Free, Accredited Help
Health care is one of the most valuable benefits you earned — but it starts with enrolling. Our accredited Veterans Service Officers help you apply, set up your VA account, and understand where to go for routine, urgent, and emergency care — all at no cost. You do not have to be service-connected to qualify for VA health care.
Start Here: You Must Enroll First
With only a few exceptions, you must be enrolled in VA health care to use the services on this page — enrollment is the front door. If you are not enrolled yet, start with Step 1 below and we will help you do it.
You can use these without enrolling: the Veterans Crisis Line (988, then press 1), emergency suicide care at any ER, and Vet Center readjustment counseling. CHAMPVA is a separate program for eligible family members and survivors.
Step 1: Enroll in VA Health Care
You must be enrolled in VA health care to get care at a VA facility — or to have VA cover care from an approved community provider. Enrollment is done with VA Form 10-10EZ. We can sit down with you and complete it together.
What You’ll Need
Your Social Security number (and your dependents’), your DD214 or separation papers, any health insurance cards, and last year’s gross household income.
VA Form 10-10EZ
We’ll help you enroll →Ways to Apply
Apply online, by phone at 1-877-222-8387, by mail, or in person — or let us do it with you here at the office.
Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
Apply on VA.gov →Step 2: How Enrollment Works & Choosing Your Clinic
Important: you do not have to travel to a big VA hospital for your everyday care. Most Veterans are seen at a small community clinic (CBOC) close to home. Here is how it actually works:
- Apply once. You (or we) submit your 10-10EZ. VA processes enrollment centrally at its national enrollment center (the Health Eligibility Center) — you do not enroll at the hospital.
- VA connects you to a health care system (your region). Once enrolled, you get a “Welcome to VA” phone call and a personalized benefits handbook in the mail.
- You pick your clinic (CBOC). You choose the community clinic nearest you for primary care — that is where you will usually be seen.
- The hospital is for hospital-level & specialty care. Danville VA Medical Center and John Cochran handle inpatient, surgery, and the specialty services your clinic refers you to.
Your clinic options. Macoupin County Veterans generally fall under one of two systems. Here are the community clinics under each — pick whichever is most convenient:
VA Illiana (Danville) — Illinois Clinics
Closest to Macoupin County: Springfield and Decatur.
- Springfield — 5850 S. 6th St., Ste. A
- Decatur — 792 N. Sunnyside Rd.
- Mattoon — 501 Lakeland Blvd., Ste. D
- Bloomington — 207 Hamilton Rd.
- Peoria — 7717 N. Orange Prairie Rd.
Clinic scheduling: 800-320-8387
All VA Illiana locations →VA St. Louis (John Cochran) — Illinois Clinics
Closest to Macoupin County: St. Clair County (Shiloh, IL).
- St. Clair County — Shiloh, IL
- Scott Air Force Base — Scott AFB, IL
- Plus St. Louis-area clinics in Missouri (O’Fallon, Florissant, Washington, St. Louis County)
Hospital main: 314-652-4100
All VA St. Louis locations →Where to Go for Care
Knowing the right door to use protects your health and your coverage. Here’s the simple rule of thumb.
Routine & Primary Care
Check-ups, ongoing conditions, prescriptions, and referrals. Schedule with your VA primary care team (VA Illiana or VA St. Louis).
Plan ahead · not for emergencies
Urgent Care
For minor, non-life-threatening illness or injury — strep, sprains, ear or skin infections. No referral needed. Use an in-network urgent care or walk-in clinic.
Must be enrolled & seen by VA in the last 24 months
How VA urgent care works →Printable: Urgent Care Quick-Start (PDF) · Wallet cards (PDF)
Emergency Care
If your life or health is in danger, call 911 or go to the nearest ER now. You do not need to check with VA first.
Then notify VA within 72 hours
After an emergency: so VA can help cover the cost, you, a family member, or the hospital should notify VA within 72 hours by calling the VA 72-Hour Notification Hotline at 844-724-7842. In a mental-health crisis, call or text the Veterans Crisis Line at 988, then press 1.
