Admissions

Basic Admission Requirements

Veterans who are age 55 and above are eligible to apply for admission. The age requirement is waived for disabled or homeless veterans needing long-term care. You must also meet the following requirements:

1. Served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, for other than training purposes, during wartime or peacetime.
2. Provide proof of military service by submitting a DD 214, or obtaining proof through the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) or the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA).
3. Discharged or released from active duty honorably or under honorable conditions.
4. California resident at the time of application for admission.
   Note: Medal of Honor recipients, Ex-POW's and wartime veterans are given priority for admission over peacetime veterans.

Additional Requirements, Applicants must:

1. Test negative for Tuberculosis (TB).
2. Not require more care and supervision than provided at the Veterans Home of choice.
3. Not require acute hospitalization at the time of application.
4. Not have a primary need for acute psychiatric care.
5. Not have a past history of violence, mental illness, or a criminal record that would create a risk to yourself or other residents of VHC.
6. Not be under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances.
7. Be enrolled in a qualified federal, state, or private health insurance plan, or have an application for such a plan pending.

Health Service Plan Requirements

Effective February 26, 2009, Department regulations, in compliance with the CalVet Board policy C-12, will require applicants to the Veterans Homes of California to participate in a qualified health service plan that provides access to preventive, acute and long-term health care services in the geographical area of the Home for which admission is sought or have an application pending for such coverage as a condition of admission.

The regulation states: "e) Before a veteran applicant may be admitted to the Home, he or she must be participating in a qualified federal, state or private health service plan, a United States Department of Veterans Affairs medical program, or have an application pending for such coverage. A non-veteran applicant must be participating in a qualified federal, state, or private health service plan to be admitted to the Home. For purposes of this regulation, a qualified federal, state, or private health service plan means one that provides access to preventive (ambulatory care), acute and long-term health care services in the geographical area of the Home for which admission is sought."