You served. You earned VA healthcare. And the VA said no — either through a direct denial, a wait so long it is functionally a denial, or by classifying your needed procedure as outside VA coverage.
Here is every option you actually have, starting with the ones that keep you inside the VA system and ending with the ones that do not.
Option 1: MISSION Act community care
The MISSION Act (2018) requires the VA to refer you to community (civilian) providers when VA wait times exceed designated access standards (currently 20 days for primary care, 28 days for specialty care) or when the nearest VA facility is too far. If your VA wait exceeds these thresholds, request a community care referral — it is your right under federal law. For current eligibility criteria, see surgerywaittimes.com's MISSION Act guide.
Option 2: Appeal the clinical decision
VA clinical denials can be appealed through the VA's internal review process. Request a copy of the clinical decision documentation and file an appeal with supporting medical evidence from your VA or civilian physician. The process is slower than private insurance appeals but follows a similar structure.
Option 3: The Foreign Medical Program (FMP)
If your condition is service-connected, the VA's Foreign Medical Program can authorize and reimburse treatment obtained abroad. FMP covers service-connected conditions treated by approved providers in foreign countries. For the complete FMP guide including registration and claim documentation, see surgerywaittimes.com's FMP walkthrough. For the step-by-step packet preparation, see requestmedicalquote.com's FMP packet guide.
Option 4: Go outside the system
For procedures the VA does not cover (dental for most veterans, cosmetic, fertility, LASIK), your options are civilian cash-pay or medical tourism. The VA dental gap alone affects millions of veterans — medicaltourismabroad.com covers this in depth. Colombia offers veterans the same procedures at 50 to 70 percent below US civilian pricing, with detailed veteran-specific guides for each procedure.
You are not alone in this
VA surgical denials and excessive wait times are a systemic issue, not a personal one. The 2026 VA data shows rising wait times across multiple specialties. The options above exist because the system has acknowledged — through the MISSION Act and FMP — that it cannot always provide timely care.
Need help figuring out your next step?
We connect people whose insurance said no with verified surgeons in Colombia who perform the same procedures at 50–70% less. No obligation.
Talk to Someone →Frequently asked questions
Can the VA deny surgery for a service-connected condition?
The VA can determine that a specific procedure is not clinically indicated for your condition, but it cannot deny care for a service-connected condition without clinical justification. Appeal the clinical determination with supporting evidence.
Does FMP cover surgery in Colombia?
Yes. Colombia is an eligible country under the Foreign Medical Program. FMP covers medically necessary treatment for service-connected conditions by authorized providers abroad.