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Campaign News
Under current law, Medicare-eligible veterans are not allowed to use Medicare coverage at local VA hospitals. Instead, they are forced to decide between receiving medical care at a VA hospital without being able to use Medicare to help them make their bill payments, or using Medicare at a non-VA hospital and losing the personalized veterans’ care of a VA hospital. U.S. Congresswoman Sue Kelly is trying to change that. She has introduced legislation in the House of Representatives that would instead provide veterans with Medicare Subvention – the right to use Medicare benefits to help pay their bills at local VA hospitals. “Veterans pay into Medicare for most of their lives, yet the law prohibits them from using Medicare benefits at a VA hospital later in life,” Kelly said. “VA hospitals specialize in treating veterans’ needs, and veterans should not be forced to choose between cost and comfort. Veterans should be eligible for the same Medicare benefits at a VA hospital that they would have at any other hospital.” Kelly introduced the Veterans Medicare Assistance Act (H.R. 4992) after meeting with veterans throughout the Hudson Valley who have been advocating for Medicare Subvention. Kelly’s bill changes the law to allow the VA to bill Medicare, which would enable veterans to use Medicare coverage to help them pay their bills at a VA hospital. “The federal government needs to keep the promises made to veterans and ease their financial burden by providing Medicare benefits at VA hospitals,” Kelly said. “Veterans have faithfully served our country, and in return they should have every health care option available to them. They should not be forced to make unfair and complicated financial decisions about their quality of health care.” Numerous veterans’ organizations have cited the lack of Medicare Subvention as one of the major problems that veterans face. The American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and the Blinded Veterans Association are among the veterans organizations supporting Kelly’s bill. |
LINKS TO KEY WASHINGTON NEWS SOURCES
PO Box 599 Katonah, NY 10536 sue@suekellyforcongress.com