Veterans who have private health insurance and get emergency care outside the VA system can seek reimbursement from the VA for their out-of-pocket costs — but current rules let the VA deny claims for copayments under a certain threshold. This bill lowers that threshold to copayments under $100, meaning the VA would reimburse veterans for more of their emergency room costs. It applies retroactively to emergency treatment going back to February 2012 and covers veterans in an ongoing class-action lawsuit (Wolfe v. McDonough) who were previously denied reimbursement.
Congressional Summary
Veterans Emergency Care Reimbursement Act of 2025This bill modifies the limitation on reimbursement for emergency treatment of amounts a veteran owes to a third party or owes under a health plan contract. Specifically, the bill allows the Department of Veterans Affairs to reimburse copayments of $100 or more and excludes deductibles and coinsurance from the limitation.This modification must apply with respect to any reimbursement claim for emergency treatment furnished on or after February 1, 2010, including claims submitted by a member of the certified class seeking relief in Wolfe v. McDonough.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Action Date
- Date Added
- 2026-04-02