It’s open enrollment season. Now through Dec. 7, millions of Americans can select 2025 Medicare plans. If you’re currently enrolled in the Civilian Health and Medical Program of VA (CHAMPVA) or may be eligible, your Medicare status can impact your CHAMPVA benefits.
CHAMPVA eligibility
CHAMPVA is a health care benefits program through VA that shares the cost of certain health care services and supplies with eligible beneficiaries. You may be eligible for CHAMPVA if you are a spouse, widow(er), or child of a service-connected, permanently and totally disabled Veteran, or they were when they died.
You need Medicare Parts A & B to be eligible for CHAMPVA
If you are eligible for Medicare for any reason at any age, you must have both Part A and Part B to be eligible for CHAMPVA. However, there are exceptions. For example, if you are over age 65 and were never eligible for premium-free Medicare Part A, you do not need Part B. Call the CHAMPVA help line, 800-733-8387, or visit Ask VA for information about your specific situation.
Tips about your CHAMPVA eligibility and Medicare
- If you already have Medicare, keep your Medicare Part B coverage. If you cancel Medicare Part B coverage, your eligibility for CHAMPVA benefits will end on the same day your Part B coverage ends.
- If you are a CHAMPVA beneficiary turning 65, make sure you enroll in Medicare Parts A and B. Send us a copy of your Medicare card and a CHAMPVA Other Health Insurance Certification Form (VA Form 10-7959c). We will send you a new CHAMPVA identification card with an extended expiration date.
- Medicare Part D, the prescription drug plan, is optional. Consider instead using the Meds by Mail program (you can only pick one). Meds by Mail provides maintenance medications at no charge to you (no premiums, no deductibles, and no co-payments) if you don’t have any other prescription drug coverage.
Apply for CHAMPVA today in three steps:
- Fill out the application for CHAMPVA Benefits, VA Form 10-10d (up to three beneficiaries per form).
- Complete the Other Health Insurance Certification, VA Form 10-7959c (fill this out for each beneficiary).
- Include a copy of your Medicare card (if you’re already enrolled).
- If you or an eligible family member are age 65 or older and not entitled to Medicare, you must send documentation from the Social Security Administration that confirms you are not entitled to Medicare benefits under anyone’s Social Security number.
- Submit your forms by:
- Fax to: 303-331-7809.
- Mail to: VHA Office of Integrated Veteran Care, CHAMPVA Eligibility, PO Box 137, Spring City, PA 19475.
CHAMPVA and other health insurance
If you have any type of other health insurance (for example, Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Aetna), CHAMPVA will be the secondary payer. If you have more than one health insurance, CHAMPVA will pay after the other plans. CHAMPVA only pays first if you’re enrolled in Medicaid, Indian Health Services, State Victims of Crime Compensation Program or CHAMPVA supplemental health insurance.
Support and resources
- Check out these videos to learn more about CHAMPVA.
- Call the CHAMPVA Help Line at 800-733-8387, available 8:05 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.
- Submit a question online to Ask.VA.gov.
- Visit the Social Security Administration to enroll in Medicare Part B.
- Explore health and disability benefits for families and caregivers.
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can you have a ouit side insurance and still have Champa, such as KAISER OR BLUE CROSS BLUE SHILED?
This article is too complicated because of all the “qualifications” in the several Federal programs. It needs some simplification and was obviously composed by someone whole deals with it every day. As a veteran who is still working and has a life apart for the VA and my medical needs; and with some beginning loss of memory; your effort to explain a complicated system briefly does not help.
I am turning 65 in April I am a surviving spouse. I get Tricare now. In Jan I’ll be signing up for Medicare Aand B. I was told I would have to pay for it. Is that true? I get SS and VA benefits now. Can I get ChampVa and use the VA medical center instead of private doctors? What should I do? Thank you
Where do you check to see if your in champva
if a person has Medicare part a and b and tricare as 2nd ins. does the person have to pay 185.00 a month or tricare pays for it.
