Orlando Harmon
Spouses of veterans may be entitled to a variety of benefits, including health insurance and healthcare services. The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) provides health insurance and healthcare services for spouses, surviving spouses, and dependents who do not qualify for TRICARE. Spouses may also be eligible for VA health care benefits, compensation (payments), or caregiver support programs. Additionally, spouses may qualify for life insurance, money for school, and home loan programs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Spouse/dependent child of a veteran or service member | May qualify for certain benefits, including health care, life insurance, or money for school |
| Survivor of a veteran or service member | May qualify for added benefits, including help with burial costs and survivor compensation |
| Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) | Provides health insurance and healthcare services and supplies for spouses, surviving spouses, and dependents who do not qualify for TRICARE |
| Camp Lejeune Family Member Program | Provides healthcare benefits to spouses and dependents who lived at Camp Lejeune or Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) in North Carolina from August 1953 through December 1987 |
| Pharmacy Benefits | Spouses and surviving spouses who qualify for CHAMPVA can receive prescription benefits through their local pharmacy or the VA’s Meds by Mail program |
| Survivor’s Pension Benefits | Provide a monthly payment to lower-income surviving spouses and unmarried children of deceased Veterans with wartime service |
| Home Loan Guaranty and Home Adaptation Grants | Surviving spouses may have VA home loan eligibility and can obtain a VA-backed mortgage that offers favorable terms without a down payment |
| Burial Benefits and Memorial Items | The VA can help with burial costs, access grief counseling and transition support, and request memorial items for the funeral or memorial service |
| VA health care program | Dependents who aren't eligible for a VA health care program can get coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace |
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What You'll Learn
- Spouses of vets can get health insurance through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA)
- Those who lived at Camp Lejeune or Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) in North Carolina between 1953 and 1987 can get additional health benefits
- Spouses may also be eligible for VA-backed home loans
- Dependents of veterans can get coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace
- Spouses can also get life insurance through the Family Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (FSGLI)
Spouses of vets can get health insurance through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA)
Spouses of veterans can get health insurance through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA). This program provides health insurance and healthcare services for spouses, surviving spouses, and dependents of veterans who meet certain service-connected disability requirements. To be eligible for CHAMPVA, one must not qualify for TRICARE, the Defense Department's healthcare program for service members and their families.
CHAMPVA covers inpatient and outpatient care, medical supplies, and prescriptions. Enrollees are responsible for copays and cost shares. Additionally, CHAMPVA offers limited vision coverage and does not cover eyeglasses or contact lenses except in certain cases. However, it does cover prescription medications through the VA's Meds by Mail program and local pharmacies. If you have other health insurance with prescription coverage, you cannot use Meds by Mail.
Spouses of veterans may also be eligible for other benefits, such as life insurance, educational assistance, and financial support. For example, the Survivors' and Dependents' Education Assistance Program (Chapter 35) and the Fry Scholarship offer financial assistance for spouses and dependent children of veterans. Spouses may also be eligible for VA-backed loans to buy, build, improve, or refinance a home.
In terms of health benefits beyond CHAMPVA, spouses of veterans can access VA mental health services and may be eligible for discounted private dental insurance through the VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP). Additionally, the Camp Lejeune Family Member Program provides healthcare benefits to spouses and dependents who lived at the US Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune or Marine Corps Air Station in North Carolina from August 1953 to December 1987 due to water contamination.
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Those who lived at Camp Lejeune or Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) in North Carolina between 1953 and 1987 can get additional health benefits
Spouses of veterans are entitled to specific benefits that they can apply for and qualify for. These include health care, life insurance, and money for school.
If you are the spouse of a veteran who served at Camp Lejeune or Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) in North Carolina between 1953 and 1987, you may be eligible for additional health benefits. This is due to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during that period, which was polluted by dangerous chemicals at concentrations up to 3,400 times higher than acceptable levels. As a result, residents of Camp Lejeune who lived there for at least 30 days during this time period may have been exposed to these contaminants and developed serious illnesses.
To qualify for these additional health benefits, you must provide documentation proving your relationship to the veteran, such as a marriage license or birth certificate. You will also need to show that you lived on the base for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, by providing copies of orders, base housing records, or other relevant documents.
If you meet these requirements, you may be eligible for reimbursement of out-of-pocket medical expenses related to the covered health conditions. The VA can pay for treatment costs that remain after payment from your other health plans. Additionally, if you have one of the covered health conditions, you won't have to pay a copay for care, and the VA may reimburse your health care costs related to certain conditions.
