The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) allows the Department of Veterans Affairs to share the cost of health care for the dependents and survivors of certain eligible veterans. 

CHAMPVA provides health care coverage to the spouse or child of a veteran who is permanently and totally disabled for a service-connected disability, the surviving spouse or child of a veteran who died from a service-connected disability, the surviving spouse or child of a veteran who was at the time of death rated permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected disability, and the surviving spouse or child of a military member who died in the line of duty.

Tens of thousands of surviving children rely on CHAMPVA for their healthcare. But under current law, they lose eligibility for CHAMPVA at age 18, unless they are students, whereby the termination age is 23. CHAMPVA is the only program that currently does not allow children to stay on their parent's medical program until the age of 26.

PVA Position: 

Congress needs to pass the CHAMPVA Children’s Care Protection Act (H.R. 1404/S. 605), which would extend CHAMPVA eligibility to age 26.