Calling All Women Who Served in the United States Military!
Do
you know your Veteran status? Do you have a Veteran ID card? Should
you receive any benefits from VA, like the GI Bill? Do you know what
health care benefits you have earned? If you do not know the answer to
even one of these questions, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
has established the Women Veterans Call Center (WVCC) just for you.
The
WVCC staff is trained to provide women Veterans, their families, and
caregivers about VA services and resources. We are ready to respond to
your concerns. The call is free, and you can call as often as you like
until you have the answers to your questions. The Call Center is
available Monday through Friday 8 AM - 10 PM ET, and on Saturdays from 8 AM - 6:30 PM ET.
We're introducing a new Chat Function.
The
WVCC is expanding its outreach to women Veterans with a new online,
one-to-one Chat Function. The new service enables women Veterans to go
online and anonymously chat via real-time text messaging with a trained
WVCC representative. The new feature provides women Veterans with
another avenue to ask general questions about benefits, eligibility and
services specifically for women Veterans. WVCC chat is available by
visiting the Women Veterans Health Care webpage at www.womenshealth.va.gov and
clicking the "Chat with the Women Veterans Call Center" icon. As the
Chat Function is anonymous; please do not use personally identifiable
information such as social security numbers. WVCC Chat is available Monday through Friday 8 AM - 10 PM ET, and on Saturdays from 8 AM - 6:30 PM ET.
She's your guide to VA.
All
the representatives at the Women Veterans Call Center are women, and
many are Veterans themselves. In addition to linking women Veterans to
information, the Women Veterans Call Center makes direct referrals to
Women Veteran Program Managers (WVPM) located at every VA medical
center. The Women Veteran Program Manager helps the woman Veteran
coordinate services.
What will happen when I call the WVCC?
· You will be connected to a trained VA woman staff member.
· Call center staff will conduct a brief screening to assess your needs.
· Women
Veterans will be provided personalized information regarding health
care services, VA benefits and services, and a package of information
will be sent to their home.
· You can call for yourself or for a women Veteran you know.
· The call is free and confidential.
· Contact information will be requested so staff may follow-up.
Over 287,000 women Veterans served.
VA
has found that women Veterans underutilize VA care, largely due to a
lack of knowledge about VA benefits and available services and their
eligibility for them. In response, the Call Center contacts women
Veterans to let them know about the services they have earned. Since
April 2013, the WVCC has reached out to over 287,000 women Veterans and
has received calls from over 33,000 women Veterans. The WVCC receives,
on average, 80 calls per day and makes on average, 1,000 calls per day.
Womens Veterans Call Center Poster, 2016 |
In
addition to receiving calls, WVCC reaches out to women Veterans to let
them know about the services they have earned, and staff can help
connect them to benefits they deserve.
What will happen when I receive a call?
· A trained WVCC staffmember will identify themselves as working for the VA and ask if it is a good time to talk.
· She will then ask if you are aware of your eligibility for benefits.
· Women
Veterans will be provided with information regarding health care
services, VA benefits and services available, and a package of
information will be sent to their home
· Contact information will be requested so staff may follow-up.
Women Veterans Call Center Business Card, 2016 |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who can use the Women Veterans Call Center?
Any
woman Veteran or person that has questions about services and benefits
available to women Veterans in the VA may use the Women Veterans Call
Center.
2. Can I call the Women Veterans Call Center if I am not registered with VA or enrolled in VA health care?
Yes,
any women Veteran can use the Women Veterans Call Center, even if you
are not registered with the VA or enrolled in VA health care.
3. How do I know when I should call the Women Veterans Call Center?
You
should call the Women Veterans Call Center if you have any questions
about VA services or health care available to women Veterans. You may
also call the Women Veterans Call Center if you have concerns about your
current VA health care services.
4. How would I know if I am considered a Veteran?
You
may be considered a Veteran If you served on active duty in the armed
forces of the United States and was discharged or released under
conditions other than dishonorable. You do not need to have wartime or
combat experience to be considered a Veteran.
5. How do I use the Women Veterans Call Center service?
Simply call 1-855-VA-Women (1-855-829-6636) to be connected with a Women Veterans Call Center representative. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET.
6. How do I use the Women Veterans Call Center chat feature?
Women Veterans can access WVCC chat through the Women Veterans Health Care Web site (www.womenshealth.va.gov). The Women Veterans Call Center chat tab is located on the right-hand side of the website.
7. Is there a cost to call the Women Veterans Call Center?
No. The telephone number is a free service.
8. Who answers my call to the Women Veterans Call Center?
VA
contact representatives are women, and some representatives are
Veterans. All representatives are trained to provide information as it
relates to services and benefits available to women Veterans.
9. Can I contact the Women Veterans Call Center if I am already receiving care in the VA?
Yes.
If you prefer, the Women Veterans Call Center representative can help
coordinate care with your regular health care providers by connecting
you with the Women Veteran Program Manager at the VA Medical Center
closest to you.
10. What happens when I call the Women Veterans Call Center?
When
you call the Women Veterans Call Center, you will receive direct
assistance from a trained VA contact representative. Representatives
are here to assist you with your questions, concerns and provide you
with resources. The contact representatives will work with you to
provide you with the best course of action. To better serve you, they
may ask for information such as your name, telephone number and your
address. Contact representatives can provide direct referrals for VA
services and help fast-track appointments with a Women Veterans Program
Manager.
11. What should I do if I have trouble connecting when I call the Women Veterans Call Center?
If
you have trouble connecting with the Women Veterans Call Center, please
check your phone connection. If you are in a medical emergency or
suicidal crisis and cannot connect, please call 911.
12. Why should I enroll for VA health care benefits?
Women
Veterans should enroll for health care benefits to ensure they receive
the comprehensive benefits package offered through VA's national health
care system. VA offers comprehensive medical care, including any
necessary medical outpatient and inpatient services.
Veterans
can apply for VA health care enrollment by completing VA Form 10-10EZ,
which takes about 15 minutes. VA will then process the online or
mail-in application. The 10-10EZ can be obtained by call the Women
Veterans Call Center at 1-855-VA-Women (1-855-829-6636). You may also visit or call any VA health care facility or Veterans benefits office. Please visit the Resource Locator at http://www.va.gov/
13. What VA health care resources are available to women Veterans?
The
VA provides a full continuum of health care, including comprehensive
primary care (care for acute and chronic illness and gender-specific
care), specialty care, mental health care, disease prevention and
screening, emergency care, and women's health specialty care (e.g.,
advanced breast and gynecological care, maternity care, and some
infertility treatments). In addition, VA offers services such as
inpatient medical/surgical/mental health care, physical rehabilitation,
substance abuse treatment, long-term care, and pharmacy benefits. For
more information on VA services provided to women Veterans, call
1-855-VA-WOMEN (1-855-829-6636).
14. What are the most common reasons people call in to the Call Center?
To
learn about benefits and eligibility and to discuss issues they face
like homelessness, maternity care, Military Sexual Trauma, and
environmental exposures.
15. Do you have issues you cannot resolve over the phone? If so, what is the process for addressing those issues?
At
times, there are issues that the Call Center cannot immediately
resolve. In those cases, we research the best course of action/ locate
the appropriate resources, and call the Veteran back to help her address
her issues and concerns.
16. What should I do if I am in crisis?
Call
the Veterans Crisis Line. The Veterans Crisis Line is a Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) resource that connects Veterans and Service
members in crisis and their families and friends with information and
qualified, caring VA responders through a confidential, toll-free
hotline, online chat, and text messaging service. Veterans and their
families and friends can call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat online at https://www.
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