Healthcare Cost Assistance for
Military Connected Benefits
Supporting the health of our Military Connected Community.
Healthcare Cost Assistance Benefit Summary for VA, CHAMPVA, and TRICARE
For eligible homecare, personal support workers, and personal care attendants who have VA, CHAMPVA, or TRICARE, Healthcare Cost Assistance (HCA) benefits help with the costs of:
- Out-of-pocket medical expenses, such as deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and prescriptions for services covered by VA, CHAMPVA, or TRICARE (up to $8,000 in 2026)
Healthcare Cost Assistance benefit amounts may change from year to year.
If you’re eligible for Healthcare Cost Assistance benefits for VA, CHAMPVA, or TRICARE:
- You receive a Benefit Convenience Card (a Mastercard credit card) to pay for your covered out-of-pocket medical expenses. Once your request for HCA is approved, Ameriflex, the Benefits Convenience Card administrator, sends it to your mailing address on file. For more information about the Benefit Convenience Card and how to use it, click here.
- You can submit reimbursement requests for covered out-of-pocket medical expenses retroactive to January 1, 2026.
Important Things to Know
Required documentation for VA, CHAMPVA, or TRICARE Healthcare Cost Assistance
To request HCA for VA, CHAMPVA, or TRICARE, you need to submit an applicable required document:
- VA Benefits Identification Card
- CHAMPVA Identification Card
- TRICARE Identification Card (front & back)
- Form DD 214
- State-issued driver’s license with “Veteran” on it
- Summary of Benefits letter
- Enrollment verification letter
See samples of Military Connected Benefits required documentation here.
Medicare and Military Connect Benefits
If you are 65 and currently receiving HCA, according to CHAMPVA and TRICARE, you are required to enroll in Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B to keep your Veterans and Military benefits. According to VA, you are strongly encouraged to enroll in Medicare.
Once you enroll in Medicare, you should update your Healthcare Cost Assistance Benefits to Medicare HCA. You can only receive one Healthcare Cost Assistance Benefit at a time, and with Medicare, you are receiving reimbursements for your premiums in addition to the covered out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Check Your Eligibility
This information is for care providers who are eligible and enrolled in VA benefits, CHAMPVA, or TRICARE.
To see if you qualify for Healthcare Cost Assistance, please complete the eligibility questionnaire.
Request Healthcare Cost Assistance for VA, CHAMPVA, TRICARE
Submit the applicable required documentation
To request Healthcare Cost Assistance for VA, CHAMPVA, or TRICARE, you need to submit the applicable required document:
- VA Benefits Identification Card
- CHAMPVA Identification Card
- TRICARE Identification Card (front & back)
- Form DD 214
- State-issued driver’s license with “Veteran” on it
- Summary of Benefits letter
- Enrollment verification letter
See samples of VA, CHAMPVA, or TRICARE documentation here.
How to submit required documents
There are 2 ways to submit the applicable required document to request Healthcare Cost Assistance benefits for Military Connected Benefits.
You can securely log in to your MyCarewell503 account
You can submit the required documents for Healthcare Cost Assistance benefits by logging in to your MyCarewell503 account and following these steps:
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- On the dashboard, go to the Health Insurance Information section
- Click on “Health Insurance Information” and
- Click “Add or Update Health Insurance Information”
- Select VA, CHAMPVA or TRICARE from “Health Insurance Type” dropdown menu
- Enter “Effective Date” 1/1/2026 if enrolled before 2026 (do not enter Thru date)
- Click “CHOOSE FILE(s)” button to upload your supporting documents (VA, CHAMPVA or TRICARE ID cards) and click “SAVE”
- The “Healthcare Cost Assistance Care Provider Agreement” pop-up box appears
- Review the agreement and click “I AGREE.” The pop-up disappears
- Click “SAVE.”
You can submit the Healthcare Cost Assistance Benefits Request Form
You can complete the Military Connected Healthcare Cost Assistance Benefits Request Form and upload the applicable required document.
Healthcare Cost Assistance Benefits Confirmation
You know you’ve been approved for Healthcare Cost Assistance for your VA, CHAMPVA, or TRICARE coverage when you receive in the mail a Benefit Convenience Card (BCC). You can use the card to pay for your covered out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Out-of-Pocket Reimbursements
How to get reimbursed for covered medical expenses paid out of your own funds rather than your Benefit Convenience Card.
VA, CHAMPVA, or TRICARE Out-of-Pocket Medical Expenses Reimbursements
If you’ve paid any covered out-of-pocket medical expenses in 2026 with your own funds rather than with your Benefit Convenience Card, you need to submit the Ameriflex Reimbursement Claim Form to request reimbursement.
