Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act
This bill, the Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act, would broaden benefits and supports for individuals who serve as family caregivers designated as primary providers for certain veterans. It expands medical coverage for caregivers for a 180-day period after they stop being the designated primary provider, with a rider that Medicare Part A benefits may exclude that coverage during that window. It also adds employment and transition support, including reimbursement for certification/licensure costs, free continuing education modules, and access to various government reemployment programs. In addition, the measure would broaden services to include retirement planning, bereavement counseling, and transition assistance after caregiving ends, and it requires studies and reports on returnship opportunities and VA workforce integration. Finally, it calls for reports from the Comptroller General and VA leadership on transition supports and retirement savings options for former caregivers. Overall, the bill aims to help veteran family caregivers maintain medical coverage during and after caregiving, facilitate reentry into the workforce or a retirement pathway, and inform future policy through required studies and evaluations.
Key Points
- 1Extension of medical coverage: Extends the period of medical care coverage for individuals designated as primary providers of personal care services for veterans by 180 days after designation removal (with limited exceptions for fraud, abuse, or mistreatment). Medicare Part A eligibility can disqualify this extended coverage during that 180-day window.
- 2Employment assistance: Adds an employment assistance program offering reimbursement for certification or relicensing fees, free access to Department training modules for continuing education, and access to targeted employment programs (Military OneSource, VA VetServices, and DOL-VETS) for those designated as primary caregivers.
- 3Transition and retirement services: Extends access to retirement planning and related services during the 180-day post-program period and adds training and support to help caregivers transition away from caregiving, including return-to-work assistance.
- 4Bereavement support: Requires bereavement counseling and support following the death of the eligible veteran.
- 5Studies and reporting: Requires (a) a study on the feasibility of a returnship program to help caregivers reenter the workforce, (b) a study on barriers and incentives for former caregivers to join the VA workforce, and (c) GAO reporting on VA efforts to support caregivers in transitioning away from caregiving, plus a VA-led report on retirement savings options for caregivers.