SOURCE: www.akaka.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. . . . Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman, Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI) introduced a bill to extend the age limit for coverage of veterans’ dependents through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (CHAMPVA) to the level set by Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
“Thanks to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, families with private health insurance coverage can keep their children on their plans until age 26. Surely coverage for veterans’ family members in need should meet this new national standard,” said Senator Akaka.
CHAMPVA was established in 1973 to provide health care services to dependents and survivors of certain veterans. CHAMPVA enrollment has grown over the years, and now covers over 336,000 unique beneficiaries. Under the current law, dependent children lose eligibility for CHAMPVA at 23-years old if they are full-time students, or 18-years old if they are not.