What “accepts assignment” means for CHAMPVA
When an office “accepts assignment” for CHAMPVA, it bills CHAMPVA for you and accepts CHAMPVA’s allowed amount as payment in full. You pay only your share: the yearly deductible and a cost share.
What you pay
- Deductible: $50 per person, or up to $100 per family, each calendar year. There’s no deductible for inpatient hospital care.
- Cost share: after the deductible, 25% of CHAMPVA’s allowed amount.
- Yearly cap: once your household has paid $3,000 in a calendar year, CHAMPVA pays covered care in full for the rest of that year.
If you have other health insurance, it pays first and CHAMPVA pays after it, so you may owe little or no cost share.
If an office doesn’t accept assignment
You can still go there. You pay the office yourself, then file a claim with CHAMPVA. CHAMPVA pays its share of its allowed amount, and you pay anything the office charges above that.
“Secondary only”
Some offices bill CHAMPVA only as secondary insurance, after another plan has paid. That works if you have other coverage, such as insurance through work or Medicare. If CHAMPVA is your only coverage, ask whether they’ll bill it as your main insurance.
What to ask the office
Ask it exactly this way: Do you accept assignment for CHAMPVA?
Answers like “we take VA” or “we’re in the VA network” usually mean VA Community Care, which is a different program for veterans themselves. If you hear that, ask about CHAMPVA by name.
See the offices that told us they accept CHAMPVA.
Sources
Last reviewed October 29, 2026. Questions about your own benefits go to CHAMPVA at 800-733-8387.