End-of-Life Care for Veterans: VA Benefits, Hospice, and Specialized Support

The short answer: Veterans are entitled to a comprehensive set of end-of-life benefits through the VA, including free hospice care, burial in a national cemetery, a burial flag, and a presidential memorial certificate. Veterans experiencing PTSD, moral injury, or service-connected trauma may have specific end-of-life needs that require providers trained in military culture and veteran-specific grief.

VA End-of-Life Benefits for Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides comprehensive end-of-life support for eligible veterans. Many veterans and their families are unaware of the full scope of benefits available. Key benefits include:

VA Hospice Care

Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare are eligible for VA hospice services, which are provided at no cost. VA hospice can be provided at home, in a VA medical center, in a community-based VA-contracted hospice, or in a VA Community Living Center (nursing care facility). Veterans may also use Medicare hospice benefits and retain VA benefits for other conditions simultaneously.

VA Burial Benefits

• National Cemetery burial — Veterans (and many spouses and dependents) are eligible for free burial in a national cemetery. The VA covers the cost of the grave, opening and closing, grave liner, and headstone or marker. There are 155 national cemeteries across the United States.
• Burial allowance — Veterans who die of a service-connected condition may receive up to $948 for burial expenses; non-service-connected deaths may receive up to $300 toward burial.
• Burial flag — A U.S. flag is provided to drape the casket of an eligible veteran and is presented to the next of kin after the service. Replacement flags are not provided.
• Presidential Memorial Certificate — A certificate signed by the President of the United States honoring the veteran's service, provided at no cost upon request.

Military Honors

Veterans are entitled to military funeral honors — at minimum, two uniformed military personnel, the folding and presentation of the flag, and the playing of Taps (live or recorded). Contact your local VA or a funeral home to coordinate military honors.

Veteran-Specific End-of-Life Needs

Veterans may carry unique end-of-life burdens including: PTSD symptoms that intensify near death, moral injury (guilt or shame related to combat or military decisions), mistrust of medical systems, and specific grief related to loss of comrades. Providers who work with dying veterans benefit from training in military culture, trauma-informed care, and understanding of service-related moral injury.

Resources for Veterans and Families

• VA Caregiver Support Program: caregiver.va.gov
• National Cemetery Scheduling Office: 1-800-535-1117
• We Honor Veterans program (NHPCO): provides training for hospice and palliative care providers on veteran end-of-life needs
• Taps (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors): taps.org — grief support for families of fallen service members

Frequently Asked Questions

Is hospice free for veterans?

Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare can receive VA hospice services at no cost. Veterans can also use Medicare hospice benefits while retaining VA benefits for non-terminal conditions simultaneously.

Do all veterans qualify for burial in a national cemetery?

Most veterans who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable qualify for burial in a national cemetery. Eligibility also extends to spouses and dependent children in most cases. Contact the National Cemetery Scheduling Office (1-800-535-1117) to verify eligibility.

What are military funeral honors?

Veterans are entitled to military funeral honors including two uniformed service members, the folding and presentation of the U.S. flag, and the playing of Taps. Contact your local VA or funeral home to coordinate — there is no cost to the family.

What is the We Honor Veterans program?

We Honor Veterans is a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) that trains hospice and palliative care providers to recognize and address the unique end-of-life needs of veterans, including PTSD, moral injury, and military culture.

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