CHAMPVA Dependent Healthcare Guide

CHAMPVA (Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs) provides comprehensive healthcare coverage for eligible dependents and surviving spouses of veterans. It is one of the most commonly overlooked VA benefits — hundreds of thousands of families who qualify never apply.

Who Qualifies for CHAMPVA

• The spouse or surviving spouse of a veteran who is permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected condition
• The surviving spouse of a veteran who died as a result of a service-connected condition
• The surviving spouse of a veteran who died in the line of duty
• The child of a veteran who meets any of the above criteria
• Dependent children of veterans rated 100% permanently and totally disabled

Note: The veteran themselves is not covered by CHAMPVA — the veteran is covered by VA healthcare. CHAMPVA covers eligible family members.

What CHAMPVA Covers

CHAMPVA covers most medically necessary services and supplies — inpatient hospital care, outpatient services, prescription medications, mental health services, skilled nursing facility care, durable medical equipment, and more. CHAMPVA pays 75% of the allowable amount after a $50/year deductible per beneficiary ($100 maximum per family). The beneficiary pays the remaining 25%, up to the CHAMPVA catastrophic cap of $3,000 per year.

CHAMPVA vs Medicare / Other Insurance

CHAMPVA acts as the secondary payer when a beneficiary has Medicare or other health insurance. If you have Medicare Part A and Part B, CHAMPVA wraps around Medicare and covers most or all of the Medicare cost-sharing. This combination essentially provides near-zero-cost healthcare for eligible surviving spouses of veterans who are on Medicare.

How to Apply