It is important to note that these benefits are also available to surviving spouses and dependent children of veterans.
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Spouses may also be eligible for VA-backed home loans
Spouses of veterans may be eligible for a range of benefits, including healthcare, life insurance, and money for school. One of these benefits is access to VA-backed home loans.
Eligibility
Spouses of veterans may be eligible for a VA-backed home loan if they meet certain requirements. To prove eligibility, they must obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and meet the lender's credit and income requirements. The spouse must be a U.S. citizen and meet at least one of the following criteria:
- The veteran died while in service or from a service-connected disability, and the spouse did not remarry.
- The veteran died while in service or from a service-connected disability, and the spouse did not remarry before the age of 57 or before December 16, 2003.
- The veteran was totally disabled and then died, but their disability was not the cause of death (in certain situations).
Benefits of VA-Backed Home Loans
VA-backed home loans offer several benefits to eligible spouses of veterans. These include:
- No down payment required: While lenders may require a down payment for some borrowers, the VA does not mandate it.
- Competitive interest rates: VA-backed loans often offer lower interest rates than private lender loans.
- Better terms: VA-backed loans may provide more favourable terms compared to private lender loans.
- IRRRL: The Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL) can help reduce the interest rate and monthly payments on an existing VA-guaranteed loan.
- Cash-Out Refinance: This option allows borrowers to take cash out of their home equity to pay off debt, fund school, or make home improvements.
Additional Support
In addition to VA-backed home loans, spouses of veterans may also receive support in other areas. The VA offers healthcare benefits through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) and the Camp Lejeune Family Member Program. Spouses may also be eligible for burial benefits, memorial items, and bereavement counselling. Furthermore, the Survivors' and Dependents' Education Assistance Program provides financial assistance for education and job training.
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Dependents of veterans can get coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace
Spouses of veterans are entitled to specific benefits that they can apply for and qualify for. These benefits include health care, life insurance, and money for school.
The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) provides health insurance and healthcare services and supplies for spouses, surviving spouses, and dependents who do not qualify for TRICARE. CHAMPVA covers inpatient care, outpatient care, medical supplies, and prescriptions. Enrollees are responsible for copays and cost shares.
Spouses and surviving spouses who qualify for CHAMPVA can receive prescription benefits through their local pharmacy or the VA's Meds by Mail program. If you are enrolled in CHAMPVA, you may be eligible for discounted private dental insurance.
If you are a veteran enrolled in a VA health care program, you may have dependents who aren't eligible for a VA health care program. They can get coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Depending on household size and income, they may get lower costs on monthly premiums or out-of-pocket costs. Or they could be eligible for free or low-cost coverage through Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
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Spouses can also get life insurance through the Family Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (FSGLI)
Spouses of veterans are entitled to a variety of benefits, including health care, life insurance, and money for school. One such life insurance option is the Family Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (FSGLI).
FSGLI offers coverage for the spouse and dependent children of service members covered under full-time Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI). Spouses of those with SGLI coverage can qualify for FSGLI regardless of their own status (i.e., active duty, reserve, guard, retired, or civilian). The coverage provided by FSGLI for spouses is up to a maximum of $100,000, and $10,000 for each dependent child. The service member's premium for spousal coverage will increase as the spouse ages. If the spouse is signed up in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS), the FSGLI premium will be automatically deducted from the service member's pay. The service member can reduce, decline, or cancel spousal coverage by submitting changes online through the SGLI Online Enrollment System (SOES).
In the event of a terminal illness, a service member can file a Claim for Accelerated Benefits (SGLV 8284A) to request an advance insurance payment for their spouse. Additionally, survivor benefits are available for spouses and dependent children of veterans, including survivor pension benefits, which provide monthly payments to lower-income surviving spouses and unmarried children of deceased veterans with wartime service.
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Frequently asked questions
Spouses of vets may qualify for health insurance under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) if they don't qualify for TRICARE. CHAMPVA covers inpatient and outpatient care, medical supplies, and prescriptions.
CHAMPVA covers inpatient and outpatient care, medical supplies, and prescriptions. Enrollees are responsible for copays and cost shares.
Spouses of vets may also qualify for health benefits under the Camp Lejeune Family Member Program if they lived at the U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune or Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) in North Carolina between August 1953 and December 1987. This program provides healthcare benefits to spouses due to water contamination at this location during that time.
Spouses of vets may also qualify for life insurance, money for school, home loans, and burial benefits.
