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CHAMPVA for Life and Long Term Senior Care
| Definition |
CHAMPVA for LIfe Eligibility |
Costs |
| Pros & Cons |
Benefit Types & Limits |
How to Apply |
| Overview of CHAMPVA for Life | ||
Assisted Living
CFL does not pay for long term care or custodial care as defined by assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, feeding or supervision of the cognitively impaired.
Skilled Nursing
CFL will pay for skilled nursing care to an extent. Like Medicare, there must be a medical condition that was treated in a hospital for 3 consecutive days and the senior must be admitted to a skilled nursing facility within 30 days. Medicare has a 100 day limit on skilled nursing and CFL will be the primary payer after that 100 day limit, but will not cover the full amount. Co-payment in the amount of $100-$200 / day should be expected. Update Aug. 2012 - the VA is providing conflicting information regarding CFL nursing home benefits, post the 100-day coverage period. We are attempting to resolve this question and will update this page once we have.
CFL does not pay for either medical care or supervision in the home or in adult day care situations.
-There are other benefits for veterans including the VA Aid & Attendance Benefit and VD-HBCS program (Cash and Counseling for Veterans).
-CHAMPVA for Life (CFL)
-Some individuals may appear to be eligible for both CHAMPVA for Life and TRICARE for Life, but this is not the case. If they are eligible for TRICARE, then they are automatically ineligible for CHAMPVA.
-Has a service-connected disability rating of 100%, meaning they are permanently and totally disabled or died with that rating.
-Has died from a VA-rated service connected disability
-A widow or widower that remarries will also lose their eligibility. However, should the re-marriage terminate, they then become eligible again.
-Have a service-connected disability rating of 100%, meaning they are permanently and totally disabled or died with that rating
-Have died from a VA-rated service connected disability
-Have died in the line of duty. Although (often these individuals are eligible for TRICARE and if so that would disqualify their CHAMPVA eligibility)
Coverage Days | Medicare | CFL | Individual |
Day 1-20 | 100% | 0% | 0% |
Day 20-100 | 80% | 20% | 0% |
Day 100+ | 0% | 75% | 25%* |
*We currently have conflicting information on whether this is still accurate.
-If the individual is not a CHAMPVA beneficiary, then the processing time can vary from 1-6 months depending on the amount of information that must be confirmed with other federal agencies.
To enroll in CHAMPVA for Life, when they turn 65, seniors should provide CHAMPVA a copy of their Medicare card that shows their enrollment in Medicare Part A & B. They also are required to provide information about any other health insurance under which they are covered. Once these forms are processed, a new CHAMPVA card is issued with the extended expiration date.
-If the individual is not a CHAMPVA beneficiary, then
The senior must complete an application, a form detailing any other health insurance they have and provide a copy of their Medicare Part A & B card. Providing copies of optional documents such as marriage licenses and terminations or the veteran’s VBA disability rating can greatly accelerate the processing time.
Click Here to Visit CHAMPVA’s Website