Copay Fairness for Veterans Act
The Copay Fairness for Veterans Act would amend title 38 of the U.S. Code to eliminate copayments by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for preventive health services. This includes medicines that are used for or part of preventive health services, as well as preventive health services provided in hospital care and medical services. The bill also broadens the definition of preventive services to cover items and services based on certain federal health guidelines (USPSTF ratings A or B, immunizations with ACIP recommendations, and women’s preventive care and contraception per HRSA guidelines and FDA-approved contraceptives). The overall aim is to reduce or remove out-of-pocket costs for veterans seeking preventive care through VA facilities. In effect, if enacted, veterans would not owe copayments for preventive medications and for preventive health services delivered by the VA, aligning VA cost-sharing with established preventive care recommendations and eliminating charges for those services.
Key Points
- 1Elimination of medication copayments for preventive health services: The bill adds a new category to prohibit VA copayments for medications that are part of a preventive health service.
- 2Waiver of hospital care and medical services copayments for preventive care: The bill requires that veterans not be charged copayments for preventive health services under hospital care and medical services.
- 3Expanded definition of preventive services: The bill adds new categories to define preventive services to include (a) USPSTF-rated A or B items/services, (b) immunizations recommended by ACIP, and (c) women’s preventive care and contraception per HRSA guidelines (as of 12/30/2022) and FDA-approved/conceived contraceptives and related services.
- 4Scope of services covered: The changes cover medications and services specifically related to preventive health, not all VA care, focusing on preventive measures identified by national guidelines.
- 5Legislative status and scope: Introduced in the House on February 27, 2025 (H.R. 1644), sponsored by Ms. Underwood and several co-sponsors, referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs; effective date would depend on future passage and enactment.