Veterans: Living in a foreign country? Get your COVID-19 vaccine reimbursed

Are you a Veteran living or traveling outside the United States? With enactment of the SAVE LIVES Act on March 24, 2021, Veterans eligible for VA’s Foreign Medical Program (FMP) can receive reimbursement from VA for a COVID-19 vaccine provided by a local community provider.

We can pay for a COVID-19 vaccine that is formally approved for use by the national health authorities of the country in which the Veteran receives the vaccine. It does not need to be a COVID-19 vaccine authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has information about FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines.

Getting a vaccine

For us to pay for the vaccine, all you have to do is make arrangements to receive a COVID-19 vaccine from a provider in your community.

Reimbursement

After you get the vaccine, ask the provider to send a claim directly to VA for reimbursement. If the provider doesn’t send the claim directly to VA, then you will need to pay the provider and then submit a claim to us, including proof of payment.

The process for submitting claims is the same for the provider and the Veteran. To submit a claim, complete VA Form 10-7959f-2, FMP Claim Cover Sheet. Make sure to include:

• Veteran’s full name
• Social Security Number
• VA claim file number
• Date of birth
• Physical address
• Mailing address
• Country
• Telephone number
• E-mail address

Next, attach an itemized invoice or receipt from the provider for the COVID-19 vaccine and its administration. We recommend both the form and any invoices or receipts be written in English. While we will translate the claim submission if provided in another language, we will need more time for translation.

We also recommend making a copy of the completed form and any invoices or receipts for your records.

Make sure the provider’s receipt or invoice includes:

• Provider’s full name, medical title, office address, phone number and billing address (if different from the office address).
• Name of the COVID-19 vaccine/vaccine manufacturer.
• Billed charge and date(s) for each service.

Once everything is together, mail the completed form and invoices/receipts to:

VHA Office of Community Care
Foreign Medical Program (FMP)
P.O. Box 469061
Denver, CO 80246-9061

When we get it, we will review the claim to make sure all required documentation is present and that we can pay for the COVID-19 vaccination. We will contact you if we need more information.

Please note that claim amounts are converted to U.S. dollars according to the foreign currency rate on the date of service, and claims must be submitted within two years from the date of service. Once approved, reimbursement is provided via U.S. Treasury check, usually within 145 days.

About VA’s Foreign Medical Program

FMP is a health care benefits program for U.S. Veterans who are residing or traveling abroad. Through this program, we can pay for care and services you need for treatment of service-connected conditions and conditions held to be associated with and aggravating a service-connected condition.

(VA can also cover non-service-connected care through FMP for Veterans enrolled in a VA vocational rehabilitation program, on an as-needed basis, when the case manager authorizes the services with a signed referral.)

We cannot reimburse the cost of any treatment, including COVID-19 vaccines, for Veterans who receive services in countries where U.S. Department of Treasury checks are restricted or where travel is prohibited.

Also, other than COVID-19 vaccinations and care available within the limits of the VA Manila Outpatient Clinic, FMP does not generally cover non-service-connected disabilities or conditions.

Eligibility and enrollment process

To learn more about FMP, including eligibility and the enrollment process, please visit the following:

• Website: VA Foreign Medical Program.
• Video: VA Foreign Medical Program Overview.

Contact Us

For Veterans Living in Canada, Australia, Costa Rica, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain and the UK:

• USA/Canada: 877-345-8179
• Australia: 1-800-354 965
• Costa Rica: 0800-013-0759
• Germany: 0800-1800011
• Italy: 800-782655
• Japan: 00531-13-0871
• Mexico: 001-877-345-8179
• Spain: 900-981-776
• UK: 0800-032-7425

General Inquiries

• Email: fmp@va.gov
• Phone (General Inquiries): 877-345-8179, Monday-Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. MT
• Phone (Claim Inquiries): 303-331-7590, Monday-Friday, 8:05 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET
• Mail: VHA Office of Community Care
  Foreign Medical Program
  PO Box 469061
  Denver, CO 80246-9061

Frequently Asked Questions

1. I am a Veteran eligible for FMP. Can VA send a COVID-19 vaccine that can be administered to me locally?
   No, provision and administration of a COVID-19 vaccine is conducted locally.
2. I am a Veteran eligible for, but not enrolled in FMP. Can I still get a COVID-19 vaccine through FMP?
   Yes, you can submit a claim to FMP to be reimbursed for the COVID-19 vaccine before enrolling in the program. If you are eligible, after VA receives the claim, VA will enroll you in the program and then issue you the reimbursement. If you are not enrolled, be sure to include a completed Foreign Medical Program (FMP) Registration Form when submitting your claim. The form is located here: https://www.va.gov/vaforms/medical/pdf/vha-10-7959f-1%20-fill_012317.pdf.
3. I am a Veteran located in the Philippines. Can I get a COVID-19 vaccine directly through VA?
   If you have access to the VA Manila Outpatient Clinic and are eligible for FMP, you can receive a COVID-19 vaccine directly from VA from that clinic. Information about the VA Manila Outpatient Clinic and COVID-19 vaccines are located at https://www.visn21.va.gov/locations/manila.asp and https://ph.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/veterans-affairs/. If the VA Manila Outpatient Clinic is too far away or too difficult to access, you can receive a COVID-19 vaccine from a local community provider and send a claim to FMP for reimbursement, if you are eligible for FMP.
4. I am a Veteran located in a foreign country and not eligible for FMP. How do I get a COVID-19 vaccine?
   Please refer to the local U.S. embassy website or social media account for the country in which you are located. Country-specific information and guidance for COVID-19, including vaccine availability, is located on the following U.S. State Department website: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/COVID-19-Country-Specific-Information.html.
5. I am a Veteran eligible for and enrolled in FMP. Can my spouse and/or caregiver also get a COVID-19 vaccine through FMP?
   Under current law, VA cannot reimburse COVID-19 vaccines for spouses and caregivers through FMP.