I receive A & A benefits. Why can't I get CHAMPA also?
Receive A&A, require full-time caregiver, due to loss of sight. As such, why can I not receive Champa, via VA? Husband was Korean Vet, he was receiving medical help, via VA. How can I get this care through the VA, as surviving spouse?
Hi Jazzy1349, I’m a retired vet, care manager and do VA benefits. Basically, unless you’re a veteran, the only benefit you can receive is Aid & Attendance. Now, here’s the exception: if, and only if, your husband was 100% service-connected at the time of his death or if he was fully retired from the military, you may be eligible for Tricare for Life as a secondary insurance. If not, you are receiving everything entitled to a spouse of a veteran. Hope that helps!
"To be eligible for CHAMPVA, the beneficiary cannot be eligible for TRICARE. CHAMPVA provides coverage to the spouse or widow(er) and to the children of a Veteran who: is rated permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability, OR was rated permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected condition at the time of death, OR died of a service-connected disability, OR died on active duty and the dependents are not otherwise eligible for Department of Defense TRICARE benefits."
Seems to me your husband had to have a service related disability. You also cannot get Tricare and CHAMPA too. I have two Friends who use the VA hospital for all their health needs instead of having to pay for a Medicare supplimental. Both in Vietnam. Their spouses are not allowed to use the VA hospital because they are not Vets. Both pay for their own supplemental or provided by an employer.
Spouses are not entitled to a number of VA benefits if not a Vet themselves. If you still have questions after reading the site I posted, then u need to call your County VA office and talk to someone there.
4 Answers
Helpful Newest
First Oldest
First
ADVERTISEMENT
"To be eligible for CHAMPVA, the beneficiary cannot be eligible for TRICARE. CHAMPVA provides coverage to the spouse or widow(er) and to the children of a Veteran who:
is rated permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability, OR
was rated permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected condition at the time of death, OR
died of a service-connected disability, OR
died on active duty and the dependents are not otherwise eligible for Department of Defense TRICARE benefits."
Seems to me your husband had to have a service related disability. You also cannot get Tricare and CHAMPA too. I have two Friends who use the VA hospital for all their health needs instead of having to pay for a Medicare supplimental. Both in Vietnam. Their spouses are not allowed to use the VA hospital because they are not Vets. Both pay for their own supplemental or provided by an employer.
Spouses are not entitled to a number of VA benefits if not a Vet themselves. If you still have questions after reading the site I posted, then u need to call your County VA office and talk to someone there.
I hope that someone has a better answer for you.