VA Provides Care to Eligible Veterans’ Family Members
As a veteran’s family member, you may be wondering what avenues you can take to get covered care. Well, some veterans and their immediate family members can get assistance through special programs operated by the VA.
Unfortunately, many eligible beneficiaries and veterans are not taking advantage of such avenues covered by the VA. This is because they don’t know how to go about it. The process is simple. To gain access, you must first gauge your eligibility for the program.
This eligibility process is set up across all four healthcare benefit programs for veterans’ family members and dependants, and to meet the criteria, you must meet all eligibility requirements and conditions. If you meet the key requirements, you can access the care.
Using our knowledge at SRQ Vets, this blog aims to help veterans learn how the VA provides care to eligible veteran family members through these programs.
How Does The VA Provide Care To Eligible Veterans Family Members?
More than 700,000 eligible beneficiaries (spouses and children) can receive special services and care through four family-oriented VA programs.
These include Children of Women Vietnam Veterans (CWVV), CHAMPVA, Spina Bifida Health Care Benefits Program (SBHCBP), and the Camp LeJeune Family Member Program.
Let’s break down these four family member-focused programs below:
Children of Women Vietnam Veterans Healthcare Benefits Program (CWVV)
What It Is: This VA program provides financial assistance for healthcare services needed to treat those affected by a birth defect or a covered congenital disability. It is essential to understand that the CWVV is not an all-encompassing healthcare plan, and the VA will only offer these healthcare benefits to biological children of female Vietnam Veterans.
Who Can Apply For CWVV: Children whose biological mother is a Vietnam Veteran whose child was conceived between February 28, 1961, and May 7, 1975, and who have one of the predetermined congenital disabilities covered by the VA.
How To Apply: You can complete one of their online forms, print it out, and mail it along with all the necessary supporting documents, proof of service in Vietnam, and medical evidence needed to prove you are a biological child of a Vietnam Veteran to the Department of Veteran Affairs.
The Prestigious Civilian Health and Medical Program of VA (CHAMPVA)
What It Is: The VA splits (shares) costs of covered healthcare services for the eligible family of a permanently disabled or deceased (disabled at the time of death) veteran.
Who Can Apply For CHAMPVA: Those who can apply for CHAMPVA include children and spouses of a veteran and any surviving veteran beneficiaries. However, for the family to be eligible, the veteran needs to have been listed as permanently disabled due to sustaining a service-connected disability.
How To Apply: You can complete and mail in one of the forms found online and any other health insurance documentation. This includes Medicare-related insurance claims. But you must submit a valid copy of your Medicare card and your form submission.
You should note that, unfortunately, the VFMP cannot accept digital form submissions now, and all submissions must be sent via mail.
Spina Bifida Healthcare Benefits Program (SBHCBP)
What It Is: The VA offers VA-financed healthcare benefits to specific Vietnam and Korean veteran’s biological children who have been diagnosed with Spina Bifida. These benefits can include monetary allowances and vocational training and rehabilitation.
Who Can Apply For SBHCBP: Certain Korean and Vietnamese children of war-era veterans diagnosed with Spina Bifida.
How To Apply: Email the Denver VA Regional Office at BDEFECTS.VBADEN@va.gov or contact them at 303-914-2900 to find out if you are eligible to apply.
Camp LeJeune Family Member Program (CLFMP)
What Is It: The VA splits the cost of covered healthcare services for specific conditions for family members of veterans who were stationed or lived at Camp LeJeune from August 1st, 1953, to December 31st, 1987, who were exposed to contaminated drinking water.
Who Can Apply For CLFMP: Those eligible for CLFMP include family members (dependant or spouse) of veterans who served or lived in Camp LeJeune and who were likely exposed to contaminated drinking water sources. However, to be eligible for this program, the veteran and his or her family must have lived or served at Camp LeJeune for 30 days or more.
How To Apply: You can apply for the Camp LeJeune Family Member Program online via their website or by filling out an application form and mailing it to the Department of Veteran Affairs.
Reach Out To SRQ Vets For VA Covered Care Assistance
If you believe you qualify for any of the discussed programs, you can contact SRQ Vets. At SRQ Vets, no job is too great or too small. After contacting us, we will work alongside you to help you uncover eligibility and secure care.
