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This tool provides estimates for educational purposes only. We are not accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs and do not file claims, provide legal advice, or represent veterans before the VA (38 U.S.C. § 5904). For official assistance, contact a VSO, CVSO, or VA-accredited attorney.

How to apply for CHAMPVA

Based on 38 U.S.C. § 1781, 38 CFR §§ 17.270–17.278, and the VHA Office of Community Care CHAMPVA application guidance. This page is a free community resource. We are not VA-accredited and do not file claims or provide legal advice (per 38 U.S.C. § 5904).

Last reviewed: April 2026 · Next review: October 2026

Maintained by: Veterans Benefits Navigator editorial team. Every citation links to a primary federal or state source. See editorial standards and our privacy posture.

Primary sources: 38 U.S.C. § 1781, 38 CFR §§ 17.270–17.278, VA CHAMPVA program page, VA Form 10-10d (CHAMPVA Application), VA Form 10-7959c (Other Health Insurance)

If you have confirmed that a spouse, surviving spouse, or dependent child may qualify for CHAMPVA, this page walks through the application itself — the documents to gather, the two forms to complete, where to mail them, and what happens after VA receives the package. It does not replace a County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) review and is not legal advice.

CHAMPVA — the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs — is a cost-sharing health benefit for the eligible spouses, surviving spouses, and dependent children of certain permanently and totally disabled or deceased veterans. It is authorized by [src] and implemented at [src]. Applications are reviewed by the VHA Office of Community Care in Denver.

Before you apply — verify eligibility

Walk through the eligibility criteria first. CHAMPVA is only available when the veteran meets one of a narrow set of statutory conditions — a current permanent and total (P&T) service-connected rating, P&T status at the time of death, death in the line of duty, or death from a service-connected disability. If you have not already confirmed eligibility, start with our CHAMPVA eligibility page. Survivors who may also qualify for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) should check both benefits — they are separate programs and do not cancel each other.

Gathering documents in advance prevents the most common reason for delay, which is a package sent back for missing proof. At a minimum, plan to locate the veteran’s DD-214, the VA rating decision showing P&T (or the death certificate and cause-of-death documentation), the marriage or birth certificates that establish the family relationship, and Social Security numbers for each person being enrolled.

Step 1: Gather required documents

Collect the following before you start the forms. Paper copies are fine — VA does not require certified originals for most items, but the copies must be legible.

  • Veteran’s VA rating decision showing a permanent and total service-connected rating, or, if the veteran is deceased, the death certificate and any documentation showing the death was service-connected or occurred in the line of duty.
  • Marriage certificate (for a spouse or surviving spouse). If the applicant was previously married, include divorce decrees or death certificates showing how prior marriages ended.
  • Birth certificates for each dependent child being enrolled, plus adoption papers or a court order if the child was adopted or is under legal guardianship.
  • School enrollment letter for dependent children between 18 and 23 who are attending an accredited school full-time (CHAMPVA requires proof of continued enrollment to cover a child past age 18).
  • Other health insurance details— policy number, carrier name, and effective dates — for each person being enrolled, even if the only other coverage is Medicare or a spouse’s employer plan.

Step 2: Complete VA Form 10-10d

VA Form 10-10d is the CHAMPVA application itself. Download the current version from VA.gov’s forms library. The same form is used for the sponsor’s spouse and all dependent children on a single application; you do not file separate 10-10d forms for each family member.

Work through the sections in order:

  1. Sponsor (veteran) information. Name, Social Security number, date of birth, VA file number if known, and date of death if applicable. The sponsor is the veteran whose service establishes the benefit, not the applicant.
  2. Beneficiary information. One row per person being enrolled — name, SSN, date of birth, and relationship to the sponsor (spouse, child, stepchild, adopted child).
  3. Relationship documentation. Note which marriage, birth, or adoption document is attached for each beneficiary. A mismatch between the names on the form and the names on the supporting document is a frequent cause of rework.
  4. Other health insurance. The 10-10d asks a short summary here, but the full detail belongs on VA Form 10-7959c (see Step 3) — do not skip the separate 10-7959c.
  5. Signature and certification.The applicant signs. For a dependent child under 18, a parent or legal guardian signs on the child’s behalf.

Common errors that slow the application: unsigned forms, mismatched names on supporting documents (especially after a name change), missing school enrollment letters for adult dependent children, and applications that list a Medicare-eligible beneficiary but omit the Medicare card information on 10-7959c.

