Combat Veterans Pre-Enrollment Act of 2025
Combat Veterans Pre-Enrollment Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Combat Veterans Pre-Enrollment Act of 2025 - Summary **What the Bill Does:** This bill would allow combat veterans to sign up for VA (Veterans Affairs) health care before they leave the military. Specifically, eligible service members would be able to pre-enroll during the 180 days before their separation from active duty, so their coverage would start immediately on their discharge date. The bill applies to veterans who served in combat operations after the Persian Gulf War or in hostile situations after November 1998. **Who It Affects & Key Details:** The bill primarily affects combat veterans transitioning from active military service. It requires the VA, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security to work together to create a system allowing this pre-enrollment process.
The agencies would also need to report back to Congress on how well the program is working. The goal appears to be eliminating gaps in health care coverage that currently occur between when service members leave the military and when they enroll in VA benefits. **Current Status:** The bill (HR 683) was introduced by Rep. Young Kim (R-CA) in the 119th Congress and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been voted on by the full House of Representatives.
CRS Official Summary
Combat Veterans Pre-Enrollment Act of 2025This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a program to carry out all activities necessary to permit certain members of the Armed Forces to elect to enroll in the VA health care system on the date of separation of such members from active service. Specifically, the program is for those who served on active duty in a theater of combat operations during a period of war after the Persian Gulf War or in combat against a hostile force during a period of hostilities after November 11, 1998.The VA must, in conjunction with the Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Homeland Security, establish a mechanism to permit a member of the Armed Forces to elect to pre-enroll in the VA health care system during the 180-day period preceding the date of separation of the member from active service.The VA-DOD Joint Executive Committee must brief Congress on the efforts to implement such a mechanism under the program.The Government Accountability Office must report on the program and include recommendations with respect to methods to improve the program.
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.