Difference between TRICARE and CHAMPVA

Can someone please explain the difference to Romney?

The Wall Street Journal: Romney Pledges To Expand Programs To Help Veterans Mitt Romney vowed Wednesday to expand employment and tuition assistance for veterans, taking a quick detour from the Republican National Convention to unveil new policy details in a speech here. ... "Right now the VA has a shortage of mental health care professionals. I'll hire more," Mr. Romney told the convention. "Any time a veteran is unable to receive timely health care from the VA system, he or she will be allowed to see a Tricare provider at the VA's expense." (Murray, 8/29).

Maybe then someone can also explain that CONGRESS is responsible for this mess along with the higher fees?

Difference between TRICARE and CHAMPVA

TRICARE (Formerly CHAMPUS)
. Medical Insurance Program Through Dept of Defense
. Must Be Retired Military
. Retirement can be from longevity of service, given retirement status due to disability, or early out.
. Must be enrolled in DEERS.
. No disability criteria to be eligible.
. Veteran, Spouse, and Dependent Children are eligible to participate in the program
. Participants receive medical services preferably from in-network private physicians who participate in the Tricare program.
. VA primary care doctors are not part of the in-network physicians for Tricare. Therefore, it does not benefit Tricare members to receive medical services by VA doctors under Tricare.
. Note: VA specialty doctors may be Tricare in-network doctors.
. There are three levels of Tricare benefit packages.
. There is no annual fee for Tricare Standard or Extra, but deductibles apply.
. There is an annual fee for Tricare Prime; but there are no deductibles for basic care services.
. There are numerous sources for obtaining prescriptions.
. Local participating pharmacies, active military installations, and mail out.
TRICARE Resources
DEERS Enrollment Support Office
Attention: CO, 400 Gigling Rd.
Seaside, CA 93955
1-800-538-9552

Tricare Enrollment Office
1-800-444-5445

Tricare Local Office
931 S. Semoran Blvd., Winter Park, FL 32792

Tricare Claims Service
1-800-403-3950

Tricare Web Site
www.tricare.osd.mil

CHAMPVA
. Medical Insurance Program Through VA
. Cannot Be Retired Military.
. If veteran is also retired military, dependents would not be CHAMPVA eligible and must apply for Tricare.
. No DEERS enrollment for CHAMPVA.
. Veteran must be 100% SC disabled, or died on active duty, or died as a result of a SC disability.
. Spouse and Dependent Children are eligible to participate in the program.
. Veteran is not eligible to participate in the program.
. Veteran is eligible to receive all medical care through VA medical facilities.
. Dependents may go to participating VA medical facilities for medical services.
. Each VA medical facility may elect to provide or not to provide services to CHAMPVA participants.
. There are no annual fees for CHAMPVA.
. CHAMPVA participants are not eligible for obtaining prescriptions through active military installations, but may obtain prescriptions through local participating pharmacies and mail out.
CHAMPVA Resources
CHAMPVA Center - Registration
Post Office Box 469064
Denver, CO 80246-9064
1-800-733-8387

CHAMPVA Center - Claims
Post Office Box 469063
Denver, CO 80246-9063
1-800-733-8387