VA Community Care
In some cases VA will pay for care from an approved provider in your community — for example, when VA can’t see you within its drive-time or wait-time standards, doesn’t offer the service you need, or you and your VA provider agree it’s in your best medical interest. Community Care usually requires a referral (consult) approved by your VA care team in advance (urgent and emergency care are handled differently).
VA Access Standards
Primary care, mental health & extended outpatient: 30-minute average drive or 20-day wait. Specialty care: 60-minute drive or 28-day wait. If VA can’t meet these, you may be eligible for Community Care.
Who Qualifies for Community Care — the Six Rules
You must be enrolled in VA health care (or otherwise eligible), and your VA care team makes the determination. Generally, you may be eligible if any one of these is true:
- VA does not offer the service you need.
- VA does not have a provider available in your area.
- You qualify under the older distance (“grandfather”) rule from the Veterans Choice Program.
- VA cannot meet the access standards above (30 min / 20 days for primary & mental health; 60 min / 28 days for specialty).
- You and your VA provider agree it is in your best medical interest.
- The VA service you need does not meet VA’s quality standards.
Printable: Community Care Quick-Start (PDF) · Eligibility fact sheet (PDF)
Check Community Care eligibility →
Your two VA hospitals are Danville VA Medical Center (VA Illiana) and John Cochran (VA St. Louis). Enrollment and eligibility go through the hospital — you would not contact a community clinic unless you are already enrolled. Talk to us about which is the best fit:
Danville VA Medical Center (VA Illiana)
The hospital for enrollment and full services. Community clinics (Springfield, Decatur, Mattoon, Peoria, Bloomington) are for ongoing care once you are enrolled — not for enrolling.
1900 East Main Street, Danville, IL 61832
Main: 217-554-3000 · Appointments: 800-320-8387
Eligibility & enrollment: call the main line and ask for the Eligibility office.
In MACVAC’s region
VA Illiana →John Cochran VA Medical Center
VA St. Louis Health Care System — John J. Cochran Veterans Hospital: the hospital for enrollment and full services. Associated clinics serve enrolled Veterans for ongoing care.
915 North Grand Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63106
Main: 314-652-4100
Eligibility & enrollment: call the main line and ask for the Eligibility office.
In MACVAC’s region
VA St. Louis (John Cochran) →How to Check Eligibility & Enroll
To confirm eligibility or enroll, call your VA hospital’s main number above and ask for the Eligibility office, or use the national VA enrollment line at 1-877-222-8387. Enroll through the hospital (Danville VA Medical Center or John Cochran) — the community clinics do not handle enrollment. Not sure where to start, or want help with the 10-10EZ? Call us at (217) 854-5249 — we’ll help you enroll.
Travel Reimbursement (Beneficiary Travel)
If you qualify, VA can reimburse your mileage, tolls, and some parking for travel to and from approved VA appointments — a real help when your care is in Danville or St. Louis. A small per-trip deductible applies, and mileage is paid at VA’s current rate.
Who may qualify
Common paths: a 30%+ service-connected rating (for service-connected care), receiving VA pension or income below the pension limit, travel for a C&P exam, or certain conditions (vision loss, spinal cord injury, multiple amputations). Eligibility has several doors — ask us.
How to file
File online through BTSSS (Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System) with your ID.me or My HealtheVet login, or ask the travel office at your facility. Online filing with direct deposit usually pays within a few days.
VA travel reimbursement →Mental Health & Vet Centers
In crisis? Call or text the Veterans Crisis Line at 988, then press 1 — 24/7 and confidential. VA also covers free emergency suicide care at any VA or non-VA emergency room, even if you are not enrolled.
VA Mental Health Care
Counseling and treatment for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and substance use — in person or by telehealth. Same-day mental health help is available; ask your clinic or call VA Health Connect.
