Veterans Health Administration

VA invites Women Veterans to Chat Online

Women Veterans! VA has a new, online, one-to-one chat just for you.

The new service enables women Veterans to go online and anonymously chat via real-time text with a trained representative. All the representatives at the Women Veterans Call Center are women, and many are Veterans themselves.

The new feature provides women Veterans with another avenue to ask general questions about benefits, eligibility and services specifically for women Veterans.

Questions? We have the answers

Do you know your Veteran status? Do you have a Veteran ID card? Should you receive any benefits from VA, like the GI Bill? Do you know what health care benefits you have earned? If you do not know the answer to even one of these questions, VA has established the Women Veterans Call Center (WVCC) just for you.

The WVCC staff is trained to provide women Veterans, their families, and caregivers about VA services and resources. We are ready to respond to your concerns. The call is free, and you can call as often as you like until you have the answers to your questions.

The Call Center is available Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET, and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. ET.

What will happen when I enter chat? You will be connected to a trained VA woman staff member.

New chat feature

WVCC chat is available by visiting the Women Veterans Health Care web page at www.womenshealth.va.gov and clicking the “Chat with the Women Veterans Call Center” icon. The chat function is anonymous — please do not use personally identifiable information such as social security numbers. WVCC Chat is available Monday through Friday 8 AM – 10 PM ET, and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. ET.

She’s your guide to VA

All the representatives at the Women Veterans Call Center are women, and many are Veterans themselves. In addition to linking women Veterans to information, the Women Veterans Call Center makes direct referrals to Women Veteran Program Managers (WVPM) located at every VA medical center. The Women Veteran Program Manager helps women Veterans coordinate services.

What will happen when I call the WVCC?

• You will be connected to a trained VA woman staff member.
• Call center staff will conduct a brief screening to assess your needs.
• Women Veterans will be provided personalized information regarding health care services, VA benefits and services, and a package of information will be sent to their home.
• You can call for yourself or for a women Veteran you know.
• The call is free and confidential.
• Contact information will be requested so staff may follow-up.

Over 345,000 women Veterans served

VA has found that women Veterans underutilize VA care, largely due to a lack of knowledge about VA benefits and available services and their eligibility for them. In response, the Call Center contacts women Veterans to let them know about the services they have earned.

Since April 2013, the WVCC has reached out to over 310,000 women Veterans and has received calls from over 35,000 women Veterans. The WVCC receives, on average, 80 calls per day and makes on average, 1,000 calls per day.

In addition to receiving calls, WVCC reaches out to women Veterans to let them know about the services they have earned, and staff can help connect them to benefits they deserve.

What will happen when I receive a call?

• A trained WVCC staff member will identify themselves as working for the VA and ask if it is a good time to talk.
• She will then ask if you are aware of your eligibility for benefits.
• Women Veterans will be provided with information regarding health care services, VA benefits and services available, and a package of information will be sent to their home.
• Contact information will be requested so staff may follow-up.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who can use the Women Veterans Call Center?
Any women Veteran or person that has questions about services and benefits available to women Veterans in the VA.

2. Can I call the Women Veterans Call Center if I am not registered with VA or enrolled in VA health care?
Yes, any women Veteran can use the Women Veterans Call Center, even if you are not registered with the VA or enrolled in VA health care.

3. How do I know when I should call the Women Veterans Call Center?
You should call the Women Veterans Call Center if you have any questions about VA services or health care available to women Veterans. You may also call the Women Veterans Call Center if you have concerns about your current VA health care services.

4. How would I know if I am considered a Veteran?
You may be considered a Veteran If you served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States and was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable. You do not need to have wartime or combat experience to be considered a Veteran.

5. How do I use the Women Veterans Call Center service?
Simply call 1-855-VA-WOMEN (1-855-829-6636) to be connected with a Women Veterans Call Center representative. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET.

6. How do I use the Women Veterans Call Center chat feature?
Women Veterans can access WVCC chat through the Women Veterans Health Care website (www.womenshealth.va.gov). The Women Veterans Call Center chat tab is located on the right hand side of the website.

7. Is there a cost to call the Women Veterans Call Center?
No. The telephone number is a free service.

8. Who answers my call to the Women Veterans Call Center?
VA contact representatives are women, and some representatives are Veterans. All representatives are trained to provide information as it relates to services and benefits available to women Veterans.

9. Can I contact the Women Veterans Call Center if I am already receiving care in the VA?
Yes. If you prefer, the Women Veterans Call Center representative can help coordinate care with your regular health care providers by connecting you with the Women Veteran Program Manager at the VA Medical Center closest to you.

10. What happens when I call the Women Veterans Call Center?
When you call the Women Veterans Call Center, you will receive direct assistance from a trained VA contact representative. Representatives are here to assist you with your questions, concerns and provide you with resources. The contact representatives will work with you to provide you with the best course of action. To better serve you, they may ask for information such as your name, telephone number and your address. Contact representatives can provide direct referrals for VA services and help fast-track appointments with a Women Veterans Program Manager.