CHAMPVA

Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs

Overview

CHAMPVA is a healthcare benefits program for:

1. Dependents of veterans who have been rated by VA as having a total and permanent disability,
2. 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
3. Survivors of persons who died in the line of duty and not due to misconduct who are not otherwise entitled to 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.

Featured Information

• Benefits
• General Exclusions
• Eligibility
  • CHAMPVA for Life and Remarried Widows/Widowers
  • Eligibility Definitions
• How to Apply
  • Application Process
  • Optional Documents
  • Required Documents
• Contacting CHAMPVA
  • Assistance and Claims Address
     

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Contact Information:

Webpage: www.va.gov/communitycare

• From this page you can access a copy of the CHAMPVA guidebook, search our policies, and access copies of forms.

Communicating with the CHAMPVA

CHAMPVA is managed by the VA's Health Administration Center.

• You can call us at 800-733-8387,  Monday through Friday from 6:05 a.m. (Mountain Tme) until 5:30 p.m. (Mountain Time).  Any calls in the queue at 5:30 p.m. (Mountain time) will be answered before the office closes for the night.  ( Availability converted to Eastern Time is 8:05 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time).

• CHAMPVA does not accept claim by fax.  An application or OHI (Other Health Insurance) updates will be accepted by fax to 303-331-7809.

Assistance and Claims Address

Correspondence should be sent to:

CHAMPVA Correspondence

P.O. Box 469063

Denver, CO  80246-9063
    

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.
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General Exclusions

• Services determined by VA to be medically unnecessary
• Care as part of a grant, study, or research program
• Care considered experimental or investigational
• 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