Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to automatically enroll veterans who are eligible for VA health care into the VA health care system.

Highlights:

• Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to automatically enroll veterans who are eligible for VA health care into the VA healthcare system upon receipt of information from the Defense Manpower Data Center of the Department of Defense that proves eligibility of such veterans for enrollment (Sec. 2).

• Requires the VA to provide a veteran with notice that they have been enrolled in the healthcare system, instructions on how they may elect to opt out of such enrollment, and instructions on how to enroll at a later date (Sec. 2).

• Requires that the aforementioned notice or instructions be provided in a physical copy as well as an electronic copy, and authorizes the VA to use mass texting capabilities to provide notice and relevant instructions required by this bill (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill apply to veterans who are discharged or separated from the Armed Forces on or after the date that is 90 days before this bill’s enactment (Sec. 2).

• Requires any veteran who is eligible for automatic enrollment in the VA healcare system to be able to access an electronic version of the certificate of eligibility and an electronic mechanism to opt out of such enrollment (Sec. 2).

• Requires the Government Accountability Office report to Congress on the best methods for the VA to provide notice regarding a veterans automatic enrollment in the VA healthcare system and related instructions (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text