Understanding the Issue of Medical Care in Canada for U.S. Veterans

The present situation:    A Veteran of U.S. Military service who lives in Canada is eligible to receive medical care and services for conditions which have been determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to be connected to their military service.  There is no provision for the treatment of conditions which have not been recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

All treatment received in Canada must be pre-authorized.

Veterans Affairs Canada - Foreign Countries Operations (FCO), in Ottawa, is responsible for managing the Allied Health Program of VAC.   As of February 2003, FCO became the centralized "Centre of Expertise" and all aspects of the allied Veteran health process (i.e., access and payment) are streamlined directly through FCO.  ID cards are eventually issued to Veterans who are on file with FCO.

FCO can be reached by calling 1-888-996-2242 toll free within Canada, or 1-613-943-0824.

The problem:   While treatment and services can be received for service connected conditions, other conditions are not.  For example, a Veteran rated as disabled for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can receive care for that condition but gets no care from the VA for other medical conditions.

Our position:   We want the same level of medical care for Veterans in Canada that would be received from the VA were the Veteran resident in the United States.

The Reciprocal Agreement between the United States and Canada pertaining to Veterans needs to be amended to make this possible.  We want to move in that direction and we welcome all the help we can get.

[ Home ] [ Up ]

Send mail to operations@vvic.org with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2004 Vietnam Veterans In Canada
Last modified: 03/12/08