DAV Supports H.R. 2414 and S. 1119, the CHAMPVA Children’s Care Protection Act of 2023. This legislation would increase the maximum age for children eligible for medical care under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA).
CHAMPVA is a health benefits program in which the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) shares the cost of certain health care services and supplies with eligible beneficiaries. 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 otherwise eligible for Department of Defense TRICARE benefits.
When the Affordable Care Act was signed into law in 2010, it required private-sector health plans to allow children to stay on their parents’ insurance until they are 26 years old, but this coverage was not extended to military or veteran health coverage. This discrepancy was addressed for TRICARE military health coverage in 2011. However, a child of a veteran loses eligibility for CHAMPVA at age 18 if they are not a student, or at age 23 otherwise.
We support this legislation in accordance with DAV Resolution No. 071. Please contact your Representative and Senators and urge them to co-sponsor and support the CHAMPVA Children’s Care Protection Act of 2023. Thank you for standing with DAV to provide extended health coverage for our nation’s service disabled veterans’ children.