
The takeaway
- CHAMPVA provides healthcare coverage for qualifying dependents of some U.S. military veterans.
- CHAMPVA pays 75 percent of the cost of most services.
- When you use CHAMPVA with Medicare, CHAMPVA acts as the secondary payer.
- CHAMPVA doesn’t cover Medicare premiums but will pick up most of your other out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.
Full Answer
Is champva good health insurance?
CHAMPVA is as good as insurance gets if you plan carefully when choosing a doctor, pharmacy and hospital. CHAMPVA has low deductibles and covers almost everything from preventive care and exams to all sorts of medications. Once you're established, CHAMPVA seems worry free.
Is champva good insurance?
Is Champva good insurance? CHAMPVA is very good health care coverage once the appropriate physician is found and such things as prescriptions at the mail order pharmacy are established. I believe that veterans who are eligible for VA care should plan catastrophic event care to be managed by VA.
Is champva worth it?
CHAMPVA is for your dependants, your care is through the VA. There are no premiums. It is very worth it! My wife has teh Federal Blue Cross PPO and CHAMPVA pays basically whatever the Blue Cross does not pay.
What is the difference between TRICARE and champva?
Tricare is a health insurance program for military members, their dependents, retirees, and some survivors & former spouses while ChampVA is a comprehensive health care program for veterans in which the VA shares the cost of covered health care services and supplies with eligible beneficiaries. Log in for more information.

Am I eligible for health care through CHAMPVA?
You may only be eligible for health care through CHAMPVA if you don’t qualify for TRICARE and at least one of these descriptions is true for you. A...
What else might affect whether I can get CHAMPVA benefits for myself or a family member?
There are other factors that may affect whether you or other family members qualify for CHAMPVA. Please click on the description that matches your...
What benefits do I get with CHAMPVA?
With CHAMPVA, you’ll be covered for services and supplies when we determine they are medically necessary and were received from an authorized provi...
How do I get CHAMPVA benefits?
You’ll need to apply for these benefits. To apply, submit these required documents: Application for CHAMPVA Benefits (VA Form 10-10d) , and Other...
What happens after I apply?
Once we get your application, we’ll review it to be sure it’s complete and includes all required forms. If it’s not complete, we’ll return it to yo...
How long will it take to hear back about my application?
If you send us all required and optional documents—and if your application is complete—it’ll take about 6 weeks after we get your package until you...
What is the difference between a champva and tricare?
CHAMPVA is a Department of Veterans Affairs program while TRICARE is a regionally managed health care program for active duty and retired members of the uniformed services, their families, and survivors.
Does Champva cover medical supplies?
In general, CHAMPVA covers most health care services and supplies that are medically and psychologically necessary. Upon confirmation of eligibility, you will receive a CHAMPVA Program Guide that specifically addresses covered and non-covered services and supplies.
How to apply for Champva benefits?
There are a couple ways to obtain an Application for CHAMPVA Benefits, VA Form 10-10d: Complete the online fillable Application for CHAMPVA Benefits, VA Form 10-10d. Call the VHA Office of Community Care at 1-800-733-8387. When calling, select the Application Form option from the Interactive Voice Response menu.
Is Champva a secondary payer?
By law, CHAMPVA is always the secondary payer except to Medicaid, State Victim s of Crime Compensation Programs, Indian Health Services, and supplemental CHAMPVA policies.
How much does a Champva cost?
CHAMPVA currently has an outpatient deductible cost of $50 per calendar year and a cost share of 25% of the CHAMPVA allowable charge, up to the catastrophic cap, which is $3,000 per calendar year. Table of Contents.
What form do I need to apply for Champva?
To apply for CHAMPVA benefits, you must submit the following documents: Application for CHAMPVA Benefits, VA Form 10-10d. Other Health Insurance (OHI) Certification, VA Form 10-7959c. For individuals who are eligible for Medicare for any reason, you will need a copy of your Medicare card.
How to contact Champva?
Questions should be sent to the VHA Office of Community Care (VHA CC) at the address listed above or via the CHAMPVA toll-free customer service number: 1-800-733-8387, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Eastern Standard Time.
Is Champva a secondary payer?
By law, CHAMPVA is always the secondary payer except to Medicaid, State Victims of Crime Compensation Programs, Indian Health Services, and Supplemental CHAMPVA Policies.
Does Medicare accept Champva?
If the provider accepts CHAMPVA, the provider will then bill CHAMPVA directly. Most Medicare and TRICARE providers WILL accept CHAMPVA patients. The following websites can be used to help you locate a CHAMPVA medical provider: Medicare Website: Use the “Search Tools” at the bottom of the page to locate providers.
How to find out if a VA clinic is participating in CITI?
To find out if your local VA medical center or clinic participates in CITI, please contact the VA facility you’d like to use directly OR call 1-800-733-8387. A link to a list of participating facilities with direct contact phone numbers is located in the RESOURCES section at the bottom of this page.
Does Champva have a network?
Unlike other health insurance plans, CHAMPVA does NOT have a network of “approved” medical providers. However, it is recommended that the Primary Family Caregiver ask the provider if they accept CHAMPVA insurance. If the provider accepts CHAMPVA, the provider will then bill CHAMPVA directly.
What is the CHAMPVA program?
The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veteran's Affairs (VA) (CHAMPVA) is a comprehensive health care benefits program in which the VA shares. the cost of covered health care services and supplies with eligible beneficiaries. The.
Who is eligible for CHAMPVA?
