Department of Veteran Affairs
Health Adminstration Center
P.O. Box 65020
Denver, CO 80206-9020
Contact:(800)733-8387

On December 5, 2002 President Bush signed the Veterans Benefit Act of 2002, Public Law 107-330. Section 101 has a profound effect on the benefits offered to some current and former beneficiaries of the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA).

Section 101 allows a CHAMPVA beneficiary who lost access to CHAMPVA because of remarriage, to be reinstated for benefits if the remarriage was on or after their 55th birthday. The law also requires that these individuals enroll before Feb 4, 2004.

If the spouse was a TRICARE beneficiary and lost access to TRICARE due to remarriage, but remarried on or after their 55th birthday, they may now be eligible for CHAMPVA coverage providing that the original marriage was to a veteran who was permanently and totally disabled or died from a service connected condition.

The Department of Veterans Affairs, Health Administration Center, Denver, Colorado will be mailing notices to about 2500 individuals. They suspect there are others which they do not know who qualify for these benefits. Because of the one year enrollment period, they are asking for this information to be sent to members of our organization.

Additional information, or an application for benefits, can be obtained by calling 800-733-8387.