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Foreign Medical Program (FMP)

If you’re a Veteran who gets medical care outside the U.S. for a service-connected condition, we may cover the cost of your care. Read this page to find out how the Foreign Medical Program (FMP) works and how to register.

For Veterans in Panama affected by recent fraud issue

We recently suspended many VA health care providers in Panama as part of a long-term fraud scheme. We’ve notified any Veterans who may have been affected. If you were affected by this fraud, you still have access to VA health care services.

Read more about the fraud scheme in Panama

Eligibility for coverage through FMP

If you get medical care in a country outside the U.S., we can only cover the cost of services that are medically necessary and meet at least one of these descriptions:

  • The services are for a VA-rated, service-connected disability (for example, an illness or injury caused—or made worse by—your military service), or 
  • The services are for a condition that’s associated with a service-connected disability that we determine makes the disability worse (or “aggravates” it). For example, if you have a service-connected condition of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), we may cover the cost of care for non-service-connected depression because the depression can be associated with PTSD and make it worse. Or
  • The services are part of care you’re receiving as you participate in our Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program

Here’s what else you should know:

  • You can use FMP only for care you get in a foreign country. We won’t cover care or supplies you get in or from the U.S. or U.S. territories.
  • For claims that result in a payment, we’ll send you a U.S. Treasury check.

How to register for the Foreign Medical Program

What to expect after you register

We’ll send you a benefits authorization letter. This letter will list your service-connected conditions that we’ll cover. Then you can file FMP claims for care related to the covered conditions.

Find out how to file an FMP claim

How to contact our FMP staff

You can contact us in any of these ways:

Option 1: Online

Contact us online through Ask VA

Option 2: By email

Email us at HAC.FMP@va.gov. To protect your privacy, don’t send sensitive personal or health care information through email.

Option 3: By phone

Call the FMP office at  (TTY: 711). We’re here Monday through Friday, 8:05 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. ET.

If you’re living in one of these countries, you can call the FMP office toll-free:

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