Include receipts showing your out-of-pocket medical expenses for services covered by VA, CHAMPVA, or TRICARE and your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) back to 1/1/2026.
For VA, CHAMPVA, or TRICARE out-of-pocket medical expenses reimbursements:
Benefit Details
Use This Benefit
Using Your Card
Use your Benefit Convenience Card (BCC) for out-of-pocket expenses covered by your VA, CHAMPVA, or TRICARE health plan. You may be asked to show proof of your expenses, so keep your Explanation of Benefits and all receipts.
You cannot use the Benefit Convenience Card for:
- Medicare or TRICARE premiums
- Premiums for dental care, vision care, and hearing services;
- Out-of-pocket expenses for dental, vision, and/or hearing services;
- Medical or premium expenses for your family;
- ATM withdrawals or to get cash back when making a purchase;
- Expenses for products or services that your health insurance plan doesn’t cover;
- Expenses incurred while you were not eligible for Healthcare Cost Assistance benefits
You may be financially responsible for repaying funds to Carewell SEIU 503 if your card is used for expenses that are not covered medical expenses.
Keep Your Benefit
To ensure you continue receiving Healthcare Cost Assistance benefits, please remember to:
- Report your work hours to your payroll vendor consistently every pay period;
- Avoid recording less than 40 hours of eligible working hours — also known as bargaining unit hours — for 2 months in a row. Going 2 months with less than 40 hours of work could result in you losing your eligibility for Carewell SEIU 503 benefits, including Healthcare Cost Assistance.
- Keep your personal information up to date with Carewell SEIU 503 and and your payroll vendor (state, county or brokerage);
- Check for and respond to messages from Carewell SEIU 503 or Ameriflex.
- Keep your health insurance information up to date with Carewell SEIU503.
Losing Eligibility
You may lose eligibility for Carewell SEIU 503 Healthcare Cost Assistance benefits if you have 2 months in a row with less than 40 hours of work. After those 2 months, you have a waiting period of 1 more month before your benefits end, and your Benefit Convenience Card (BCC) is turned off. When you lose eligibility for the dental, vision, hearing and employee assistance program benefits, you may elect to continue these benefits by electing COBRA. You can regain eligibility for Carewell SEIU 503 benefits by meeting the requirements listed above.
Don’t throw away your BCC! If you become eligible for Healthcare Cost Assistance benefits again, you’ll be able to use your card.
What To Do When Regaining Trust Eligibility for Benefits After Losing Them
Once you regain eligibility for benefits, you can use the Benefit Convenience Card (BCC) for your out-of-pocket expenses.
If you kept your BCC, you should still be able to use it, unless the expiration date on the front has passed.
If you don’t have a valid BCC, go online from your MyCarewell503 dashboard to Ameriflex Quick Link or call Ameriflex at 1-888-868-3539
For questions regarding your eligibility, contact us at 1-844-503-7348.
Contact Information
Ameriflex
1-888-868-3539
When calling, please identify yourself as a homecare or personal support worker receiving Carewell SEIU 503 benefits, and have your Benefit Convenience Card with you.
Click here to learn more about the Ameriflex mobile app
Reasons to contact Ameriflex:
- To check the balance on your Benefit Convenience Card, review your payment history, order a replacement card, etc.
- If your Benefit Convenience Card was declined and you were unable to make a payment.
- Reimbursement claims on medical expenses that were submitted to Ameriflex.
Social Security Office
Contact the Social Security Office to enroll in Medicare Part A and B coverage. Contact the Social Security Office as soon as your initial enrollment period begins, three months before your 65th birthday.
Apply online: www.ssa.gov/benefits/medicare
Apply by phone: 1-800-772-1213 from 7 am to 7 pm, Monday – Friday. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you can call at TTY 1-800-325-0778.
SHIBA (the Senior Health Insurance Benefit Assistance program)
1-800-722-4134 (toll-free)
SHIBA’s webpage on the Oregon.gov site
Contact SHIBA for guidance on:
- How to enroll in Medicare
- How to meet deadlines and avoid penalties
- Rights and protections
- Coverage and exclusions
- Rules to obtain benefits
- Costs associated with Medicare
Note: SHIBA counselors are most likely unaware of Carewell SEIU 503 benefits and are not qualified to answer questions about them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Read common questions about Healthcare Cost Assistance for VA, CHAMPVA, or TRICARE coverage. See the FAQs page for more information.
How do I apply for Military Connected HCA benefits?
