Once Stabilized
Generally, emergency treatment is only covered until such time as the Veteran can be safely transferred to a VA or other federal facility.
Veterans, their representatives, and in-network community providers should report instances of a Veteran present to a community emergency room to VA with in 72 hours of the start of emergent care. Out-of-network providers are encouraged to notify VA as soon as possible.
The deadline for claims submission is dependent upon whether the condition is Service-connected or not
Notifying VA in a timely fashion is important because this
- allows the VA to assist the veteran in coordinating necessary care or transfer
- helps ensure that the administrative and clinical requirements for VA to pay for the care are met
- may impact a veteran's eligibility for VA to cover the cost of emergency treatment
| Type of Emergent Care | Service Connection Type | Retention to File |
|---|---|---|
| Unauthorized Emergent Care | Service Connected Disability | 2 Years to File |
| Unauthorized Emergent Care | Nonservice Connected Disability | 90 Days from the date the veteran was discharged from facility that furnished emergency treatment |