Vet Centers
Free, confidential readjustment counseling in a non-medical setting for combat Veterans and survivors, plus MST counseling for any Veteran — often with no VA enrollment required.
Springfield, IL Vet Center: 217-492-4955
Springfield Vet Center →MST Support
Free care for conditions related to Military Sexual Trauma — you do not need a service-connected rating or to have reported it at the time.
Our MST page →PACT Act: Toxic-Exposure Screening & Expanded Enrollment
Free Toxic-Exposure Screening
Every Veteran enrolled in VA health care gets a quick (5–10 minute) toxic-exposure screening, repeated at least every 5 years. It helps connect your exposures to care and future claims.
More Veterans Can Now Enroll
The PACT Act expanded eligibility for VA health care for Veterans of the Vietnam, Gulf War, and post-9/11 eras and others with toxic exposures. If you were turned away in the past, ask again — you may qualify now.
Our PACT Act Hub →Priority Groups & Copays
When you enroll, VA places you in one of 8 Priority Groups based on factors like service-connected disability, income, and special status (former POW, Purple Heart, Medal of Honor, catastrophic disability). Your group affects whether you have copays and how soon you are seen.
Generally, care for a service-connected condition and toxic-exposure (PACT Act) care has no copay. Other care may have modest copays depending on your group and income. We can help you understand where you fall.
Managing Your Care
My HealtheVet
Your online account to refill prescriptions, send secure messages to your care team, view records, and manage appointments.
Refills & medications →VA Health Connect (24/7)
Call your VA medical center and choose 1 for pharmacy, 2 for scheduling, or 3 for a nurse — a registered nurse is available around the clock for advice.
Prescriptions by Mail
VA mails most refills to your door. Reorder online, by the phone number on your prescription label, or by app.
CHAMPVA — Health Care for Family & Survivors
CHAMPVA also covers the surviving spouse or child of a Veteran who was rated permanently and totally disabled AT THE TIME OF DEATH — even if the Veteran did not die of that condition. If your spouse was 100% P&T and died of something unrelated, you may still be eligible.
CHAMPVA (Civilian Health and Medical Program of the VA) is a cost-sharing health program for the spouse, surviving spouse, or child of a Veteran who is rated permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected condition, or who died from a service-connected condition or in the line of duty. You generally can’t use it if you qualify for TRICARE. Families apply with VA Form 10-10D.
Who May Qualify
Spouses, surviving spouses, and dependent children of qualifying Veterans — when not eligible for TRICARE. We can help you confirm eligibility and gather documents.
Help Line: 800-733-8387
Ask us about CHAMPVA →How to Apply
Complete VA Form 10-10D and submit online or by mail with supporting documents. We’ll walk your family through it.
VA Form 10-10D
CHAMPVA on VA.gov →More VA Health Programs
Women Veterans Health
Every VA facility has a Women Veterans Program Manager and provides primary, gender-specific, and maternity care. Ask us or your clinic to connect with women’s health services.
Women Veterans Call Center (call or text): 1-855-829-6636
MST support →Dental Care
VA dental care is available to some Veterans — for example, those rated 100% service-connected, with a service-connected dental condition, former POWs, or who meet other criteria. Eligibility is narrow; let us check yours.
Long-Term Care & Aid & Attendance
Nursing home, assisted living, adult day care, home health, and hospice may be available, and Aid & Attendance can increase a pension when you need help with daily activities. This ties directly to our pension help.
Pension & A&A →Caregiver Support
Family caregivers of eligible Veterans may qualify for VA support — training, respite, and a possible monthly stipend through the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (VA Form 10-10CG).
Caregiver benefits →We’re Here to Help
Not sure whether you’re enrolled, which VA facility to use, or whether your family qualifies for CHAMPVA? Come see us — we’ll sort it out together and get you connected to care.
This page provides general information from official VA sources and is not a determination of eligibility or a guarantee of coverage. Eligibility and costs depend on your specific circumstances — confirm details with VA or with our accredited Veterans Service Officers.