Champva

[tanker31]

In October 06, I became 100% P&T. My service officer suggested that I apply for CHAMPVA for my spouce. I did, and the process went smooth. Last week my wife attempted to use CHAMPVA at our family doctors office, and also went to have annual mammmogram ( referal from her OBGYN ). On both occasion, they refused to accept CHAMPVA for payment ( or even partial payment--I know Champva is secondary to all other coverages, but this is the only coverage I have for my wife ). Both doctor's office stated : "CHAMPVA is only accepted as a secondary to MEDCICARE". We do not have Medicare.

Is CHAMPVA any good, Am I missing something, or are the doctors not up-to-date?

Input please.

Tanker31

[john999]

You can go to the tricare website and see a listing of docs that accept tricare. These guys will usually accept champva. Any hospital that accepts medicare must accept ChampVA. It is more tricky getting private doctors to accept it sometimes. They don't understand it and are afraid of not getting paid and the paperwork. Go through a hospital for testing that accepts medicare and they will pay. Some VAMC's also accept ChampVA. Mine in Tampa accepts it.

[evandc]

"CHAMPVA is only accepted as a secondary to MEDCICARE"

Whoever told you this is full of BS. My wife is 54 & we have no other form of insurance for her. The most important thing is to check in advance if they will accept CHAMPVA. We also use Meds by Mail & have good success. Some of the medical people are to lazy to file. Also they confuse it with Tricare & other insurance.

The statement they are referring to is on the back of the CHAMPVA VA Card. It says "CHAMPVA is secondary to most other health plans. Include an explanation from other insurers. CHAMPVA is primary to Medicaid"

DUHH If you have no other insurance it can still be used & would have to be primary.

Good Luck,

Don Evans

[Testvet]

my wife only has CHAMPVA and it is like Blue Cross it pays excellent, it's one of the best health prgrams out there, my son and my wife have never had a problem we pay like a 12 dolar co pay for Dr visits she had over 800 in X rays when she fell and broke her foot cost us 22 out of pocket and after she becomes elegible for Medicare Part B does it become secondary then you will have nothing coming out of pocket except the annual deductible meds by mail are free if she takes scripts to a drugstore she gets 75% back after she send the receipts to Denver hell we love CHAMPVA

[JR Reihs]

Most doctors offices are ignorant of champva, it is a very good insurance, all they need to do is fill out the billing on a form 1500, this is just like billing BC/BS but it is sent to the adress on the back of your card.

My daughter had a problem once with a doctor, and after I faxed the billing info they were happy to see her.

If the doctor wont take it, you can pay it and be reembersed by champva in just a few weeks.

Edited December 21, 2006 by JR Reihs

[john999]

The biggest problem is that hospitals and doctors get ChampVA and Tricare mixed up. You know these are just minimum wage clerks that make these decisions. I understand ChampVA works well with Medicare parts A&B. My wife has ChampVA and BC. BC pays first and ChampVA pays the copays and deductibles after the first 50$ deductible. This is how I read it.

[Cavman]

"CHAMPVA is only accepted as a secondary to MEDCICARE"

Whoever told you this is full of BS. My wife is 54 & we have no other form of insurance for her. The most important thing is to check in advance if they will accept CHAMPVA. We also use Meds by Mail & have good success. Some of the medical people are to lazy to file. Also they confuse it with Tricare & other insurance.

The statement they are referring to is on the back of the CHAMPVA VA Card. It says "CHAMPVA is secondary to most other health plans. Include an explanation from other insurers. CHAMPVA is primary to Medicaid"

DUHH If you have no other insurance it can still be used & would have to be primary.

Good Luck,

Don Evans

Don:

How do you get set up with the med by mail? Do I need to go to the VAMC?

cAVMAN