CHAMPVA: Medical Care for Family Members and Survivors
The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) helps
pay for medical services and supplies that veterans’ family members and survivors obtain for
civilian sources. To qualify, family members and survivors must
not be eligible for Medicare or TRICARE. The following are eligible for
CHAMPVA:
- The spouse or child of a veteran who has a permanent and total service-connected
disability
- The surviving spouse or child of a veteran who died as a result of a service-connected
condition
- The surviving spouse of child of a person who died while on active military service in the line
of duty
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Hot Tip:
A surviving spouse who remarries may qualify for care under CHAMPVA after the subsequent
marriage is terminated.
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Hot Tip: Disability Compensation
The VA pays monetary benefits to veterans who were disabled by injury or disease incurred or
aggravated during active military service in the line of duty. Filing a claim with the VA
(Veteran’s Application for Compensation or Pension, VA Form 21-256) is very important. It
serves to notify the VA about your health problems, so that service-connected disabilities can be
evaluated.
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Note:
Service members who are medically separated from the military with severance pay, and who
are subsequently awarded disability compensation from the VA, will have their disability
compensation offset until their severance pay has been recouped. Call the VA for
details. 1-800-827-1000
