VEText for VA health care reminders and updates
We use VEText to send you appointment reminders and other updates about your VA health care. Keep reading on this page to learn about VEText.
VEText at facilities that use our My VA Health portal
VEText works differently at these facilities and their connected clinics that use our My VA Health portal:
- Columbus, OH
- North Chicago, IL
- Roseburg, OR
- Spokane, WA
- Walla Walla, WA
- White City, OR
If you get care at one of these facilities, learn how VEText works there and how to use it.
VEText appointment reminders
If your VA health facility uses VEText, we’ll send you text reminders about your health appointments. Each reminder includes this information:
- Date and time of your appointment
- Codes you can use to confirm or cancel your appointment
To confirm or cancel, you can reply using the special codes we send you. If you don’t reply, we’ll keep your appointment scheduled.
If your VA health facility closes unexpectedly, we may send you a text to cancel your appointment.
Note: VEText is free to use, but your phone company may charge you fees for text messages. You can learn more about messaging fees in our digital notifications terms and conditions.
Read our digital notifications terms and conditions
Changing to an earlier appointment
If an earlier appointment becomes available, we may text you to ask if you want to reschedule.
We’ll text you codes you can use to change to the earlier appointment or keep your original appointment. If you don’t reply, we’ll keep your original appointment scheduled.
Completing pre-check-in
If your facility offers pre-check-in, we’ll send you instructions to start the pre-check-in process with your appointment reminders. You’ll need a smartphone to complete pre-check-in.
Learn how to check in with your smartphone for some VA appointments
Note: Some VA health facilities also use VEText to help with physical distancing. If your facility offers this service, we’ll send you instructions with your appointment reminders. You can text us when you arrive at the facility. We’ll text you where to wait and when to come inside.
Managing community care appointments
If you get care from a non-VA provider in our community care network, we may send you a text to ask for your appointment information. You can reply to the text to tell us the date and time of your appointment.
After your community care appointment, we’ll send a text to confirm if you went to the appointment. We’ll include codes you can use to confirm or to tell us that you didn’t go.
Other types of VEText messages
Depending on your local VA health facility, we may also send you these types of VEText messages:
- Prescription tracking updates tell you when your prescription medicine has shipped
- Vaccine updates tell you when COVID-19 and flu vaccines are available at your facility and how to schedule a vaccine appointment
- Emergency updates offer resources during a natural disaster or another emergency in your area
- Surgery updates allow your care team to text updates to your family members when you’re having surgery at a VA facility
How to opt out of VEText—or opt back in
If we have your mobile phone number in our records, we’ll automatically send you text reminders. You don’t have to do anything to start using VEText.
Here’s how to opt out or opt back in:
- To opt out of all VEText messages, reply STOP ALL to any previous VEText message—or text STOP ALL to 53079
- To opt out of a certain message type, reply STOP to a previous message of that type
- To opt back in to a certain message type, reply START to a previous message of that type
You can also text STOP or START to these numbers for certain message types:
- For appointment reminders, text 53079
- For prescription tracking texts, text 53941
- For vaccine reminders and emergency texts, text 80728
Or you can call your VA health facility. Ask to connect with the VEText coordinator or medical support assistant.
How to get facility and clinic details in appointment reminders
Basic VEText reminders don’t include the name or location of your VA health facility or clinic, because these names and locations are part of your personal health information. The clinic name may include the type of care you’re receiving, like "cardiology."
If you don’t want us to include these details in text reminders, you don’t have to do anything.
To start getting facility and clinic details, reply to a VEText reminder with the 5-digit zip code for your home address. Or text your zip code to 53079.
To stop getting facility and clinic details, reply BASIC to a VEText reminder. Or text BASIC to 53079.
Questions you may have about VEText
Does VEText work with all types of health appointments?
It depends on your facility. Some facilities may send VEText reminders only for certain types of appointments.
If you have questions about how your facility uses VEText, call your facility. Ask to connect with the VEText coordinator or medical support assistant.
What if I don’t have a mobile phone?
We’ll still send you letters and call your home phone to remind you about your VA health appointments.
How can I update my mobile phone number for VEText?
You can update your phone number and other contact information online in your VA.gov profile.
Learn how to update your VA.gov profile
You can also update your phone number in person at your next VA health care appointment. Ask to change your number when you check in at the front desk. Or you can change it when you check in at a self-service kiosk.
Will VEText protect my personal health information?
Yes. We follow strict security policies and practices to protect your personal health information.
These 2 types of VEText messages may include your personal health information:
- If you get prescription tracking updates, we include the first 3 letters of the name of your prescription medicine in the text. To opt out of prescription tracking, reply STOP to a previous prescription tracking message.
- If you choose to get facility and clinic details in your appointment reminders, we include the name and location of your VA health facility and clinic.
Learn about getting facility and clinic details in VEText reminders
How does VEText work at facilities that use My VA Health?
VEText works differently at these VA facilities and their connected clinics that use our My VA Health portal:
- Columbus, OH
- North Chicago, IL
- Roseburg, OR
- Spokane, WA
- Walla Walla, WA
- White City, OR
If you get care at one of these facilities, here’s what to know about your text reminders:
- If we have your mobile phone number in our records, we’ll automatically send you text reminders through the VEText system. These texts will come from the number 54804.
- To opt out of VEText messages, reply STOP to any previous VEText message. Or text STOP to 54804.
- To opt back in to VEText messages, reply START to any previous VEText message. Or text START to 54804.
- To start getting facility and clinic information in your text reminders, reply to a VEText reminder with PHI or the 5-digit zip code for your home address. Or text PHI or your zip code to 54804.
- To stop getting facility and clinic information, reply BASIC to a VEText reminder. Or text BASIC to 54804.
If you have other questions about VEText at these facilities, call your facility. Ask to connect with the VEText coordinator or medical support assistant.