VA Launches Pilot Program to Simplify Veterans’ Access to Online Benefits and Health Care Services

Key Takeaways:

• The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has launched a pilot program at 6 VA medical centers using CLEAR identity verification technology to help veterans establish VA.gov accounts in minutes.
• The program is designed to improve access to online health care services and benefits, particularly for veterans experiencing mobility, connectivity, or other barriers to account registration.
• Participation is free and optional, and VA will evaluate the pilot program before determining whether to expand the technology to additional facilities.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has launched a pilot program at 6 medical centers nationwide to simplify the process of creating VA.gov accounts, potentially improving veterans’ access to health care services, benefits, and other online resources.

Developed in partnership with identity verification company CLEAR, the initiative introduces self-service technology stations, known as CLEAR pods, that allow veterans to establish accounts in minutes with assistance from VA staff. The program aims to address challenges with online account registration, including mobility limitations and connectivity barriers.

Pilot Program Expands Access Across Several VA Facilities

The new identity verification option is available at VA medical centers in Atlanta, Georgia; Brooklyn, New York; Orlando, Florida; Palo Alto, California; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Washington, DC.

The CLEAR pods use identity verification technology similar to systems deployed at airports and other secure locations.

To establish an account, veterans must bring a valid, unexpired government-issued photo identification document, such as a driver's license, state identification card, or passport, along with a phone number and personal email address.

VA staff assist veterans with entering their information and capturing a photograph using the CLEAR pod. Once registration is complete, veterans can configure facial recognition or other authentication tools to access their VA.gov accounts from home.

The VA indicated that expansion to additional facilities will depend on the results of the pilot program.

Streamlined Access to Health Care and Benefits

Establishing a VA.gov account allows veterans to manage a range of health care and benefits services online.

Through the platform, veterans can schedule appointments within VA facilities and the community, review after-visit summaries, communicate securely with health care providers, and request prescription refills.

The platform also supports administrative services, including disability compensation applications, health care-related travel reimbursement requests, and tracking the status of benefits applications.

By simplifying account creation, the pilot program could help reduce administrative barriers for veterans who experience difficulties navigating existing online registration processes.

The initiative may be particularly relevant for veterans with limited internet connectivity or mobility challenges who benefit from in-person assistance when accessing digital services.

Participation Remains Optional With Privacy Protections

The VA emphasized that participation in the CLEAR program is free and voluntary.

Veterans who prefer existing VA.gov authentication methods may continue using those options without affecting their eligibility for VA benefits or services.

According to the VA, veterans' personal health information will remain within VA systems and will not be shared with CLEAR. The company does not receive or access veterans' health information and does not sell biometric or sensitive personal data.

These provisions are intended to preserve veterans' ability to choose how they access online services while maintaining protections for sensitive information.

Part of Broader VA Access and Modernization Efforts

The pilot program is part of broader VA initiatives aimed at improving service delivery and expanding access to care.

According to the department, more than 290,000 new veterans have enrolled in VA health care in 2026, and 43 new VA health care facilities have opened.

The VA also reported completing a record 82.1 million direct care appointments during fiscal year (FY) 2025, representing a 4.1% increase from FY 2024.

Community care appointments reached approximately 60 million during FY 2025, an increase of 12% from the previous fiscal year.

Additionally, the department reported offering more than 3.2 million appointments outside normal operating hours to provide veterans with more flexible care options.

VA Secretary Doug Collins said the new identity verification technology reflects the department's efforts to improve customer service and convenience.

Looking Ahead

The CLEAR pilot program represents an effort to simplify digital access to VA services while providing additional assistance to veterans who may face barriers to online account registration.

Although the technology is intended to accelerate account creation, the VA has not yet reported pilot-specific outcomes related to registration completion rates, user satisfaction, or subsequent utilization of online services.

Results from the 6 participating facilities will help determine whether the program can be expanded to additional VA medical centers.

As the VA continues modernizing its digital infrastructure, the pilot may provide insight into how in-person identity verification tools can support access to health care and benefits while maintaining optional participation and data privacy protections. 

Reference

VA launches pilot program to speed Veterans’ access to services, care, benefits. VA News. Press release. Published October 7, 2026. Accessed October 13, 2026. https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-launches-pilot-program-to-speed-veterans-access-to-services-care-benefits/