I applied early July haven’t heard a thing every time you call they tell you to send the app in again I have sent it five times even certified and faxed for 16 do,Lars from staples. I call and they tell me there 9 months behind.
Mahalo, for your help, THANKS
I, am a medicare person age 66. My wife is 62 and is not entitled to madicare yet. is there anything I should do. I am confussed about what to do?
So what is champVA? I am 67 years old 20percent VA benefits. I have medicare A I have Civilian Employees Insurance at this time. But I am going to loose that in the near future. So will be applying for medicare part B.
At that point what can ChampVA do for me? And what is the price?
champva says get Deers ID. Got the deers ID.
” ” says get SSN or ITIN. Got ITIN
” ” ” wait 6 mo’s. Been waiting 2 years.
” ” ” call us. Call center has no answers.
I am 100% T&P. This is for my wife. I have medicare A & B.
What else do I need to do?
Thank you for taking the initiative to reach out with clear directions
Does this afect those THAT do not have SSI?
Didn’t realize that until after I posted this. Still, the questions would be is this separate from the other programs? From reading the posts, it appears to be a waste of time with no benefits.
After reading through the actual form, it states that you can not use CHAMPVA if you are eligible for Tricare.
I have used the va system and champ va for my wife. Additionally I have federal employees health insurance, and dental through federal employees insurance. All in all I spent more than 1k per month for that privilege. It expensive yes but, the care I have received over the last 40 years of using these programs are above reproach. Civilian doctors and pharmacies charge an absorbent amounts of money and i could not live without the help of the programs I have (va, blue cross, champ/va etc…. I hear people complaining about waiting. I always say what do you do at a civilian dr or hospital. It would bankrupt you! Be happy with what you have. If you can’t make it work then go without or get some help. I am grateful to the system!!!
I dont inderstand what this program does l have medcare part A and B with Aetna PPO plan how will GHAMPVA help me
I am 100% disabled with COPD and Agent Orange associated lung cancer. When I die what are the conditions under which my wife would be eligible for CHAMPVA?
Is your 100% disability service related? If so, I believe she would already be eligible for ChampVA. You should check now, you may be passing up benefits you earned.
Could some one call me about this Thanks Kenny Spohn
I have ChamVA . Which providers can I use? I live in Jacksonville, Fl.
I am on SSDI and have been since 2005 after a major illness, I now qualify for CHAMPVA as of June 2024 but dates back to my husband’s death in March 2015, I also have a United Healthcare PPO, do I need all this coverage for myself since its just myself. My husband died in March 2015, and it took until June 2024 for me to be approved for CHAMPVA. He was 100 percent service-connected disabled when he passed.
I am just afraid i am overinsured and healthcare takes a lot of my budget.
I am currently working full time and receive
Benefits from the municipality i work for
Champ VA said they will be secondary if Social Security gives me a letter of suspension until I retire at 66 and 10 mths next year
Can you verify this please
I am a Va dependent
I am 100% can my wife be Champa VA way she younger than me she is not old to be Medicare?
Yes she still will use Champva as her insurance, until she is 65, then it will be medicare 1st, and Champ va 2nd.
If I am enrolled in Medicare A and B, have BCBS as secondary and have been a member of ChampVa also. Do I need to reapply? Sorry to say I’m a bit confused. I’m assuming I will get no response on here but posting just in case!
I notice your article says to send your eligibility forms to Spring City PA. The address we had back when we submitted forms in August has a Denver Colorado address. What address are we supposed to be using? Also complaints about ChampVA phone system are correct. Its terrible. Horrible service.
Another example of the government bureaucracy giving with one hand and tacking on conditions that take away with the other hand. And/or making it so complicated no one can take advantage of it. An example is posting this notice two days before a series of procedures and required forms are completed before the required due date.
Thankful for my husband, I’m Diabetic I have A and B, am 78 yr’s old I pay for my dental , I want to no if I have to pay for my dental? my Eye exam, I do not have to pay, but for my glasses’ I have to pay I’m thrilled for Champ V A helping me out, my husband is A Veteran.
