Veterans Travel Reminder: The VA Foreign Medical Program

For eligible veterans living or traveling abroad, Veterans Affairs will pay for healthcare services, medications and durable medical equipment for service-connected conditions and conditions associated with and held to be aggravating a service-connected condition.

The Foreign Medical Program (FMP) is congressionally mandated, and managed by the Veteran and Family Member Programs (VFMP). Benefits include:

Lifetime benefit (no expiration or re-registration)
No need to be enrolled in VA health care
See any provider you choose while abroad
No pre-authorization for your care is needed
Get reimbursed for care and prescriptions (must be FDA approved) while abroad
VA will translate documents for you

At least one of three criteria must apply for a claim to be eligible:

The services are for a VA-rated, service-connected disability.
The services are for a condition associated with a service-connected disability determined as making the disability worse or aggravating it.
The services are part of care received through the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program (formerly the Vocational Rehabilitation Program – Title 38 U.S. Code, Chapter 31).

Medical care and services covered and those not covered through FMP are listed on the VA website at Getting Care through the Foreign Medical Program.

Although not required before filing a claim, registering for FMP provides the recipient with an authorization letter that lists the service-connected conditions that FMP will cover. Registering can now be completed:

Online
Printing and completing the FMP Registration Form (VA Form 10-7959f-1) and faxing it to 303-331-7803
Mailing it to VHA Office of Integrated Veteran Care, Foreign Medical Program (FMP), PO Box 200, Spring City, PA 19475.

David Fennell, director of Veteran and Family Member Programs, reports that an online claims submission process will soon be available. Currently, claims filing must be by mail or fax. How to file a VA Foreign Medical Program claim on the VA website provides detailed information regarding how and where to file an FMP claim, the supporting documentation required and how to follow up regarding a filed claim.

After receiving foreign medical care, veterans have up to two years to file an FMP claim. The clock starts when the claim is entered into the system, and it takes approximately six months for reimbursement. Once authorized by FMP, the U.S. Treasury issues payment in U.S. dollars.