The short answer
Survivors of a service member who died on active duty in the line of duty fit one of CHAMPVA's categories. But if you're eligible for TRICARE, you can't use CHAMPVA, and most of these families stay on TRICARE as survivors. Check your TRICARE status first. CHAMPVA only comes into play if you aren't TRICARE-eligible.
Do line-of-duty survivors qualify for CHAMPVA?
They fit one of the categories, but that's only half the test.
38 U.S.C. 1781 and 38 CFR 17.271 include the surviving spouse or child of someone who died on active service, in the line of duty, and not because of their own misconduct.
The same rule also says anyone eligible for TRICARE can't get CHAMPVA. VA's CHAMPVA page puts it plainly: if you're eligible for or enrolled in TRICARE, you can't get CHAMPVA.
Why does TRICARE usually come first?
Because most families of service members who die on active duty keep TRICARE.
TRICARE's survivor guidance says spouses and children are "transitional survivors" for the first three years after the death and stay covered as active-duty family members during that time. TRICARE's death in the family page explains that coverage can continue after that, too. A spouse's category can change, and children generally stay eligible until they age out.
A change in your TRICARE plan, category, or costs doesn't make you eligible for CHAMPVA. The question is only whether you're eligible for TRICARE, not whether you'd rather have CHAMPVA.
When might CHAMPVA actually apply?
When a survivor who fits the line-of-duty category is no longer eligible for TRICARE. For example, a surviving spouse who lost TRICARE eligibility might later be evaluated for CHAMPVA. VA decides that based on the survivor's full situation, so don't assume coverage starts automatically.
What should you do?
- Confirm your current TRICARE status through TRICARE or DEERS, the Defense Department's enrollment system.
- If you're TRICARE-eligible, use TRICARE. That's your coverage.
- If you're not TRICARE-eligible, apply for CHAMPVA and let VA decide. Include the death certificate and any line-of-duty documentation you have. More here: How to apply for CHAMPVA online.
- If DEERS shows TRICARE eligibility you don't think is right, get it corrected before applying. More here: What to do if CHAMPVA is denied because DEERS shows TRICARE.
How is this different from the other survivor paths?
The other two survivor paths are for Veterans who had already left service: the Veteran died from a service-connected condition, or was rated permanent and total at death. Those families usually aren't TRICARE-eligible, so CHAMPVA is more often the right program. More here: CHAMPVA after a service-connected death and CHAMPVA when the Veteran was P&T at death.