If you have a VA-rated service-connected condition and live or travel outside the United States, the Foreign Medical Program can pay for your care, from a clinic visit in Cebu to surgery in Bangkok.
Who is eligible
FMP covers medically necessary care abroad for a VA-rated service-connected disability, a condition that aggravates one, or care needed for Veteran Readiness & Employment. Your rating percentage doesn't matter. Conditions that aren't service-connected are not covered, and FMP never pays for care inside the U.S. or its territories.
Step 1: get your FMP benefits letter
Sign in to VA.gov, go to Letters, then Benefit letters and documents, and download your FMP benefits letter. Show it to your provider. There is no separate registration step: VA says you're already eligible for FMP if you need care abroad for a VA-rated service-connected condition, and the letter lists which conditions are covered. If a condition is missing from your letter, contact FMP through Ask VA.
Step 2: get care from any licensed provider
No pre-authorization is needed for service-connected care. Some hospitals bill VA directly; Bangkok Hospital Pattaya and Bangkok Hospital Chiang Mai say they do. Otherwise you pay and claim reimbursement.
Step 3: file the claim
- Cover sheet: VA Form 10-7959f-2.
- Itemized bill showing each service, plus proof of payment.
- Inpatient care: add the discharge summary (and operation report if any).
- Prescriptions: the prescription plus the pharmacy receipt.
File online, by email to HAC.FMP@va.gov (VA advises against emailing sensitive details), or by mail to VHA Office of Integrated Veteran Care, Foreign Medical Program, PO Box 200, Spring City, PA 19475. The old Denver address is no longer used for claims. The deadline is 2 years from the date of care or discharge.
Step 4: get paid
VA converts foreign charges to U.S. dollars at the exchange rate on the date of care. If the provider filed, VA pays the provider; if you paid, VA reimburses you. FMP uses its own payment system, so set up your bank details for FMP separately from your compensation.
Phone numbers
| Country | In-country toll-free |
|---|---|
| Australia | 1-800-354 965 |
| Costa Rica | 0800-013-0759 |
| Germany | 0800-1800-011 |
| Italy | 800-782-655 |
| Japan | 00531-13-0871 |
| Mexico | 001-877-345-8179 |
| Spain | 900-981-776 |
| United Kingdom | 0800-032-7425 |
From elsewhere, use the U.S. number listed on VA's FMP page.
If FMP denies a claim
You can appeal within 1 year to OICV Appeals, PO Box 600, Spring City, PA 19475.
Philippines and Panama
In the Philippines, you can enroll in VA health care at the VA Manila Clinic, and use FMP for service-connected care the clinic doesn't provide. In Panama, VA suspended about 50 providers in 2025 over FMP fraud, so check VA's FMP alerts before using a provider.
Get answers from vets who've done it
The VA Benefits Abroad channel is free. Ask about your country, your claim or your hospital.
Your first week abroad: set up FMP before you need it
The worst time to learn how FMP works is in a hospital billing office. Do these things in your first week, while nothing hurts.
- Download your FMP benefits letter. Save the PDF on your phone and print two copies: one for your wallet, one for your files. Read which conditions it lists. Only those are covered.
- Set up FMP payment details. FMP uses a separate payment system, so bank details you gave VA for compensation don't carry over. If your foreign bank supports international direct deposit, set it up through Ask VA. Otherwise VA pays a U.S. account on file, or mails a check.
- Update your address with FMP directly. VA says changing your address in your VA.gov profile doesn't update the Foreign Medical Program. Contact FMP separately.
- Save the FMP phone number. From the U.S. or Canada it's 833-930-0816 (select 3), Monday to Friday, 8:05 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. Eastern. Use an in-country toll-free number from the table above if your country has one.
- Pick a provider and ask one question: "Do you bill the VA Foreign Medical Program directly?" If not, plan to pay and claim.
Common mistakes that delay or sink a claim
- A bill that isn't itemized. VA wants the provider's full name and medical title, office and billing addresses, phone number, the conditions treated and the dates of care.
- No proof of payment. If you paid, include a receipt or a bill marked paid.
- Thin pharmacy receipts. The receipt should show the pharmacy's details, the medicine, the related condition, the fill date and the provider's signature.
- Claiming care for a condition that isn't service-connected. FMP will deny it, even if the visit was for a covered condition too. Ask the provider to bill the covered care separately.
- Forgetting the cover sheet. Send VA Form 10-7959f-2 with every claim you email, mail or fax.
- Waiting too long. You have 2 years from the date of care. Filing within a few weeks is easier, because the paperwork is still on your desk.
Documents to keep
| FMP benefits letter | Current copy, printed and on your phone |
|---|---|
| Itemized bills | Every visit, in the original language. Foreign-language bills are fine. |
| Proof of payment | Receipts, card statements or bills marked paid |
| Hospital stays | Discharge summary, plus the operation report if you had surgery |
| Decision letters | Keep them at least until the 1-year appeal window closes |
Not sure your paperwork is complete? Members compare notes on FMP claims in our community. Join the free OCONUS Veterans community and ask before you file.
How this helps in real life
Example scenario (composite, not a real person): A veteran with a service-connected back condition moves to Portugal. In week one she downloads her FMP letter, sets up FMP direct deposit through Ask VA, and asks a local physiotherapy clinic for itemized bills in her name. Months later, when she needs a course of therapy, every claim goes in with the cover sheet, the itemized bill and proof of payment, and she isn't scrambling for documents.
Questions about your situation?
Ask in the VA Benefits Abroad channel. Vets who've filed from your country answer fast.
Common questions
Does the VA pay for medical care overseas?
Yes, for VA-rated service-connected conditions, through the Foreign Medical Program. Non-service-connected care is not covered.
Where do I mail Foreign Medical Program claims?
VHA Office of Integrated Veteran Care, Foreign Medical Program, PO Box 200, Spring City, PA 19475. You can also file online.
How long do I have to file an FMP claim?
Two years from the date of care, or from the date of hospital discharge.
Last reviewed November 2026. Information only. Confirm with the official sources.
