Senators Collins, Duckworth, & Blumenthal Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Make Preventive Health Care More Affordable for Veterans

Washington, D.C. - U.S Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced the bipartisan Veterans Preventive Health Coverage Fairness Act to make health care more affordable for America’s veterans. 

Under current law, veterans are forced to pay co-pays for preventive health care services that military retirees and civilians with private insurance plans currently receive at no cost.  This legislation would stop forcing our nation’s veterans to pay out-of-pocket costs for essential preventive health medications and prescription drugs and add preventive medications and services to the list of no-fee medical treatments that VA covers. 

“We owe it to our veterans to provide them with the high-quality health care they have earned through their service to our country,” said Senator Collins. “By removing the copayment requirement for preventive health care, our legislation would protect patients from experiencing serious illnesses that are costly to treat and promote the health and well-being of our veterans.”

“All Americans deserve access to the best healthcare possible—especially the Veterans who risked life and limb to defend our nation and made significant sacrifices on our behalf,” said Senator Duckworth. “This common-sense bipartisan legislation will ensure we’re no longer asking Veterans to pay more for essential health services than every other insured American, while saving taxpayer dollars in the process. I’m proud to join Senators Collins and Blumenthal in introducing our Veterans Preventive Health Coverage Fairness Act today.”

“This bill will ensure our veterans receive quality, affordable, preventive healthcare instead of facing deadly or debilitating illness that could have been detected,” said Senator Blumenthal. “Preventive health care is the key to a long, healthy life, and those who have selflessly served our country deserve nothing less.”

The bipartisan Veterans Preventive Health Coverage Fairness Act would provide veterans preventive medication and services cost-free and enhance continuity of care for servicemembers transitioning from military health care coverage. This will ensure the health benefits provided to military personnel, veterans, military retirees and civilians are subject to consistent co-pay standards for preventive health services.

The legislation is endorsed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), The American Legion, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and American Veterans (AMVETS).