Veterans serve our country with bravery and sacrifice, and their families make countless sacrifices and provide unwavering support. However, being a Veteran’s spouse, widow(er) or child comes with its own set of challenges, especially when it comes to accessing healthcare. Luckily, there are programs in place to help families access the care that they need. In this post, we will explore the CHAMPVA program, its eligibility requirements and how Maxim works with the program.

What is CHAMPVA?

The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) is a comprehensive healthcare program for the spouse, widow(er) and children of disabled and deceased Veterans. The program covers most medically necessary healthcare services. This includes ambulance transport, durable medical equipment, maternity, hospice, skilled nursing care and mental health services.

Non-medical care, such as custodial, housekeeping, homemaker and family caregiver services, is not covered under CHAMPVA.

Who is eligible for CHAMPVA?

There are some eligibility requirements to benefit from the program. First and foremost, CHAMPVA beneficiaries cannot be eligible for TRICARE. Because of the similarities between the two programs, they are often mistaken for each other. TRICARE is a regionally managed healthcare program open to active duty and retired uniformed service members. In some cases, it may appear that a Veteran is eligible for both programs, but remember that if you are a military retiree or spouse of a Veteran who was killed in action, you can only receive TRICARE benefits.

To be eligible for CHAMPVA, you must:

  • Be a spouse or child of a Veteran who has been rated permanently and totally disabled for a service-connected disability by a VA regional office
  • Be the surviving spouse or child of a Veteran who died from a VA-rated service-connected disability
  • Be the surviving spouse or child of a Veteran who was, at the time of death, rated permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected disability

You can lose your eligibility if:

  • A spouse divorces the Veteran, although divorce doesn’t affect the eligibility of birth and adopted children
  • A spouse divorces the Veteran, the stepchildren of the Veteran sponsor will lose eligibility
  • A child turns 18 (unless they are enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited school)
  • A child who was a full-time student turns 23 or stops being a full-time student
  • A child gets married
  • An individual is eligible for Medicare Part A, and they decline or drop Medicare Part B

How does Maxim Healthcare Services participate with CHAMPVA?

Maxim Healthcare Services can help with two CHAMPVA-covered services – home healthcare and skilled nursing care.

  • Home healthcare is intermittent skilled-level home care for homebound patients provided by registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or licensed vocational nurses (LVNs).
  • Skilled nursing care is more intensive and can be administered by a nurse, ABA therapist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, respiratory therapist or social worker. Depending on the patient’s needs, care can take place in the home or a rehab facility. CHAMPVA will cover skilled nursing care up to 24 hours a day, seven days a week as deemed necessary by a medical provider.

Healthcare providers who accept these assignments must accept the CHAMPVA allowable amount as full payment and may not charge you beyond your co-pay.

Maxim’s trained and certified nurses are equipped to care for adults and children with a wide range of chronic and acute illnesses and disabilities. We partner with physicians and service providers to create comprehensive care plans tailored to the patient’s needs. Last year, our team provided over 800,000 hours of care to VA-funded patients.

Earlier this year, Maxim hosted an informational session outlining the VA’s programs for spouses, dependents and family caregivers of Veterans.

Get in touch

Maxim Healthcare Services provides quality home healthcare services to active-duty and Veteran families throughout the United States. To learn more about the services available near you, contact your local Maxim office. Our experienced military and federal services team is equipped to connect you with the care you need.

Veteran’s spouses, dependents, survivors and family caregivers may qualify for certain benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Visit va.gov to learn more about your family’s eligibility.