CHAMPVA

The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) is a healthcare benefits program for:

  • Dependents of veterans who have been rated by Veterans Affairs (VA) as having a total and permanent disability,
  • Survivors of veterans who died from VA rated service connected conditions, or who at the time of death, were rated permanently and totally disabled from a VA rated service connected condition; and
  • Survivors of persons who died in the line of duty and not due to misconduct who are not otherwise entitled to Department of Defense (DOD) Tricare benefits. Under CHAMPVA, VA shares the cost of covered healthcare services and supplies with eligible beneficiaries.

The administration of CHAMPVA is centralized to the Health Administration Center in Denver, Colorado.

Due to the similarity between CHAMPVA and Tricare (formally known as CHAMPUS--a program administered by the Department of Defense for military retirees as well as families of active duty, retired, and deceased service members), the two programs are easily and often mistaken for each other. Please note that CHAMPVA is separate from Tricare and that there are distinct differences between them.

General Exclusions

  • Services determined by VA to be medically unnecessary
  • Care as part of a grant, study, or research program
  • Care considered experimental or an investigation
  • Care for persons eligible for benefits under other government agency programs, except Medicaid and State Victims of Crime Compensation programs
  • Care for which the beneficiary is not obligated to pay, such as services obtained at a health fair
  • Care provided outside the scope of the provider's license or certification
  • Custodial, domiciliary, or rest cures
  • Dental care except treatment related to certain covered medical conditions
  • Medications that do not require a prescription (insulin excluded)
  • Personal comfort and convenience items
  • Services rendered by providers suspended or sanctioned by other Federal entities

Benefits

In general, CHAMPVA covers most healthcare services and supplies that are medically and psychologically necessary. Upon confirmation of eligibility, applicants will receive program material that specifically addresses covered and non covered services and supplies.

Assistance and Claims Address

If you have a general question (other than one regarding an application) an appeal or if you need to file a claim for reimbursement for health care and the claim is older than one year, please send your request to us

For submitting new (less than one year old) health care claims only, please use:

VA Health Administration Center
CHAMPVA Claims
P.O. Box 65024
Denver CO, 80206