WASHINGTON – A new law will reinstate health care benefits for some surviving spouses covered by the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) if they apply by Feb. 4, 2004.
“I am pleased that we can now provide health care benefits to some veterans’ widows or widowers who remarry and, in doing so, bring them peace of mind. These older CHAMPVA beneficiaries lost their coverage in the past,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi.
The surviving husband or wife who lost access to CHAMPVA benefits by remarrying before Feb. 4, 2003, can be reinstated into the program if they remarried after becoming age 55 and if they apply for reinstatement by Feb. 4, 2004.
Similarly, a surviving spouse who remarried after becoming age 55 and lost access to TRICARE benefits may now be eligible for CHAMPVA coverage.
To be eligible for CHAMPVA, people must be family members of veterans who have a permanent and total service-connected disability, who died of a service-connected condition or who were totally disabled from a service-connected condition at the time of death.
In general, CHAMPVA covers most health care services and supplies that are medically and psychologically necessary.
People who want an application for this benefit or more information can contact VA’s HealthAdministrationCenter at 800-733-8387.
Surviving spouses who remarry at a younger age and lose their CHAMPVA benefits can have these benefits restored if their later marriage is annulled or ends due to death or divorce. Similarly, widows or widowers of any age who lost benefits under
VA's Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) program due to remarriage are eligible for reinstatement of monthly DIC payments if their subsequent marriage ends.
This restoration policy has been in effect since 1998, but VA officials are concerned widows or widowers may overlook this benefit if a subsequent marriage ends years later. VA's average payment to surviving spouses is about $12,000, including adjustments for minor children, survivors who are housebound or who need a home aide, and other factors.