Submit Military Connected HCA Benefit Request Form with document proving you are enrolled in VA, CHAMPVA, or TRICARE. Or you can update your health insurance information on MyCarewell503 and upload your proof of coverage. Once your request is processed and approved, your information is sent to Ameriflex, and a Benefit Convenience Card (BCC) is sent to your mailing address on file.
What if I don't have proof of my coverage?
I am on VA and don’t have my ID card
You don’t need to wait for it to arrive in the mail. You can generate a PDF of the VA Summary of Benefits Letter by logging in to www.va.gov or the VA Health & Benefits mobile app.
I am the spouse or child of a veteran, and I am on CHAMPVA. Where can I get proof of coverage?
You need the letter often referred to as a “Credential of Coverage” or an “Enrollment Verification Letter.” To get this letter, call the VA Health Administration Center at 1-800-733-8387. While a veteran can download their own benefit letter on VA.gov, dependents usually can’t download a CHAMPVA-specific verification letter online.
I am a service member on TRICARE or the spouse/child of one and don’t have proof of my coverage.
You need the letter called a “Proof of Coverage” or “Eligibility Letter” and you can get it through the milConnect portal.
What about the covered out-of-pocket costs incurred before the benefit was announced?
You can submit any covered out-of-pocket 2026 medical expenses that are self-paid by submitting a claim to Ameriflex after your enrollment in Healthcare Cost Assistance is complete, and your out-of-pocket account is created. You can access the Ameriflex portal for reimbursement through your personal account on MyCarewell503 by clicking on the Ameriflex quick link on your dashboard. For any questions, you can call Ameriflex at 1-888-868-3539.
What happens when I turn 65?
I am on CHAMPVA or TRICARE
As a recipient of this service-related coverage, you are required to enroll in Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. Your service-related coverage becomes a secondary coverage. When you enroll in Medicare, you can submit your Healthcare Cost Assistance (HCA) benefit request for Medicare. HCA Medicare has the same out-of-pocket account as VA HCA, but you also become eligible for premium reimbursements for Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D, Supplement, or Advantage plans.
I am on VA
If you’re using VA Healthcare, you are not required to enroll in Medicare to keep your VA benefits, but it is recommended. Enrolling in Medicare allows you to see civilian doctors in your community and allows you to submit a Healthcare Cost Assistance (HCA) benefit request for Medicare. Medicare HCA has the same out-of-pocket account, as VA HCA, but you also become eligible for Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D, Supplement, or Advantage plan premium reimbursements.
Be aware that if you don’t sign up for Medicare Part B at age 65 and decide you want it later, you face a permanent late-enrollment penalty. This amounts to a 10% higher premium for every year that you waited.
When I transition to HCA for Medicare, do I get a new BCC with $8,000?
No. When you transition to Medicare, you keep your current BCC balance. Your covered out-of-pocket account does not reset or reload with a new annual amount.
Whatever balance remains in your Healthcare Cost Assistance (HCA) covered out-of-pocket account at the time you transition to Medicare is the amount you start with under Medicare HCA.
Can you receive both Medicare HCA and Military Connected Benefits HCA?
No, you can only receive one Healthcare Cost Assistance Benefit at a time. With Medicare HCA, you receive reimbursements for your premiums in addition to the covered out-of-pocket medical expenses.
How much money is on my Benefit Convenience Card?
The Benefit Convenience Card (BCC) is preloaded with the annual amount for paying medical and prescription copays, deductibles, and coinsurance expenses for covered services and prescriptions. In 2026, that amount is $8,000, but this may change from year to year.
If you transition to Medicare while on Military Connected Benefits HCA, your BCC out-of-pocket account is not reloaded with the annual amount. Whatever your current balance is from your VA, CHAMPVA, or TRICARE Healthcare Cost Assistance is the amount that you begin with for Medicare HCA.
If you have questions about your BCC, call Ameriflex at 1-888-868-3539.
Does my leftover BCC balance roll over into the next year's amount?
No. The maximum amount you can be reimbursed for covered medical expenses incurred in each calendar year is the set amount for that calendar year. Any portion that isn’t used for a calendar year cannot be rolled over for payment of medical expenses incurred in a future calendar year.
TRICARE plans have a premium payment. Can I use my BCC for that payment?
No, you can’t use your BCC for premium payments. The Board of Trustees approved the benefit for care providers on VA, CHAMPVA, and TRICARE to be eligible for covered out-of-pocket medical expenses up to $8,000 beginning January 1, 2026. The Healthcare Cost Assistance benefit for care providers enrolled in VA, CHAMPVA, or TRICARE does not include premium reimbursement.
Can I use my BCC for out-of-pocket expenses for my family?
No, you cannot use your BCC for anyone else. It can only be used for your personal covered out-of-pocket medical expenses.