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03-13-03, 08:00 AM
New CHAMPVA Policy to Benefit Surviving Spouses

WASHINGTON (March 12, 2003) - A new law will reinstate health care
benefits for some surviving spouses covered by the Civilian Health and
Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) if they
apply by Feb. 4, 2004.

"I am pleased that we can now provide health care benefits to some
veterans' widows or widowers who remarry and, in doing so, bring them peace
of mind. These older CHAMPVA beneficiaries lost their coverage in the
past," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi.

The surviving husband or wife who lost access to CHAMPVA benefits by
remarrying before Feb. 4, 2003, can be reinstated into the program if they
remarried after becoming age 55 and if they apply for reinstatement by Feb.
4, 2004.

Similarly, a surviving spouse who remarried after becoming age 55
and lost access to TRICARE benefits may now be eligible for CHAMPVA
coverage.

To be eligible for CHAMPVA, people must be family members of
veterans who have a permanent and total service-connected disability, who
died of a service-connected condition or who were totally disabled from a
service-connected condition at the time of death.

In general, CHAMPVA covers most health care services and supplies
that are medically and psychologically necessary.

People who want an application for this benefit or more information
can contact VA's Health Administration Center at 800-733-8387.

Surviving spouses who remarry at a younger age and lose their
CHAMPVA benefits can have these benefits restored if their later marriage is
annulled or ends due to death or divorce. Similarly, widows or widowers of
any age who lost benefits under


VA's Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) program due to
remarriage are eligible for reinstatement of monthly DIC payments if their
subsequent marriage ends.

This restoration policy has been in effect since 1998, but VA
officials are concerned widows or widowers may overlook this benefit if a
subsequent marriage ends years later. VA's average payment to surviving
spouses is about $12,000, including adjustments for minor children,
survivors who are housebound or who need a home aide, and other factors.