The Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act expands medical, employment, and retirement benefits for family caregivers of veterans, including extended healthcare coverage, employment assistance, and studies on return-to-work programs and retirement planning.
Joseph Morelle
Representative
NY-25
The Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act expands support for family caregivers of veterans by extending medical care coverage and providing employment assistance, including reimbursement for certification fees and access to training and employment resources. It mandates studies on returnship programs and hiring preferences for former caregivers within the VA. Additionally, it requires reports on support for caregivers transitioning out of caregiving roles and the feasibility of establishing retirement plans for them.
Veteran Caregivers May Get 6 Months Extra Health Coverage, $1K for Job Training Under New Bill
This proposed legislation, officially named the Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act, sets out to significantly expand support for the primary family caregivers looking after certain veterans. The core idea is to ease the transition for these individuals when their caregiving role ends or changes, focusing on healthcare continuity, employment assistance, and future financial planning.
Bridging the Gap: Healthcare After Caregiving
A key provision (Sec. 2) extends medical care coverage through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for 180 days after a caregiver's designation as the primary provider ends. Think of it as a six-month cushion to help someone find new coverage or employment with health benefits. However, there are a couple of catches: this extension doesn't apply if the caregiver was removed from the program due to fraud, abuse, or mistreatment, or if they become eligible for Medicare Part A during that 180-day window.
Back to Work: New Tools for Caregivers
The bill puts a strong emphasis on helping caregivers re-enter the workforce (Sec. 3). It offers practical support like reimbursing up to $1,000 for certification or relicensing fees needed for a job. Caregivers could also access free VA training modules for continuing education and tap into employment resources via Military OneSource and the Veterans Employment and Training Service, both during their time as caregivers and for 180 days after (unless dismissed for cause). The support doesn't stop there; general transition assistance and specific help returning to work are mandated, alongside bereavement counseling for caregivers after the veteran passes away.
Planning Ahead: Retirement and Reentry Studies
Looking further down the road, the legislation requires serious investigation into longer-term support structures. The VA, working with the Department of Labor, must study the feasibility of creating "returnship" programs – essentially, pathways for experienced individuals to re-enter the workforce after a break (Sec. 3). Another study mandated by Section 3 will explore ways to increase the hiring of former primary caregivers within the VA itself. Additionally, Section 5 directs the VA, in consultation with the Treasury Department, to report on the possibility of establishing retirement plans or savings options for these caregivers. Finally, the Comptroller General is tasked (Sec. 4) with evaluating how effective the VA's current transition support is, particularly regarding retirement planning and returning to work, with a report due to Congress within two years.