CHAMPVA or TRICARE: which plan do you have?
The names sound alike and both serve military and veteran families, but they’re different plans run by different departments, and offices treat them differently.
CHAMPVA
Run by the Department of Veterans Affairs. It’s for:
- the spouse or child of a veteran rated permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected disability;
- the surviving spouse or child of a veteran who died from a service-connected disability, or who was rated permanently and totally disabled when they died.
Anyone who is eligible for TRICARE can’t get CHAMPVA. CHAMPVA has no network of doctors; any provider who accepts it will do.
TRICARE
Run by the Department of Defense. It’s for active-duty, retired, and National Guard and Reserve members, their spouses and children, survivors, and some others. In Utah, TRICARE’s West Region is run by TriWest.
A TRICARE office is one of three kinds:
- In the network: it has an agreement with TriWest, accepts TRICARE’s rate as payment in full, and files claims for you.
- Authorized, outside the network: TRICARE will pay. If the office “participates,” it accepts TRICARE’s allowed amount and files the claim. If it doesn’t, you may pay up to 15% more than TRICARE’s allowed amount.
- Not authorized: TRICARE won’t pay for care there.
Side by side
| CHAMPVA | TRICARE | |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | Department of Veterans Affairs | Department of Defense |
| For | Families of veterans with a permanent and total service-connected disability, and survivors | Service members, retirees, Guard and Reserve, and their families |
| Network | None | Yes, plus authorized offices outside it |
| Ask the office | “Do you accept assignment for CHAMPVA?” | “Are you TRICARE-authorized, and are you in the network?” |
| Help line | 800-733-8387 | TriWest 888-874-9378 |
If your family could qualify for both
TRICARE comes first. For example, the family of a military retiree who is also rated permanently and totally disabled by VA uses TRICARE, not CHAMPVA.
Our directory shows each office’s answer for both plans, so you can see either one at a glance.
Sources
- VA: CHAMPVA benefits and eligibility
- TRICARE: Eligibility
- TRICARE: Allowable charges and balance billing
Last reviewed October 29, 2026.