Congressman Williams Introduces the Veterans Medicare Premium Transparency Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday, Congressman Roger Williams (TX-25) introduced the Veterans Medicare Premium Transparency Act, legislation that helps protect veterans from unexpected lifetime Medicare penalties by ensuring they receive clear information about how VA health care affects Medicare enrollment and premiums.

"Our veterans should never be saddled with higher Medicare premiums simply because they didn't receive clear information,"said Congressman Williams. "The Veterans Medicare Premium Transparency Act is a commonsense, no-cost solution that ensures those who served our country have the guidance they need to make informed decisions and avoid unnecessary lifetime penalties."

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Background:

Millions of veterans rely on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for their health care after leaving military service. When they become eligible for Medicare at age 65, many mistakenly believe that enrolling in VA health care is the same as enrolling in Medicare Part B. However, VA health care is not considered creditable coverage for Medicare Part B, meaning veterans who delay enrollment may face a permanent late-enrollment premium penalty when they eventually sign up.

The Veterans Medicare Premium Transparency Act addresses this problem by providing transparency. The bill requires the annual "Medicare & You" handbook and Medicare.gov to clearly explain how VA enrollment affects Medicare Part B and Part D coverage and premiums. It also directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report to Congress on how many veterans are currently paying these penalties and how many were enrolled in VA health care.

By ensuring veterans receive clear, accurate information before making Medicare enrollment decisions, this no-cost legislation helps prevent avoidable lifetime premium penalties while improving accountability and outreach.

Click here to read the full text.

Congressman Roger Williams' legislation was joined by Congressman Aaron Bean (R-Florida) as an original cosponsor.

Supporting Organizations: Defense Credit Union Council

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Congressman Roger Williams is the Chairman of the House Small Business Committee and a member of the House Financial Services Committee. He proudly represents the 25^th Congressional District of Texas.