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March 21, 2001
ROCKEFELLER INTRODUCES VETERANS' HEALTH BILL
Legislation would extend Veteran dependents benefits past age 65
WASHINGTON, DC -- Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) introduced new legislation today to extend veterans' benefits past the age of 65 for those who are covered under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA). Currently, CHAMPVA beneficiaries lose their eligibility for coverage when they turn 65 and enter the Medicare program.
"Thousands of West Virginians have sacrificed a great deal defending this country, and many of them and their dependants only have Social Security and disability compensation to deal with the overwhelming cost of prescription drugs," Rockefeller said. "The extension of CHAMPVA benefits to eligible dependents will provide much needed relief by covering medical costs which Medicare currently doesn’t cover."
CHAMPVA is intended to serve as a safety net for dependents and survivors of certain categories of severely disabled veterans who, because of their disabilities, were unable to provide health insurance benefits to their families through employment. A similar program, TRICARE for Life, provides medical benefits for the families of military retirees. Last year Congress passed legislation that extended the benefits of the TRICARE program past the age of 65.
"The failure of Congress to enact prescription drug coverage under Medicare only underscores the need to enact this CHAMPVA reform. Incredible advances in drug therapy, combined with staggering inflation in prescription drug costs, have made the need for affordable prescription drug coverage even more important today," Rockefeller said. "CHAMPVA beneficiaries who have sacrificed so much already should not be forced to sacrifice anything more to purchase needed prescription drugs."
Under title 38 of the United States Code, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is required to provide medical care that is the same or similar for both retirees and the eligible categories of veterans' dependents. Senator Rockefeller’s legislation, the "CHAMPVA for Life Act of 2001," would make the TRICARE and CHAMPVA programs similar by continuing to cover dependents over the age of 65 of severely disabled or deceased veterans.
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