Military & Veteran Dependents: Benefits for Addiction Treatment

If you qualify as a dependent of a Veteran or active service member, you could receive partial or complete coverage for many addiction treatment services. Read on to find out everything you need to know about military and Veteran dependent benefits, eligibility, and substance use treatment availability.

Who Qualifies as a Military or Veteran Dependent?

If you’re the dependent child, spouse, surviving spouse, or family caregiver of a Veteran or service member, you may qualify as a dependent and receive healthcare benefits.¹

Eligibility requirements vary based on different benefit programs. Family members of active-duty service members and retired Veterans may be eligible for benefits through programs like TRICARE, the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA), or the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC).¹

TRICARE is a Department of Defense (DoD) healthcare program that provides benefits for dependents of active service members through various plans with different levels of coverage.¹ Those eligible for TRICARE coverage include:²

• Military service members and their families.
• Medal of Honor recipients and their families.
• Survivors.
• Former spouses.
• Anyone else registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).

If you’re not eligible for TRICARE and are the child, spouse, or surviving spouse of a Veteran who died in the line of duty or is permanently disabled, you may qualify for CHAMPVA.¹ This program—managed by the Bureau of Veteran’s Affairs (VA)—covers the cost of some healthcare services and supplies through cost sharing.¹

Adult caregivers of severely disabled Veterans may qualify for the PCAFC. Caregivers may include:³

• Spouses.
• Children.
• Parents.
• Stepfamily members.
• Extended family members.
• Designated caregivers that live with a disabled Veteran.

Qualified caregivers enrolled in PCAFC may receive a monthly stipend, health care insurance through CHAMPVA, mental health counseling, travel benefits, and 30 days respite from caring for the Veteran each year.⁴

What Are Veteran Dependent Benefits?

Benefits for dependents will vary based on your specific plan and the level of coverage it provides. Some Veteran dependent benefits include:⁵

• Healthcare: Access to different healthcare programs like TRICARE, CHAMPVA, or the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) that offer different levels of coverage.
• Life insurance: The Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (FSGLI) provides coverage for different life insurance policies and beneficiary assistance.
• Employment, education, and training: Free educational and career counseling for dependent family members is available. Also, you may be eligible for help paying for school or job training through different assistance programs.
• Home loan programs or financial counseling: For surviving spouses, a certificate of eligibility (COE) for VA home loan programs is available to buy, build, repair, or refinance a home. Assistance to avoid foreclosure for VA-backed loans is also available.

Disability Benefits for Dependents

The VA may offer disability compensation for eligible dependent family members. To qualify for disability benefits, Veterans are assigned disability ratings based on the severity of their disability.⁶  The rating is then used to determine how much monthly disability compensation the Veteran will receive from the VA.⁶ You may qualify for disability benefits if you meet both of the following requirements:⁷

1. You are the dependent family member of a Veteran who is eligible for disability compensation.
2. The Veteran you are dependent on has a combined disability rating of at least 30%.

Does Substance Abuse Affect Dependent Benefits?

Simply having a substance use disorder (SUD) will not disqualify you from receiving VA benefits for dependents. In fact, the VA offers coverage for eligible Veterans and their family members to get access to different various addiction treatment services. ⁹

On the other hand, benefits for Veterans can be revoked for dishonorable discharge or willful misconduct,⁸ which may occur due to an unchecked substance use problem.

Can I Lose Veteran Dependent Benefits?

There are certain circumstances where you can lose your dependent benefits. For example, if you are incarcerated in a federal, state, or local penal institution for conviction of a felony, you will not receive VA benefits for dependents.¹⁰ Benefits are also not provided for dependents with outstanding felony warrants.¹⁰

Can I Go to Rehab with Veteran Dependent Benefits?

Most healthcare plans provided through the VA or Department of Defense (DoD) offer coverage for rehab and addiction treatment to Veteran dependents. Depending on your insurance and specific plan, you could receive coverage for some, if not all of the costs of addiction treatment services. These treatment options may include:¹⁰

• Medical detox.
• Outpatient therapy.
• Intensive outpatient treatment.
• Residential treatment.
• Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD).

Several factors will determine the level of coverage you receive, and some plans may not cover certain types of treatment. It all depends on the dependent program you are enrolled in and your specific healthcare plan.

For example, CHAMPVA will not cover medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) treatment, but TRICARE will.^10,11

Can Dependents Go to the VA for Treatments?

The providers you choose and where you receive treatment will depend on your healthcare program. Beneficiaries in the CHAMPVA program can receive treatments at VA hospitals that participate in the CHAMPVA In-House Treatment Initiative (CITI). Contact the facility directly to find out if they participate in this program.¹²

Additionally, hospitals that participate in Medicare and the hospital-based healthcare professionals who are employed by, or contracted to, such hospitals are required by law to accept the Veterans Health Administration Office of Community Care (OCC) allowable amount for inpatient hospital services.¹³

Some programs, like TRICARE, have a network of authorized providers that are contracted to provide healthcare services. Choosing an in-network provider means you’ll often pay less out of pocket, as your insurance will cover the rest of the costs you don’t pay.¹⁴

Embarking on the road to recovery can be difficult, especially when considering how to pay for treatment. Understanding the benefits you can receive as a VA dependent can give you peace of mind when finding the best program.

If you or a loved one is ready to seek help for addiction, we’re here to help you along the way. Please call to learn more about the care provided at American Addiction Centers (AAC) facilities across the U.S.