Senator Stabenow Announces Bipartisan Legislation to Give Veterans Same Preventive Health Services as General Public

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today announced bipartisan legislation to give veterans the same preventive health insurance coverage as the general public. The Veterans Preventive Health Coverage Fairness Act will ensure many veterans will no longer have to pay out-of-pocket costs for preventive health services that are provided free to other Americans. This legislation also adds preventive medications and services to the list of no-fee treatments covered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

“It’s unacceptable that our veterans who rely on VA care must pay for preventive medications and services that other Americans receive for free,” said Senator Stabenow. “This is just one more step we need to take to keep our promises to our Veterans.”

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, this legislation will impact many of the over 230,000 veterans enrolled in the VA Healthcare System in Michigan. Currently, veterans are required to pay VA copayments if their income exceeds the VA National Income Threshold, if their income isn’t available to the VA or if their care is not related to a service-connected illness or injury.

The Veterans Preventive Health Coverage Fairness Act is endorsed by the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans and American Veterans.

Senator Stabenow is a cosponsor of the Veterans Preventive Health Coverage Fairness Act introduced by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).