Tammy Duckworth's Bipartisan Bill Would Ensure Veterans Receive Same Preventive Health Benefits as All Insured Americans

Press Release

Congresswoman and combat Veteran Tammy Duckworth (IL-08), who still receives her own health care at the Hines VA Hospital outside of Chicago, today proposed legislation to stop forcing our nation's Veterans to pay out-of-pocket for essential preventive care by bringing the preventive benefits provided to Veterans in line with those provided to every other insured American, including active-duty servicemembers. Duckworth's new Veterans Preventive Health Coverage Fairness Act, which is cosponsored by Republican Representative Lee Zeldin (NY-01), would address this disparity and improve Veteran care, helping reduce deaths from chronic illnesses while saving taxpayers from footing the bill for costlier, but largely preventable, treatments through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

"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 Congresswoman Duckworth. "Since I was recovering at Walter Reed, I've made serving them my mission. This common-sense bipartisan legislation will help save Veteran lives and ensure we're no longer asking them to pay more for essential health services than any other insured American, and it could help save taxpayer dollars in the long run too. I'm proud to join Congressman Zeldin in introducing our Veterans Preventive Health Coverage Fairness Act today."

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 7 of 10 deaths in this country are caused by chronic illnesses like cardiovascular disease and breast cancer that nearly half of all adults suffer from, and many of those illnesses are preventable with early and effective treatment. Catching these potentially fatal illnesses early may avoid costly and complex treatments down the line and, more importantly, increases patient survival odds. That's one reason current law requires every insurer except the VA to cover important preventive services and medications at no additional cost to insured individuals.

"Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our country and need the Veterans Preventive Health Coverage Fairness Act," said Congressman Zeldin. "This commonsense legislation will ensure that veterans can obtain essential preventive care at no additional cost. I look forward to working closely with Congresswoman Duckworth and any willing colleague on either side of the aisle to get this bill enacted into law and improve the quality of life of our veterans."

Given the costs, in both dollars and in lives, associated with chronic disease, investing in preventive healthcare strategies is both sensible, cost-effective and a more humane path forward. The bipartisan Veterans Preventive Health Coverage Fairness Act would provide Veterans preventive medication and services cost-free, the same benefit that all other insured Americans receive, and enhances continuity of care for servicemembers transitioning from military healthcare coverage. This will ensure the health benefits provided to military personnel, Veterans, military retirees and civilians are subject to consistent copay standards for preventative health services. The legislation is endorsed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), which represents nearly 1.7 million members.

"Aside from the proof that these medicines save money by potentially reducing ill-health, they also improve quality of life," wrote VFW National Legislative Service Director Raymond C. Kelley. "There is no just reason why veterans should pay for this form of health care, when the law mandates it as no-cost for everyone else in the United States. With the only people in the United States forced to pay for preventive medicine being veterans and the uninsured, the VFW adamantly supports the passing of this legislation."

Duckworth served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and later served as the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs and Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in Washington. In Congress, she coauthored the bipartisan Clay Hunt SAV (Suicide Prevention for American Veterans) Act, which passed both the House and Senate unanimously and was signed into law to improve mental health care services for Veterans and reduce Veteran suicide. Congresswoman Duckworth also introduced the bipartisan Troop Talent Act--large portions of which are now law--to help servicemembers transition to civilian life by making it easier for them to turn the skills they learned in the military into the credentials and licenses needed for similar civilian fields. And she helped introduce the bipartisan Fairness for Veterans Act, which would protect thousands of Veterans from being needlessly denied healthcare and other benefits.

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