Yes. CHAMPVA will always be a secondary payor to Medicare.

To be eligible for CHAMPVA you cannot qualify for TRICARE and at least one of the following needs to be true:

• You’re the spouse or child of a Veteran who’s been rated permanently and totally disabled for a service-connected disability by a VA regional office, or
• You’re the surviving spouse or child of a Veteran who died from a VA-rated service-connected disability, or
• You’re 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, or
• You’re the surviving spouse or child of a service member who died in the line of duty, not due to misconduct (in most of these cases, family members qualify for TRICARE, not CHAMPVA).

If you qualify for CHAMPVA, you have access to health care through the VA health system.  This coverage provides the same benefits if you live or travel overseas, and your deductibles and cost shares are the same.

CHAMPVA and Medicare

You will need to apply to receive CHAMPVA benefits through the VA.  If you qualify for Medicare (for any reason), you will also need to submit a copy of your Medicare card.  If you are older than 65 and do not qualify for Medicare, you will need to send documentation for the SSA confirming that you are ineligible for Medicare.

CHAMPVA will always be the secondary payer to Medicare.  Similar to TFL, you must enroll in Medicare Part A & Part B to keep your CHAMPVA benefits once you turn 65.

A Part D drug plan is not required as, like TFL, you have creditable coverage and can receive your prescription drugs through the OptumRX network.

CHAMPVA interacts with Medicare Advantage plans in the same was that TLF does.