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:
- Served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, for other than training purposes, during wartime or peacetime.
- 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).
- Discharged or released from active duty honorably or under honorable conditions.
- 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:
- Test negative for Tuberculosis (TB).
- Not require more care and supervision than provided at the Veterans Home of choice.
- Not require acute hospitalization at the time of application.
- Not have a primary need for acute psychiatric care.
- Not have a past history of violence, mental illness, or a criminal record that would create a risk to yourself or other residents of the Veterans Home of California.
- Not be under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances.
- 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."