Combat Veterans Pre-Enrollment Act of 2025

House Bill

H.R. 683

119th Congress

Combat Veterans Pre-Enrollment Act of 2025

In Committee

Introduced:Jan 23, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Elise M. Stefanik

Representative

Republican

NY-21

Cosponsors

9

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Armed Forces and National Security

Summary

This bill requires the VA to allow combat veterans to pre-enroll in VA healthcare during the 180 days before separating from active service. Working with DOD and DHS, the VA must establish a mechanism enabling service members who served in combat theaters after the Persian Gulf War or in hostilities after November 1998 to complete enrollment before leaving active duty. GAO must report on implementation with improvement recommendations.

Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill requires the VA to allow combat veterans to pre-enroll in VA healthcare during the 180 days before separating from active service. Working with DOD and DHS, the VA must establish a mechanism enabling service members who served in combat theaters after the Persian Gulf War or in hostilities after November 1998 to complete enrollment before leaving active duty. GAO must report on implementation with improvement recommendations.

Last updated: 1/4/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Combat Veterans Pre-Enrollment Act of 2025This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a program to carry out all activities necessary to permit certain members of the Armed Forces to elect to enroll in the VA health care system on the date of separation of such members from active service. Specifically, the program is for those who served on active duty in a theater of combat operations during a period of war after the Persian Gulf War or in combat against a hostile force during a period of hostilities after November 11, 1998.The VA must, in conjunction with the Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Homeland Security, establish a mechanism to permit a member of the Armed Forces to elect to pre-enroll in the VA health care system during the 180-day period preceding the date of separation of the member from active service.The VA-DOD Joint Executive Committee must brief Congress on the efforts to implement such a mechanism under the program.The Government Accountability Office must report on the program and include recommendations with respect to methods to improve the program.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Allows combat veterans to pre-enroll in VA healthcare before separation
180-day pre-enrollment window before leaving active duty
Applies to post-Gulf War combat theater veterans
Requires VA-DOD-DHS coordination on enrollment mechanism
GAO must evaluate and recommend improvements

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This legislation addresses the gap in healthcare coverage that can occur when service members transition to veteran status. By enabling pre-enrollment, combat veterans can have VA healthcare ready when they separate rather than facing delays during a vulnerable transition period. The bill specifically targets those who served in combat, recognizing their heightened healthcare needs.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Armed Forces and National Security

Related Subjects

Congressional oversight

Health care costs and insurance

Health care coverage and access

Military medicine

Military personnel and dependents

Performance measurement

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

683, 119th Congress (2025). "Combat Veterans Pre-Enrollment Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-683