The short answer
Before you apply, gather the Veteran's and each applicant's basic details, copies of both sides of any insurance or Medicare cards, and the relationship documents that fit your family. Some documents are only needed in certain situations, like adoption papers or a school letter. Others, like a marriage certificate, are optional but speed things up.
Before you start
- Make sure CHAMPVA fits. If you're not sure, read Who qualifies for CHAMPVA?
- Pick your method: online or mail or fax. The documents are the same either way.
- Primary Family Caregivers: stop here. VA enrolls you automatically once you're approved for its caregiver program and qualify.
- Newborns: get a Social Security number and add the baby as the Veteran's dependent first.
1. The Veteran's information
- Full legal name
- Social Security number
- Date of birth
- Address, phone, and email
- Date of marriage, if the application is based on a marriage
- If the Veteran has died: date of death and whether it happened on active duty
2. Each applicant's information
- Full legal name
- Social Security number
- Date of birth
- Address, phone, and email
- Relationship to the Veteran
- Whether they have Medicare
- Whether they have other health insurance
3. Insurance and Medicare
Only if the applicant has them:
- Front and back of each insurance card
- Front and back of the Medicare card
- Front and back of a Part D card, if they have one
- VA Form 10-7959c, if you're applying on paper
- If 65 or older and not entitled to Medicare Part A: a Social Security Notice of Disallowance
4. Relationship documents
| Who | Document | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse or surviving spouse | Marriage certificate, civil union certificate, or common-law affidavit | Optional, but helps |
| Surviving spouse whose remarriage before 55 ended | Divorce decree, annulment decree, or death certificate | Helps document the change |
| Child | Birth certificate | Optional, but helps |
| Adopted child | Adoption papers | Required |
| Stepchild | Proof of marriage between the Veteran and the child's parent | Required |
| Student 18 to 23 | School certification letter | Required |
| Child disabled before 18 | VA rating letter for the child | Optional, but helps |
5. The school letter
For a student 18 to 23, the Form 10-10d instructions say the letter should be on school letterhead and show:
- the student's full name,
- Social Security number,
- exact start date, and
- projected graduation date.
More here: CHAMPVA for students 18 to 23.
6. Final check
- Names, birth dates, and Social Security numbers match across every document
- Both sides of every card are copied
- Every applicant with other coverage has their insurance information
- Any required adoption, stepchild, or school documents are included
- Paper forms are signed and dated
- You've kept a copy of everything
This checklist helps you gather documents. It doesn't decide eligibility. VA does that under 38 CFR 17.271.