Which statement best describes TRICARE and CHAMPVA?

• A. TRICARE provides health coverage for military service members and their families; CHAMPVA covers dependents of veterans; both are separate from civilian marketplace plans and have unique provider networks and cost-sharing.
• B. TRICARE and CHAMPVA are private employer-sponsored plans.
• C. They provide health coverage only for retirees with no families.
• D. They provide health coverage to the general public through the private market.

Answer: (A)

TRICARE and CHAMPVA are government-sponsored health coverage programs for military-related populations. TRICARE provides coverage to active-duty service members, their families, National Guard and Reserve members, retirees, and certain survivors. CHAMPVA covers eligible dependents of veterans who have a service-connected disability or who died from a service-related condition. Both operate outside the civilian marketplace and have their own provider networks and cost-sharing structures, meaning beneficiaries use TRICARE- or CHAMPVA-approved providers and pay plan-specific copays, deductibles, or other cost-sharing amounts. They are not private employer-sponsored plans, nor are they intended for the general public through the private market.