I cannot believe the lack of knowledge and information expressed by some of the people posting here.
There are plenty of resources out there that will help you navigate the complicated VA/medical benefits process. Find them and use them.
Furthermore, if you’re wasting time posting to this site with complaints about VA service or any related benefits then shame on you because no one in authority will respond or help you with your issues so stop posting all your personal info/name here.
Sorry to tell you this. But the VA is a political entity and as such is just now recovering from all the damage done to it by the last Trump administration. Yet a large majority of you voted for him again. If you think you’re having problems now, just wait until his new admin starts targeting federal workers, cutting staff, and running amok.
You wanted this…so now reap the whirlwind.
Quit complaining and lying about the VA. Trump actually improved the delivery of VA benefits. I know as I am 100% disabled and use the medical care a lot.
I don’t know about anyone else on here, but I’ve been “reaping” the Biden administration’s benefits for the last 4 years. Thanks to all you liberals who brought me high gas prices, ridiculous grocery prices, crazy inflation, high lending rates and controversy over grown men wanting to use the ladies room! Thank God we have enough patriotic Americans still to get rid of your president and put an actual leader back in office!
Tell them where they can get help. Don’t be that bitter.
Keep your political opinions out of your replies . A lot of dependents and elderly VETERANS need solid leadership and support. Not Political B.S.!
100% T&P Disabled
Now who is complaining! Read your comment’s again!
“Sorry to tell you this. But the VA is a political entity and as such is just now recovering from all the damage done to it by the last Trump administration. Yet a large majority of you voted for him again. If you think you’re having problems now, just wait until his new admin starts targeting federal workers, cutting staff, and running amok.
You wanted this…so now reap the whirlwind.”
You are so pitifully wrong. If anything, like it was under Trump the first time, it will improve things at geometric proportions!! I am so inspired about the future.
I have been 100 percent disabled through the VA since 2005. We have CHAMPVA for my wife, but they have never paid for anything. They told us that with the insurance and the Medicare that she would be able to apply for reimbursement on her drugs that the insurance didn’t cover. We sent all the forms in, and like many others never heard a thing back from them. You cannot contact them by phone, you are on indefinite hold, and never answered. The same goes for contacting them through email or letters, no response. Somethings broken in the CHAMPVA system. Can you answer any of the questions?
Have you tried calling Meds by mail? You can speak to a representative. Just follow the voice prompts and ask them for help. Talk to the pharmacy. Get the address information on how to submit receipts/forms (?) for reimbursement. This is the phone number I call for meds by mail. This number may be for the southeast. If they can’t help you, ask for the phone number for the area you live in. 1-866-229-7389
If you think the chief demorat is going to help you, think again. Crooked Joe is too busy lying and pardoning his own family. Cassius proved his own lack of knowledge by blaming Trump.
yes thank you for the help you have the veterans .
It is difficult, if not impossible, to get through to CHAMPVA (phone number in this article). I filed my application 10/4/24 and they cannot even tell me if they have received it (PO Box Address) until it gets into their system, which can take more than 90-days due to their backlog. I have health insurance through the marketplace, which is costly because the credits provided look at earned income (includes SS and 401K required distributions from income tax returns), and the plan was to discontinue if approval is received. I learned from this article that CHAMPVA will likely not even provide me with the coverage needed because I will still have to keep the costly marketplace insurance to receive this benefit I am entitled too. My husband is 100% disabled from the VA. I am not yet entitled to Medicare.
I had thought CHAMPUS was changed to TriCare. What about Tricare for Life folks? I’m Army retired, 100% VA rated, over 65, my wife, over 65 has both A & B and is using Tricare for Life. According to this article she is also eligible for CHAMPUS, we never had an ID card for CHAMPUS, how do we get one? We were told for years to identify as Tricare not CHAMPUS. Is the writer mistaken??
