a Veteran traveling or living abroad and have a service-connected condition that requires health care services, your service-connected care may be covered by VA through the Foreign Medical Program.
The host of the SITREP podcast recently sat down with Leticia Diaz and Dirk Rasnic, Integrated Veteran Care supervisory program analysts, to break it down for you.
VA’s Foreign Medical Program reimburses you or the provider abroad for your treatment if you meet at least one of these eligibility requirements:
- You have a VA-rated service-connected disability.
- You have a condition associated with a service-connected disability that VA determines makes the disability worse (or “aggravates” it).
- The services are part of care you’re receiving as you participate in our Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program.
From doctor’s visits to prescription medications and medical devices, VA covers that care. Some exclusions apply. Message Ask VA for more information about coverage for services in your country or territory.
Benefits of the Foreign Medical Program
- No need to get authorization before getting care.
- See any provider of your choosing while abroad.
- Get reimbursed for your care while traveling or living abroad.
- Get reimbursed for prescription medications (must be U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved).
- Register and file a claim at the same time.
- VA will translate documents for you after you submit a claim.
Register for FMP
Fill out a registration form (VA Form 10-7959f-1). After you submit your form, you will receive a benefits authorization letter with the service-connected condition you are covered for or the rehabilitation status for authorized treatment. You can submit the form by email, by faxing it to 303-331-7803 or by mailing it to:
VHA Office of Integrated Veteran Care
Foreign Medical Program
PO Box 469061
Denver, CO 80246-9061
Still have questions?
You can now reach us on Ask VA for questions related to the Foreign Medical Program including care and services that you have questions about in a foreign country.
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Does this mean with my 10% disability and coverage , while I am overseas only covers medical things that are solely related to my disability and I’m not covered like I am here for other injuries or sicknesses?
Ironic that the system for Vets is still so broken & no surprise there are ongoing investigations from misappropriated funds – aka FRAUD!
But we Vets have to “prove ourselves over & over again” with the simple things we should already have full coverage for.
The people who claim to work for us make much more than we do in the end… so who are they really working for?
Most veterans will just throw their hands up because they can’t be bothered with more “denials & delays!” Most of us just want to live a life of ease & struggling with chronic pain & then having to keep fighting for that is insulting!
Well I believe this program could be great but I have been living overseas and applied nearly a year ago with no response.
FMP needs restructuring from top to bottom. FMP Benefit Authorization letters should include statement for local care providers that NON SERVICE CONNECTED AILMENTS aggravating the Veterans service connected disabilities are covered by FMP. IF IT AIN’T WRITTEN DOWN LOCAL PROVIDERS WON’T PROVIDER TREATMENT/CARE. FMP turnaround time for out of pocket reimbursement takes up to a year and beyond. Ms Diaz remarks in the recent podcast claiming turnaround on average only 120 days just isn’t true. Finally, a prior Office of Special Counsel Whistleblower Complaint lodged by VAOPC clinic manager Robert Crawford (DI 12-4217) confirmed majority of medications procured by local healthcare providers have NO US FDA OVERSIGHT. Current VISN 21 Director Ada Clark wrote recommendations after OSC substantiated Crawford’s whistleblower complaint. Yet Clark directed VAOPC Manila not to renew their DEA license resulting in Veterans forced to get NON US FDA approved medications for consumption despite it being a public health and safety concern.
Fantastic. Hope it works
Sorry to say, the FMP is far from efficient or compliant with HIPAA or Efficiency, by law. Veterans and Providers wait an average of 6 months to receive reimbursements by paper checks! The FMP is now under investigation by the GAO. Visit FixOurFMP.org and conplete the GAO Survey to have your voices heard!
You forgot to mention that FMP does not have any online system, it takes 6 months or more to be reimbursed, no direct deposit and if you live abroad checks are sent to your foreign address but often are never received.
Forgot to mention that 3 of the best hospitals in the Philippines have stopped direct billing with the VA FMP program do to either taking up to a year for payment or not being paid at all. The FMP program is in disarray and needs to be fixed ASAP.
The FMP program is broken whomever is in charge of this program at the VA should be relieved and never be in another supervisory role. Application can take over six months or no reply at all. Claim specialist are not trained adequately. Claims can take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years to process which is unacceptable. A paper check is sent snail mail, which in 3rd world countries can be lost. Having to start the check process again. I have made numerous complaints to Senators and Representatives as well as the GAO.
She touched on a HUGE, huge issue: in order to be compensated through FMP, the medication must be FDA-approved. However, VA doesn’t provide you with a list of foreign medical providers who actually carry U.S. FDA-approved medications. There are so many vets needing medications but can never file an FMP claim because they had to secure their medications out-of-pocket and can’t provide proof of FDA-approved meds compliance.