All veterans are encouraged to enroll in the VA Health Care System. To begin the process, please complete an Application for Health Care Benefits. You can submit the form online, or you may print the form and mail it to us at:

VA Central Iowa Health Care System
Business Office - Eligibility
VA Medical Center
3600 30th Street
Des Moines, IA 50310-5885

You can also bring the form to either Medical Center. The Eligibility Office is located in Building 1, room 117 in Des Moines or Building 1, room 122 in Knoxville.

Whether mailing or bringing your application, please include the following items —

• a copy of both sides of your current insurance card (including Medicare or Medicaid)
• a copy of your DD214, 'Armed Forces Report of Transfer or Discharge'
• (Purple Heart recipients only) a copy of your award letter if 'Purple Heart' is not noted on your DD214

To speak to someone in our eligibility office, please call 515-699-5888.

Co-pays
While many veterans qualify for enrollment and cost-free health care services based on a compensable service-connected condition or other qualifying factor, most veterans will be asked to complete a financial assessment as part of their enrollment application process.  Otherwise known as the Means Test, this financial information will be used to determine the applicant's enrollment priority group and whether he/she is eligible for cost-free VA health care.

Higher-income veterans may be required to share in the expense of their care by making co-payments.  Veterans who choose not to complete the financial assessment must agree to pay the required co-payment as a condition of their eligibility.  The co-payment amounts and income thresholds change on an annual basis.  Based on their priority group, a Veteran may be responsible for making copays for inpatient care, outpatient care and pharmacy services.