Program Description
CHAMPVA is a comprehensive health care program in
which the VA shares the cost of covered health care services and supplies
with eligible beneficiaries. The program is administered by Health
Administration Center and our offices are located in Denver, Colorado.
Due to the similarity between CHAMPVA
and the Department of Defense (DoD) TRICARE program (sometimes referred to
by its old name, CHAMPUS) the two are often mistaken for each other. CHAMPVA
is a Department of Veterans Affairs program, whereas TRICARE is a
regionally-managed health care program for active duty and retired members
of the uniformed services, their families, and survivors.
In some cases a person may appear eligible for either
program. However, if you are the spouse of a military retiree or the spouse
of a service person who was killed in action, you are and will always be a
TRICARE beneficiary. You cannot choose between the two plans.
General Program Requirements
To be eligible for the Civilian Health and
Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (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
- 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 military member who died in the line of
duty, not due to misconduct—if you are not eligible for TRICARE. (In almost
all cases, these family members qualify for TRICARE.)
If you are in one of the above categories and you are over the age of 65 and
have Medicare Part A entitlement, in most cases you must also have Medicare
Part B. Please submit a copy of your Medicare card when you enroll in
CHAMPVA.
Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.
Program Contact Information
You can call us Monday through Friday from 8:05
AM to 6:45 PM ET.
1-800-733-8387
Our Interactive Voice Recognition (IVR) system is available to
provide prerecorded information and automated assistance 24 hours a day, 7
days a week.
If English is not your
first language, we have translation capabilities for any language, please
let the Customer Service Representative know as soon as they
answer.
You can also fax us at:
1-303-331-7804
Detailed program information, to include a program handbook,
brochures, facts sheets, and the program policy manual, is available for
review or download at:
http://www.va.gov/hac/forbeneficiaries/champva/champva.asp
E-mail is the best way to communicate with us if you have this
capability. You can email us at:
hac.inq@va.gov
Online Chat is available Monday through Friday
from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. EST at:
http://www.va.gov/hac/contact/contact.asp
Select “Chat Live!”
We also
have an automated web service available 24 hours 7 days a week that can be
used by enrolled beneficiaries to review their individual program and claims
related information for the past 12 months at:
http://www.mychampva.com
Managing Agency
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
http://www1.va.gov/health
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