The whole family feels the effects when a service member passes away, is injured, or becomes ill. The good news is that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a variety of benefits to help families cope. Here is an overview of the VA Benefits for Spouses, dependents, and other family members.
Survivor Benefits
If a service member dies while on active duty, in the line of duty, or as a result of a service-related injury or illness, the surviving spouse and dependent children may be eligible for several benefits, including:
- A monthly survivor benefit
- Healthcare coverage
- Educational benefits
- Home loan guarantees
- Burial and memorial benefits
For more information on survivor benefits, visit the VA website or speak to a benefits counselor.
Health Care Benefits
The VA offers health care benefits to eligible spouses, dependents, and other family members of service members and veterans. These benefits can help cover the cost of medical care, prescriptions, and mental health services.
To be eligible for health care benefits, spouses and dependents must be enrolled in the VA health care system. To enroll, visit the VA website or speak to a benefits counselor.
If you are not eligible for health care benefits, you may still be able to receive care at a VA facility if the service member or veteran is enrolled and you are accompanying them for their appointment.
Educational Benefits
The VA offers several educational benefits to spouses and dependent children of service members and veterans. These benefits can help cover the cost of tuition, books, and other education-related expenses.
To be eligible for educational benefits, spouses and dependents must be enrolled in an eligible program of study. For more information on educational benefits, visit the VA website or speak to a benefits counselor.
Home Loan Guarantees
The VA offers home loan guarantees to eligible spouses, dependents, and other family members of service members and veterans. These guarantees can help you get a home loan with a lower interest rate or easier terms.
To be eligible for a home loan guarantee, you must meet the lender’s eligibility requirements. For more information on home loan guarantees, visit the VA website or speak to a benefits counselor.
Burial and Memorial Benefits
The VA offers burial and memorial benefits to eligible spouses, dependents, and other family members of service members and veterans. These benefits can help cover the cost of funeral and burial expenses.
To be eligible for burial and memorial benefits, you must meet the VA’s eligibility requirements. For more information on burial and memorial benefits, visit the VA website or speak to a benefits counselor.
The VA also offers a headstone or marker benefit to eligible spouses, dependents, and other family members of service members and veterans. This benefit can help cover the cost of a headstone or marker for the grave of an eligible service member or veteran. For more information on the headstone or marker benefit, visit the VA website or speak to a benefits counselor.
CHAMPVA benefits for the spouse
Eligibility: A spouse or widow(er) of a veteran could be eligible if they fit into one of these categories:
- The veteran died from a VA-rated service-connected disability, or
- The veteran was rated permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected disability at the time of death, or
- The veteran died on active duty and the dependents aren’t otherwise eligible for TRICARE benefits.
Benefits: CHAMPVA covers most health care services and supplies that are medically necessary. This includes hospital, ambulatory, mental health, prescription medication, skilled nursing care, and durable medical equipment.
Costs: CHAMPVA is a cost-sharing program. After meeting an annual deductible, CHAMPVA pays up to 75% of the allowable amount for most covered services. Beneficiaries are responsible for a cost-share of 25% of the CHAMPVA allowable amount for inpatient and outpatient services.
Prescriptions: CHAMPVA has a robust outpatient prescription drug benefit. For prescriptions filled at retail pharmacies, beneficiaries pay 25% of the total cost after the annual outpatient deductible is met. The CHAMPVA Meds By Mail program provides a mail-order pharmacy service for beneficiaries to receive a 90-day supply of maintenance medication with no copayments.
Exclusions: There are several exclusions to what CHAMPVA covers, including routine dental care, routine eye exams, hearing aids, orthopedic shoes, and cosmetic surgery.
These are the general benefits as of September 2021. For the most current and specific information, please visit the official CHAMPVA website or contact the VA directly.
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