Bay Pines VA Healthcare System

CHAMPVA

WHAT IS CHAMPVA?

The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) is a comprehensive health care program in which the VA shares the cost of covered health care services and supplies with eligible beneficiaries. The program is administered by VA's Health Administration Center.

Who is ELIGIBLE for CHAMPVA?

To be eligible for CHAMPVA, you 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 eligible for Department of Defense TRICARE benefits.

CAN CHAMPVA Beneficiaries get healthcare at a VA Facility?

CHAMPVA Beneficiaries who are eligible for MEDICARE are not entitled to the use of any VA for health care. In addition, CHAMPVA must be your primary benefit to qualify for the CITI Program at most VA's. All medical services offered at a VA are based on Veteran wait times and unused capacity; a CHAMPVA Beneficiary may not supersede a Veteran. Therefore, it is each VA’s local discretion to decide what medical services they can provide. To locate those VA Medical Facilities that participate with the CHAMPVA CITI Program click here.

DOES BPVAHCS participate with CHAMPVA?

Bay Pines does participate with CHAMPVA. However, medical services offered to CHAMPVA Beneficiaries are very limited and currently we are unable to accept CITI Program patient enrollments. Please contact our CHAMPVA program manager at (727) 398-6661 extension 17464 should you have any questions.