Sir, thus article is specifically about ChampVa, not Champus. Campus is tricare now. ChampVa is specifically for those dependents and surviving spouse/dependents of 100%disabled veterans
Didn’t realize that until after I posted this. Still, the questions would be is this separate from the other programs? From reading the posts, it appears to be a waste of time with no benefits.
Not at all. I have Medicare A&B, insurance through my retiree benefits from my job and CHAMPVA as third. I never pay anything except the small deductible a the beginning of the year. Medicare pays first, my health insurance (with a HUGE deductible) usually pays nothing, and ChampVA pays what’s left. I never get bills that weren’t already taken care of. Don’t spit out anger when you don’t have all the facts. CHAMPVA is NOT Tricare. Tricare is for widows of active or retired Vets, CHAMPVA is for spouses/dependents of disabled vets. I believe that the 100% disability has to be service connected but I’m not positive about that so that should be your question.
What if a current champ va participant enrolls in Medicare part C
I would not recommend doing this. You will be locked into a network of doctors and you will no longer have the freedom of going to any specialist or doctor. In addition, by staying on Original Medicare with ChampVA as your supplement you will have zero out of pocket cost. You will effectively have a Medigap Plan F which is no longer available for those born after 2020.
I have a serious question, I have Medicare part A only. When I signed up the lady from the social security office told me that as a retired military soldier that I don’t need part B. My question is do i need part B? If I’m using the VA
Both Tricare and ChampVA require Medicare Part B. If you are only going to the VA medical facility for your care (like myself) then Medicare Part B & D is not required. The VA recommends signing up for Medicare Part B.
If you decide to stop using the VA medical facility and only use private doctors in the future, you will need to sign up for Medicare Part B at that time. However, you will face a lifetime penalty for signing up for Medicare Part B late. This fee increases for every month you fail to enroll in Medicare Part B.
I have same ????
There is a lot of PII in this thread. Please remove the PII ASAP.
I have Medicare and tricare I’m also a veteran with service connected disabilities who uses the VA. Are there any restrictions or stipulations?
Hello
I do have Medicare A&B
Plus I have dental.
I do not need part D because I have Champ VA
this article seems a little vague. states first that if you’re age 65 or older and have part A, you don’t need part B. can you explain?
To maintain ChampVA eligibility you are required to have both Medicare Part A and Part B.
My question is whether I can drop my insurance which is secondary to Medicare (since it is so costly) when Champva is free.
Yes, you only need ChampVA, Medicare Part A and Part B. You will have zero out of pocket cost with this combination. Ensure you analyze your prescription drug cost separately.
Why is this message so late in the open season? Should have been sent out 2-3 weeks ago.
AGREED !!!!!!
I applied for Champus at least 6 months ago and still have not heard from anyone. I called a couple of times and they said it shouldn’t be much longer. My husband has 100% disability.
This article makes it seem as though applying to CHAMPVA is very easy and straightforward. However, there is no mention of those MOST important step to even having your application reviewed by administrators.
As a disabled vet, your SPOUSE must FIRST be enrolled with DEERS, otherwise they will not be listed as a beneficiary in the CHAMPVA system and, therefore, will discard your claim without notice.
It’s frustrating that the MOST important aspect of this difficult application process is registering your eligible spouse with the DEERS/RAPIDS system. This article, and no other article on the VA website states this, nor is there information on how to do it.
For Vets who don’t know, you must go to a military installation and visit their ID/RAPIDS Center (with all appropriate documentation) and register your spouse with them first, BEFORE you can apply for CHAMPVA. The other downside is there are very few locations available within the US and even fewer outside the US. (https://idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco/)
This article unfairly oversimplifies yet another overly complicated VA benefits process—something most all Vets should be familiar with by now. Furthermore, it hinders disabled veterans, and their families, from accessing life saving healthcare resources that are both needed and deserved.
Hope this was helpful. Good luck to you all!
The problem is that Veterans really don’t read the information forwarded to them with their VA disabilities package. They spend too much time complaining. Every 100% Veterans gets the package explaining how to apply for benefits for their dependents, including how to apply for the ID card, which tells you that you have to register the dependents into the DEERS system. When you receive the CHAMP VA ID, it should be given your medical provider as a supplemental to any other insurance. They should file the claims to be paid. Read people. Stop wasting time complaining in these comments.
