Basic Admission Requirements
All eligible Veterans are encouraged to apply for admission to a Veterans Home of California. Please note, numerous federal and state laws, regulations
and licensing requirements govern basic admission requirements. California state laws concerning VHC are contained in the Military and Veterans Code,
Sections 1010 through 1050. State regulations concerning VHC are contained in the California Code of Regulations, Title 12, Chapter 4, Sections 500
through 505.
To be admitted to the Veterans Home of California (VHC), you must be over the age of 62 or disabled and meet the following basic requirements:
- You must have served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States, for other than training purposes, during wartime or peacetime. Proof of
military service must be verified by submitting a DD 214, or through the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) or the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs (USDVA). Medal of Honor recipients and wartime veterans are given priority for admission over peacetime veterans.
- Your discharge or release from active duty must have been honorable or under honorable conditions.
- You must be eligible for hospitalization or domiciliary care according to the laws and regulations of USDVA.
- You must be a resident of California at the time you apply for admission. When applying for admission, you will be required to submit one of the
following:
- A valid California Drivers License or DMV-issued Identification Card
- A utility bill that shows the applicant's residence
- Proof of registered voter status
- Proof of filing California state income tax returns as a resident
- A letter from a County Veterans Service Officer or VA representative verifying residency
- Other proof of residence
In addition:
- You must not have active communicable tuberculosis.
- You must not require more care and supervision than we are able to provide at VHC campus VHC of choice.
- You must not require acute hospitalization at the time of application.
- You must not have a primary need for acute psychiatric care.
- You must 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.
- You must not be under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances.
- You must present proof of participation in a qualified federal, state or private health service plan, or have an application for such a plan pending.
Fees
Fees for the Residential Care for the Elderly are currently being calculated using the Military and Veterans Code statute for fees for a domiciliary
(independent living), which are 47.5% of the applicant’s income, up to $1,200 per month. This fee may change to 55% of the applicant’s monthly income.
This change is proposed to be effective July 1, 2009 if approved by the State Legislature.
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, acute and long-term health
care services in the geographical area of the Home for which admission is sought.”
Applying to the Veterans Home of California in Barstow, Chula Vista, Lancaster, Ventura and Yountville
Applying to the Veterans Home of California in Fresno, Redding or West Los Angeles