Navigation Do Spouses and Children of Veterans Qualify for CHAMPVA?
In certain circumstances, the spouse or child of a Veteran with a service-connected disability or who has died may qualify for healthcare through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA). CHAMPVA assists by helping with the cost of some health care services and supplies for those who don’t qualify for TRICARE. In order to qualify, you must be the spouse or child of a Veteran who is permanently and totally disabled for a service-connected disability, a Veteran who died as a result of a service-connected disability, a Veteran who was permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected disability at the time of their death, or a Veteran who died in the line of duty.
Some of the services covered by CHAMPVA include ambulance service, ambulatory surgery, medical equipment, family planning and maternity, hospice, mental health services, outpatient services, pharmacy, nursing care, and transplants. Furthermore, thanks to the In-House Treatment Initiative (CITI), those covered by CHAMPVA can receive treatment at VA medical centers that have elected to participate in the CITI program. One of the benefits of going to a VA medical center that has opted into the CITI program is that costs or deductibles that would normally be paid by the patient are waived.
