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Caregivers, lawmakers press VA to extend CHAMPVA benefits as VA cites resource concerns
Summary
At a House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health hearing, lawmakers and caregiver witnesses urged extending CHAMPVA dependent coverage to age 26 and fixing long delays in enrollment and claims processing; the Department of Veterans Affairs said it opposes the extension as written and warned of resource implications.
Lawmakers and witnesses at a House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health hearing on legislation to extend CHAMPVA dependent coverage to age 26 said the program’s paper-based processes and monthslong delays leave children and family caregivers uninsured at critical times.
“CHAMPVA provides explanation of benefits, approves or denies diagnostic and medical treatment codes, and remits payment for enrollees to providers,” said Cara Benson, a caregiver fellow testifying for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. Benson described months-long mail backlogs that left her child without coverage and said switching semesters caused gaps in medication access. “Since 2023, my child has suffered from lapses in…
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