Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA)

Team Wellthy

CHAMPVA is a health benefits program where the VA pays part of the cost of certain health care services and supplies. This benefit is available to eligible surviving spouses and children of certain Veterans.

What’s Provided

CHAMPVA generally covers most health care services and supplies that are medically and psychologically necessary. This includes inpatient and outpatient procedures, medical equipment, prosthetics and orthotics, eyeglasses, lenses and more. More information on coverage and copays can be found here.

Eligibility

• Must NOT qualify for TRICARE.

• At least one of these must be true. You’re:

• The spouse or child of a Veteran who’s been rated permanently and totally disabled for a service-connected disability by a VA regional office, or

• The surviving spouse or child of a Veteran who died from a VA-rated service-connected disability, or

• The surviving spouse or child of a Veteran who was at the time of death rated permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected disability, or

• The surviving spouse or child of a service member who died in the line of duty, not due to misconduct (in most of these cases, family members qualify for TRICARE, not CHAMPVA).

You can lose your CHAMPVA eligibility if:

• If you are eligible for Medicare Part A and you decline or drop Medicare Part B.

• Through divorce from the Veteran. (But divorce does not impact the eligibility of a birth or adopted child of a qualifying Veteran sponsor.)

• When a child turns 18, unless the child is enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited school.

• When a child, who has been a full-time student, turns 23 or loses full-time student status.

• When a child marries.

• If you are a stepchild of a qualifying Veteran sponsor, your parents divorce and you lose dependent status as determined by your VA Regional Office (VARO).

How to Apply

Gather the necessary documents:

• The page from the VBA rating decision showing your Veteran is permanently and totally disabled (or the death rating if you’re a survivor)

• Your Veteran’s DD214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty)—or, if the Veteran was a World War II or Korean War Veteran, the Report of Separation. If you don’t have a copy of the necessary form, you can request it by submitting a Standard Form 180, Request Pertaining to Military Records, from the National Archives.

• Documents related to any dependent children you’re including in your application:

• A copy of each child’s birth certificate or adoption papers

• School certification of full-time enrollment for children ages 18-23

Submit application:

• Fill out an application for CHAMPVA.

• Fill out Other Health Insurance Certification

• Submit documents related to your Medicare status:

• If you qualify for Medicare for any reason, you’ll need to submit a copy of your Medicare card.

• If you’re 65 years old or older and don’t qualify for Medicare, you’ll need to send us documentation from the Social Security Administration that confirms you don’t qualify for Medicare benefits under anyone’s Social Security number.

• Mail your application to: VHA Office of Community Care
  CHAMPVA Eligibility
  PO Box 469028
  Denver, CO 80246-9028

• Or fax it to: 303-331-7809