A program, administered by the Department of Defense, without premium but with cost-sharing provisions, which pays for care delivered by civilian health providers to retired members, and dependents of active and retired members, of the seven uniformed services of the United States (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Commissioned Cori)s of the Public Health Service, Coast Guard, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).
The basic program under CHAMPUS is supplemental benefits to the Uniform Services direct medical care system. The program pays for medical care given by civilian providers to eligible persons, who include retired members of the uniformed services of the United States and their dependents, dependents of deceased members of the military services, and dependents of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members if the NATO member is stationed or passing through the United States on official business. The CHAMPUS program is spelled out in 32 C.F.R. sec 199. The program is administered by the Department of Defense.