Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act
This bill, titled the Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act, would expand and extend a variety of benefits for individuals who serve as family caregivers designated as primary providers of personal care for certain veterans. The core ideas are to provide longer access to medical care for these caregivers, add employment and retraining supports, broaden services (including retirement planning and bereavement support), and fund studies and reporting to assess reentry into the workforce and integration into the VA system. The overarching goal is to ease transitions for caregivers as they move out of caregiving roles, whether returning to work, planning for retirement, or navigating the next phase of life after caregiving. Key features include a 180-day extension of VA medical care coverage for designated primary caregivers (with some Medicare coordination), a new employment assistance program with a limited reimbursement cap, expanded supportive services (retirement planning and bereavement support), returnship and workforce transition supports, and multiple required studies and reports to Congress, including on retirement options and VA workforce integration. The bill would also require a Comptroller General evaluation of VA efforts to help caregivers transition away from caregiving.
Key Points
- 1Extension of medical care coverage: The bill adds a 180-day extension to VA medical care coverage for individuals designated as primary providers of personal care services for veterans, appended to the current designation, with an exception if the caregiver was dismissed for fraud, abuse, or mistreatment.
- 2Medicare coordination: During the 180-day post-designation extension, an individual who is eligible for Medicare Part A hospital insurance would not be eligible for VA medical care under this provision, coordinating benefits between VA and Medicare.
- 3Employment assistance with a lifetime cap: The Secretary would provide employment assistance to designated primary caregivers, including reimbursement of certification/licensure fees (up to a lifetime cap of $1,000), access to Department training modules, and connection to employment programs (Military OneSource, Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, and relevant VA programs).
- 4Expanded services and transition supports: The bill broadens VA-related services to include retirement planning and additional counseling/support, and adds a new requirement for instruction and training to help caregivers transition away from caregiving during the 180-day period after leaving the program.
- 5Returnship and workforce reintegration: Provisions for a “returnship” concept to help caregivers reenter the workforce, plus an explicit allowance for assistance returning to work upon discharge or dismissal from the caregiving program (with certain caveats).
- 6Studies and reports: The bill requires a study on the feasibility of a returnship program within one year, with a follow-up report; a study on barriers and incentives for former caregivers to join the VA workforce, with a plan and recommendations; a Comptroller General evaluation within two years on VA efforts to assist caregivers transitioning away from caregiving; and a feasibility report on retirement savings or retirement plan options for caregivers.