Step 3: Complete the Other Health Insurance form 10-7959c

VA Form 10-7959c, the Other Health Insurance Certification, must be submitted with every 10-10d — even when the applicant has no other coverage. In that case, check the “no other health insurance” box and sign the form. Leaving 10-7959c out of the package is one of the single most common reasons a CHAMPVA application is returned.

List every other health plan that covers the applicant: employer plans, a spouse’s employer plan, Medicare Part A and Part B, Medicare Advantage, TRICARE (which usually makes a person ineligible for CHAMPVA — see the eligibility page), Medicaid, and individual policies. CHAMPVA is almost always the secondary payer behind any other coverage.

Medicare coordination matters. If a CHAMPVA beneficiary becomes eligible for Medicare, they must enroll in both Medicare Part A and Part B to keep CHAMPVA coverage. Dropping Part B — or declining to enroll at initial eligibility — can end CHAMPVA eligibility. This rule flows from the coordination requirements at [src] and is explained on the VA CHAMPVA program page.

Step 4: Submit the application

Once both forms are signed and the supporting documents are assembled, mail the complete package to the VHA Office of Community Care in Denver:

VHA Office of Community Care
CHAMPVA Eligibility
PO Box 469028
Denver, CO 80246-9028

Keep a complete copy of everything you mail. Typical processing time is roughly 45 to 60 days from the date the Office of Community Care receives the package, though complex cases can take longer. CHAMPVA does not offer routine online submission at this time.

Questions about application status or missing documents can go to CHAMPVA customer service at 1-800-733-8387(Monday through Friday, during published hours). Have the sponsor’s SSN and the applicant’s date of birth ready when you call.

After approval

If the application is approved, each enrolled beneficiary will receive a CHAMPVA Benefits Identification Card, an explanation of covered services, and information on the current cost share. Once the card arrives, CHAMPVA works much like other health plans: show the card at appointments, and many providers who accept Medicare or TRICARE will file CHAMPVA claims directly with the Office of Community Care. If a provider does not file, the beneficiary can submit claims themselves by mail.

For beneficiaries with Medicare, Medicare provides primary coverage and CHAMPVA secondary on the Medicare-covered portion. The coordination is automatic for most providers once both cards are on file. For more on how CHAMPVA fits alongside VA health care for the veteran sponsor, see our VA health care overview.

If the application is denied

Denial letters explain the specific reason — a missing document, an eligibility finding, or a records mismatch. Read the letter closely before taking any action. Many denials are paperwork issues that can be corrected and resubmitted without a formal appeal: a missing school letter, an unsigned 10-7959c, or a rating decision that has not yet been updated to P&T.

For substantive denials — for example, a finding that the veteran does not meet the statutory P&T requirement — the decision can be reviewed through the VHA Office of Community Care’s reconsideration process. A CVSO can help draft the response, identify what additional evidence is needed, and track timelines. VBN is not an accredited representative and cannot file on your behalf[src].

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Submitting 10-10d without 10-7959c.Even with no other insurance, 10-7959c must accompany the application with the “no other coverage” box checked and signed.
  • Not enrolling in Medicare at first eligibility. A CHAMPVA beneficiary who is eligible for Medicare must enroll in Part A and Part B. Declining or dropping Part B can end CHAMPVA coverage.
  • Waiting until coverage is urgent.Processing commonly runs 45 to 60 days. Apply as soon as the underlying trigger occurs — a P&T rating decision, a service-connected death determination, or a qualifying marriage or adoption.
  • Mismatched names on supporting documents. Marriage certificates and birth certificates must match the names on the 10-10d. Include prior divorce decrees or death certificates if there is a name change in the chain.
  • Omitting school enrollment letters. Children aged 18 to 23 must show full-time enrollment at an accredited school to remain covered past 18.

Where to start

The fastest first step is a call to CHAMPVA customer service at 1-800-733-8387with the sponsor’s SSN in hand. The representative can confirm what documentation is on file from prior VA records (some surviving spouses already have a rating decision of record) and flag anything unusual before you mail the package.

A County Veterans Service Officer can also review the 10-10d and 10-7959c before they go out, at no cost. CVSOs see CHAMPVA applications regularly and can often catch the paperwork mistakes above in a single appointment. The authoritative starting point for current program rules is the VA CHAMPVA program page.

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