VA Foreign Medical Program (FMP)
VA pays for care of your service-connected conditions anywhere in the world. Here's how to use it.
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 (VR&E). Your rating percentage doesn't matter. Conditions that aren't service-connected are not covered.
What's covered
- Outpatient, inpatient and emergency care
- Durable medical equipment and prosthetics
- Physical therapy and skilled nursing
- FDA-approved prescription drugs bought abroad
Not covered: non-service-connected care, experimental treatment, long-term nursing care, and drugs bought in the U.S. and mailed overseas. No pre-authorization is needed for service-connected care, and you can use any licensed provider.
How to use it
- Download your FMP benefits letter from VA.gov (My VA → Letters) and give it to your provider.
- Pay the provider, or ask if they bill VA directly. Some hospitals, such as Bangkok Hospital Pattaya and Bangkok Hospital Chiang Mai, say they do.
- File VA Form 10-7959f-2 with itemized bills and medical records.
Filing a claim
File online, by email to HAC.FMP@va.gov, 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. The deadline is 2 years from the date of care or hospital discharge.
FMP pays foreign accounts in local currency, and it needs your bank details separately from your compensation payments.
Phone numbers
U.S.: 833-930-0816 (TTY 711), weekdays about 8:00 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. Eastern.
| 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 |
Philippines is different
Veterans in the Philippines should enroll with the VA Manila Clinic and FMP. Philippine claims are handled through Manila.
Fraud alert
In 2025 VA suspended about 50 providers in Panama over an estimated $67 million FMP fraud case. Check VA's FMP alerts page before using a new provider, and be wary of any clinic calling itself a "VA clinic" outside Manila.
Last reviewed November 2026.
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 or email HAC.FMP@va.gov.
Do I need pre-authorization for FMP?
No. Pre-authorization isn't needed for care of service-connected conditions.