Tricare is for active duty military and their dependents. It is a Department of Defense (DOD) benefit. Tricare for Life is for retired military veterans (20 years of service or more), their dependents and for surviving spouses of soldiers killed in action. It is also a DOD benefit, but administered through a private company. CHAMPVA is a VA benefit for dependents of living veterans rated 100%, for dependents of veterans who died service connected, and for dependents of veterans who were 100% rated when they died. If you are eligible for both, Tricare for Life, is the benefit of choice, as…
This veteran should have filed a long time ago; therefore, the veteran needs to file IMMEDIATELY. (1) If veteran dies before the claim is awarded, is married or has a dependent child, that person must be substituted for the veteran. Therefore, the original claim can be processed. Consequently, the payment is the same as if the veteran had lived. (2) If the veteran dies without dependents, a family member may file for accrued benefits. Providing that the family member personally paid for any expenses related to the last illness and/or funeral/burial. Therefore, the VA will reimburse up to, what was paid by…
Frederick, MD 
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