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Champa/Tricare


IraqVet

Question

I was recently awarded 100% P&T, retro back to 2010. 

The packet/award letter  was very vague as to what additional benefits I am enttitled to now except to say Chapter 35 benefits.

My questions are is it Champa, or Tricare that I am eligible for for me, my wife and two daughters?

Someone said that the Champa/Tricare would reimburse me for medical costs I have incurred going back to 2010....is this true? Because I have used a HSA with a family deductible over the years that is 5k...We pay out of pocket each year before anything is covered.

How do I apply for Champa/Tricare?

What other benefits am I entitled to and how do I apply for them.

Its just a little overwhelming after fighting the VA for years and years they just threw their hands up and said yep....you are now P&T 100%, but now I don't know where to start from this point and I am too embarrassed to just walk into a VFW hall to ask for help.

Thanks

David

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If you have Tricare, it should apply to you and your dependents. CHAMPVA applies to dependents only and I believe it is the last payer.

Don't know how to apply to Tricare, but the VA mailed me a form to apply for CHAMPVA. More info here: https://www.va.gov/health-care/family-caregiver-benefits/champva/

If you don't have an ID card yet, call the nearest military base and ask to speak with the ID card office. I say call first because I used some DEERS site lookup, found a reserve base near me, went there, but they said to go to a different base because they didn't offer that service. You can call 1-800-528-9522 and they can help you find a nearby location. https://tricare.mil/deers

Chapter 35 means college money for your dependents. My daughter is full time college student and gets a monthly stipend while in school. if she went less than full time, they would reduce it. I believe they can also pay for certain other programs. Info about it and applying found here: https://www.benefits.va.gov/VOCREHAB/Dep_Edu_Assist_Chapter_35.asp

Check with your state VA office or VSO. Some states may offer additional benefits such as homestead tax reduction/exemption, free/discounted college for dependents. It varies between states and their criteria.

Be sure to also check here on hadit and elsewhere about P&T benefits.

Don't feel embarassed to get help from a VSO. You served and got broken like the rest of us here. Not your fault. They are there to help!

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Ok... Tricare is for active duty and retirees only... so if your entitled to Tricare you would already have a retired ID card for your self and any family member 10 years or older.

I suspect, your not retired or you would not be asking the question.  Since you received chapter 35 benefits for your dependents your considered Permanent and total.  This makes you eligible for 

a military ID card for every member of your family 10 years or older,  this Id card entitles you to use the military commissary and Post/Base exchanges and the recreations facilities, or basically everything  the active duty gets, but not medical care. 

CHAMPVA  is for the dependents only .   I don't know much more about the program since I use tricare. If you have other insurance, the other insurance pays first, and what ever is left over, CHAMPVA  pays minus any deductible. 

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