Champ VA is crap . I’m totally 100 percent service connected permanent disabled from VA. Used champ and very very hard to work with. I even attended a champ VA seminar here in Sacramento. Anyone using champ VA is desperate.
Willis, why if you are 100% and eligible to be treated at Mather why would you try to use ChampVA? I don’t believe you qualify for it since you are service connected?
What is this all about. I have a medicare advantage plan. Does this affect me??
Where do I go to updated my ID mine is expired
Can i use my military retired identification card instead of cham
If we already have Champ VA AS SECONDARY with REGULAR MEDICARE as primary and MEDS BY MAIL do we have to reapply?
SO, if the circumstances the VA can play with Medicare! What happened to the Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 which prohibits the VA from billing another government agency? So a special carve out can be made an exception to the rule put in place when it suits the right moment in time. Yet I paid into Medicare my entire working life, MY TAXES. But I can’t reap the benefits of my life long contribution so that I can be thrown to the side because I chose not to appeal your first denial of my VA claim, even though tinnitus was clearly present. This is the final insult and slap in the face for my 20 years of faithful service. I am canceling my remaining appointments with the VA and will never open my wallet for the VA again. Should I turn in my DD Form 2 now?
To verify, if I choose an Aetna Medicare Advantage plan that does not cover prescriptions, my ChampVA will be my secondary and I am still eligible for my MedsByMail – correct?
What is my.cost
What is the difference between CHAMPVA and Tricare Prime/Tricare for life (TOL)? Once I turn 65 which should I use? I’m a retired servicemember.
HUGE downside to my wife turning 65. Prior to that, if Meds by mail didn’t offer a drug she needed, we could file a claim for the 20% difference she had to order through OptumRX – local pharmacy. We now need to to pay $175/mo for Medicare/B – and have to pay $400/mo for the drug. It now counts towards the the deductible, but takes almost 8 months to reach the 3K out-of-pocket maximum
Starting in 2025, it may be worth getting a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, as the max out-of-pocket for Part D is now $2,000. If you are unable to get your Medicare filled through Meds by Mail for free, you may want to consider this option, but you only have until December 7 to make this happen, as open enrollment will be closing.
What is champ VA? I wish you would send the stuff out at the beginning of the enrollment period, Instead of waiting for the last 2 days. If I have the VA health care why do I need Medicare B?
i received the prec ipt card about 2 months ago and did not receive the champ card i have called 5 or 6 times they said they would mail the card out for my wife i filed on june 7(2024 6 months ago why cant you mail my wifes card ethel cunningham out i my self is 100 % permanite & total disable darwin cunningham
I’ve been eligible for ChampVa since the 1990s, as my now deceased husband, was 100% rated disabled veteran.
I have always previously primarily received my medical care through VA facilities. Now because I am 65, I now no longer can go to VA facilities.
I have had my Medicare part A &B card since April. I faxed a copy of it and the appropriate form to ChampVa in June as I was instructed.
However, the system is so far behind in updating the records, I am still showing ineligible.
Recently I was promised my status would received an expedited update in order for me to be able to have necessary surgery. That was 3 weeks ago, yet my status has not been updated.
ChampVa needs an overhaul or additional staffing in order to appropriately service their clients.
We have the same situation here!
My wife’s name is Maria Teresa Bonafonte Cimiano (Morra)
I’m unable to share with an eligible spouse because there is no share button. Disgraceful.
Did you read the instructions above? There is no “button” there is a form that you fill out & send in.
After reading the mishaps with the VA Im thinking the VA healthcare system regressed over the last several years
Scroll to the top, right next to the webpage where it says news.va.gov at the top to the right you will see the little icon that will allow you to message this article to someone on your phone or to their email.
I HAVE MEDICARE A&B , JUST GOT IT NOW, WHA T IDO I NEED TO DO NOW.