Who is eligible for Health Care Benefits for Dependents (CHAMPVA)? To be eligible for CHAMPVA, you cannot be eligible for TRICARE/CHAMPUS, and you must be in one of these categories: The spouse or child of a Veteran who has been rated permanently and totally disabled for a service-connected disability by a VA regional office OR. ...
What is a surviving spouse?
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.
What is a chapva?
CHAMPVA is a comprehensive health care benefits program for eligible persons. Program Contact. 1-800-733-8387. Additional Info. Apply for CHAMPVA. Managing Agency. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Check if you may be eligible for this benefit.
Can you receive VA benefits if you are dishonorable?
Generally, in order to receive VA benefits and services the Veteran/Servicemember's character of discharge or service must be under other than dishonorable conditions (e.g., honorable, under honorable conditions, general). However, individuals receiving undesirable, bad conduct, and other types of dishonorable discharges may qualify ...
How many pharmacies does OptumRx have?
Beneficiaries are serviced through a network of over 82,000 retail pharmacies. When you use a OptumRx pharmacy, the pharmacy may collect a 25% cost share (after the annual deductible has been met) before submitting the claim – saving you time.
What is the civilian health and medical program?
The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) is a health benefits program where the VA pays part of the cost of certain health care services and supplies.
Can a stepchild be eligible for Champva?
When a stepchild leaves the sponsor's household, the child is no longer eligible for CHAMPVA. If you are a survivor of a qualifying sponsor and you remarry, and the remarriage is later terminated by death, divorce, or annulment, you may reestablish CHAMPVA eligibility.
Does remarriage affect Champva?
Effect of Remarriage. A surviving spouse's CHAMPVA eligibility ends upon remarriage unless they are 55 years or older. NOTE: The eligibility of a child is not affected by the divorce or remarriage of the spouse except in the case of a stepchild. When a stepchild leaves the sponsor's household, the child is no longer eligible for CHAMPVA.
Can you get a CHAMPVA if you are disabled?
To be eligible for CHAMPVA, you can't be eligible for Tricare and you must be in one of these categories: The spouse or child of a veteran who has been rated permanently and totally disabled for a service-connected disability by the VA; The surviving spouse or child of a veteran who died from a VA-rated service-connected disability;
Is Champva a secondary payer?
CHAMPVA is always the secondary payer to Medicare. If you are eligible for Medicare, at any age and for any reason, you must enroll in Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B to keep your CHAMPVA benefits. Social Security Administration documentation of enrollment in both Part A and Part B is required by CHAMPVA.
How much does Champva cover?
A yearly cap of $3,000. In sum, the most you would pay in any given year is $3,000. After that, CHAMPVA covers the rest of your medical bills in full. However, if you have two types of insurance – say CHAMPVA and Medicare – there are no deductibles or coinsurance payments.
What is a Champva?
CHAMPVA, short for the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veteran's Affairs, gives health insurance to spouses and dependents of military personnel that meet specific eligibility requirements. To make things easy to understand, if you’re the spouse or dependent ...
What is the CHAMPVA number?
Which doctors accept CHAMPVA. If you have any specific questions, we recommend that you call CHAMPVA directly – the direct line is 800-733-8387. That line is open from 8:05am-7:30pm EST, Monday through Friday.
What is a Dvh plan?
There are plans called Dental, Vision, and Hearing (DVH for short) that offer insurance for – you guessed it – dental, vision, and hearing services. If this kind of coverage is important to you, we’d love to provide you with some quotes. DVH insurance is generally very inexpensive.
What is the maximum amount you pay for a year with Champva?
What this means is that you will be responsible for some of your health costs. In sum, the most you would pay in any given year is $3,000. After that, CHAMPVA covers the rest of your medical bills in full.
Does Champva cover dental bills?
Dental: CHAMPVA generally does not cover dental bills. If you need dental care, the physician must get advanced approval from CHAMPVA, but even then, it’s not usually covered.
Does Champva pay for long term care?
Long-term care: CHAMPVA does not pay for any kind of extended care. Foot care: Any kind of foot care service, such as removal of corns and calluses, is not covered by CHAMPVA. Non-medical cancer costs: Over two-thirds of costs associated with cancer are non-medical.

CHAMPVA and The Affordable Care Act
- The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a health care law that was created to expand access to affordable health care coverage for all Americans, lower costs, and improve quality and care coordination. Under the health care law, people will have health coverage that meets a minimum standard (called "minimum essential coverage"). The health care law designates CHAMPVA as f…
Covid-19 Vaccine
- CHAMPVA beneficiaries are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in the community and at their local VA medical facility. Your provider will bill CHAMPVA for the administrative fee for the vaccine. To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine and where you can receive it, visit the COVID-19 vaccines at VAwebpage. COVID-19 vaccines at VA
Benefits
- In general, CHAMPVA covers most health care services and supplies that are medically and psychologically necessary. Upon confirmation of eligibility, you will receive a CHAMPVA Program Guide that specifically addresses covered and non-covered services and supplies. For a complete listing of non-covered services and supplies please consult the CHAMP...
Other Health Insurance
- If you have any other health insurance (OHI), you must notify us of any changes (dropped insurance, changes in health plans, etc.) immediately upon those changes taking effect so that proper payment can be made on your claims. If you obtain a major medical policy, you must also notify us that you have a new policy and when it takes effect. Download the Other Health Insura…
Change of Address
- If you change your address, it is vital that you update your address with CHAMPVA by using one of the three contact options below. Please sign and date mailed address change requests. If calling to update your address, please have available your old address information, as our customer service representatives will need to verify this information before updating your file.