Editor’s Note: This article is the first in a series of two.
By Larry Dandridge
This is the first article in a two-part series on family member VA healthcare. This article will cover four types of VA and Department of Defense (DOD) healthcare programs for veterans’ family members. Article 2 will cover three other VA healthcare programs for family members.
VSOs
Veterans and their family members are encouraged to use their local Veterans Service Officer (VSO) to help them apply for VA benefits. VSO service is normally provided by a County or State Area Veterans Services Office or an independent VSO working for a local Veterans Service Organization (AL, VFW, VVA, DAV, AMVETS, etc.) Chapter. Some ways to find VSOs include:
- Find SC County VSOs at https://bit.ly/3qbLVSL.
- Find Georgia VSOs at https://bit.ly/44KMVA7.
- Find VA-accredited representatives nationwide at https://bit.ly/3QnCk5M.
- Find VSOs at VA Regional Offices at https://bit.ly/3TahNn1.
- Search the national website for a Veterans Service Organization or just call your local chapter.
One local VSO that this author knows and trusts is Beaufort DAV Chapter, VSO Michael Vergantino, 843-301-2543, and mlv1030@gmail.com. VSOs in the Columbia, S.C. VA Regional Office do travel to other SC cities.
Overview
According to the VA “Healthcare Family Members (Overview of VA Health Care)” webpage at https://bit.ly/3O0GBhl, “A Veteran’s family member may be eligible for certain benefits through programs such as the Civilian Health and Medical Program (CHAMP-VA), Spina Bifida, Children of Women Vietnam Veterans, Foreign Medical Program, and the VA Caregiver Support Program. Get details about family health benefits at the VA’s “Healthcare for Spouses, Dependents, and Family Caregivers” web page at https://bit.ly/3JgMCoa.
Vet Centers also provide services to family members of veterans and service members, for military-related issues, when it is found that they aid in the readjustment of those that have served, or help cope with the deployment of a loved one. Services include marriage and family counseling and bereavement counseling for families who experience an active-duty death.
Learn more about eligibility for Vet Center Services at the VA “Vet Centers” webpage at https://bit.ly/48AVMWF.
Health care for spouses, dependents, and family caregivers
The VA’s “Healthcare for Spouses, Dependents, and Family Caregivers” webpage at https://bit.ly/3JgMCoa states that if you are the spouse, surviving spouse, dependent child, or family caregiver of a veteran or service member, you may qualify for health care benefits. In certain cases, you may also qualify for health care benefits due to a disability related to your veteran’s service. You owe it to yourself and your veteran to find out if you qualify and how to apply.
Seven Types of Healthcare Programs
[TRICARE, Civilian Health and Medical Program (CHAMPVA), Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC), Camp Lejeune Family Member Program, Spina Bifida Health Care Benefits Program, Children of Women Vietnam Veterans (CWVV) Program, Pharmacy Benefits]
1. TRICARE: If you’re the family member of an active-duty, retired, or deceased service member, National Guard soldier, Reservist, or Medal of Honor recipient, you may qualify for the TRICARE program. TRICARE provides comprehensive health coverage, including health plans, prescription medicines, dental plans, and programs for people with special needs. The Department of Defense’s Defense (DOD) Health Agency manages this program. Learn more at https://www.tricare.mil. On that webpage you will be able to:
- Find answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), enroll or purchase a plan, find TRICARE PLANS, find doctors, find phone numbers, and get proof of TRICARE coverage.
- View referrals/authorizations, view your military health record, see what is covered, book appointments, and learn about TRICARE FOR LIFE.
- Contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, download a form, learn about contraceptive services, compare costs, get TRICARE NEWS, and see what you need to do when you have a life-changing event.
- Find resources, download TRICARE publications, sign up for TRICARE emails, contact TRICARE, and more.
2. The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA): Are you the current or surviving spouse or child of a veteran with disabilities or a service member who died in the line of duty? If you don’t qualify for TRICARE, you may be able to get health insurance through CHAMPVA. Through this DOD program, the VA covers the cost of some of your healthcare services and supplies. Find out more at https://bit.ly/3FCwL1E.
On that website you can find the eligibility requirements, what else might affect CHAMPVA benefits, what benefits you get, how to apply, what happens after you apply, how long it will take to hear back about your application, answers to FAQs, how to file a claim, and find out if you can get care at a local VA medical center under CHAMPVA.
3. The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC): This program offers support and services for family caregivers of eligible veterans who were seriously injured in the line of duty and meet other eligibility requirements. Services for eligible participants may include a financial stipend, access to health insurance, mental health counseling, caregiver training, and respite care. Find out if you may be eligible and how to apply for the PCAFC Program at https://bit.ly/48TSWf9. On this web page, you will find eligibility requirements for the family member and the veteran, what personal services include, the number of caregivers a veteran can appoint, the application process, what to do if the veteran you are caring for is not eligible, and how to get a veteran enrolled in VA Healthcare.
4. The Camp Lejeune Family Member Program: Did you live at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune or a Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) in North Carolina with an active-duty veteran who was your spouse or parent? If you lived in either of these places for at least 30 cumulative days from August 1953 through December 1987, you may have had contact with contaminated drinking water there. Evidence has shown an association between exposure to these contaminants and the development of certain diseases later on. If you now have one of the related conditions, you may qualify for health care benefits through VA. Find out if you qualify for the Camp Lejeune Family Member Program at https://bit.ly/48uxGwK. On this webpage you will find if you are eligible for VA disability compensation, what it means to have a presumptive condition, how to file a claim, VA healthcare benefits you will get if your claim is approved, how the PACT Act affects Camp Lejeune claims and related benefits, and more helpful information.
Continued next week.
Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded warrior, disabled veteran, ex-Enlisted Infantryman, ex-Warrant Officer Pilot, and retired Lt. Colonel. He is a past Veterans Service Officer, a Patient Adviser at the RHJ VA Hospital, the Fisher House Charleston Good Will Ambassador, and the VP for Veteran Affairs for the local Army Association Chapter. Larry is the author of the award-winning book Blades of Thunder and a contributing free-lance writer with the Island News. Contact him at LDandridge@earthlink.net or 843-276-7164.
