Is my newborn covered by CHAMPVA automatically?

No. VA says it cannot pay a newborn’s claims until the baby is enrolled in CHAMPVA. Get a Social Security number, add the baby as the veteran’s dependent, then apply with VA Form 10-10d.

Does CHAMPVA cover pregnancy and maternity care?

Q: Does CHAMPVA cover pregnancy?

Yes. The CHAMPVA Guidebook covers prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care, including complications such as miscarriage, premature labor, and hemorrhage.

Educational info, not medical advice. Last verified Oct 11, 2026.

Coverage status: Covered

Short answer: Yes, CHAMPVA covers prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum care, including pregnancy complications, but your newborn must be enrolled in CHAMPVA separately.

Key conditions

Covered: prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care, including complications such as miscarriage, premature labor, and hemorrhage.
Hospital stay after birth: can’t be limited to less than 48 hours after a vaginal delivery or 96 hours after a C-section.
Ultrasounds: pregnancy ultrasounds are limited to diagnosing and managing a high-risk pregnancy or when complications for the baby are reasonably likely.
Genetic testing during pregnancy: covered to diagnose a disease or syndrome when medically appropriate. Tests only to learn the baby’s sex or for paternity aren’t covered.
Mother and baby are billed separately.

Your newborn

Apart from routine in-hospital newborn care, the baby’s care is covered only if the baby is enrolled in CHAMPVA. VA says to get a Social Security number, add the baby as the veteran’s dependent, then apply as soon as possible. See CHAMPVA for dependent children.

Preauthorization

The Guidebook doesn’t list maternity care as needing preauthorization.

What you pay

Outpatient visits: When CHAMPVA is primary, you pay the yearly outpatient deductible ($50 per person, $100 per family) and a 25% cost share. When CHAMPVA is secondary, you usually pay nothing. Your family’s costs are capped at $3,000 per calendar year (Guidebook). For a hospital stay there is no deductible; you pay the inpatient cost share in the Guidebook (the lesser of a per-day amount times the days, 25% of the billed amount, or the base DRG rate at DRG-based hospitals). When CHAMPVA is secondary, you usually pay nothing.

Not sure? Call CHAMPVA at 800-733-8387 (TTY 711), Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m. ET. The Guidebook says a service listed as covered doesn't guarantee payment. See all CHAMPVA coverage answers.

Educational information only, not medical, legal, or insurance advice. Confirm with CHAMPVA and your provider. Last verified against VA.gov: October 11, 2026 (Checked against the CHAMPVA Guidebook and VA.gov on Oct 11, 2026). Changelog