Tucson Standard

U.S. Representative Juan Ciscomani of Arizona is spearheading a bipartisan initiative alongside Rep. Young Kim from California to streamline the process for military members transitioning to civilian life by allowing them to pre-enroll in Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) benefits before leaving the armed forces. This effort, encapsulated in the Combat Veterans Pre-Enrollment Act (H.R. 683), aims to eliminate coverage gaps experienced by veterans due to delays in obtaining official separation documentation.

Under current regulations, active-duty service members are unable to apply for VA healthcare until they have their official separation papers, potentially leading to significant gaps in coverage. The proposed legislation seeks to address this issue through a three-year pilot program that would permit servicemembers to enroll in VA healthcare up to 180 days prior to their official separation date. The bill also mandates annual reports from the VA on the program and its participants.

"As the Representative to nearly 80,000 veterans, I often hear about the difficulties they face as they transition back into civilian life," stated Congressman Ciscomani. "We must take every action to make this transition as smooth as possible and ensure that our veterans receive the health care and benefits their service earned."

Congresswoman Kim echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of ensuring uninterrupted care for transitioning service members: "Our service members should not have to worry about whether their families can receive VA health care as they transition to civilian life."

The bill has garnered support from several other lawmakers, including Mike Lawler of New York, Salud Carbajal of California, Jill Tokuda of Hawaii, and Gil Cisneros of California. Each has expressed commitment towards eliminating healthcare coverage gaps for veterans during their transition period.

"The men and women who serve our nation put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms; we need to ensure that our veterans receive the care they deserve without delay," commented Congressman Carbajal.

This legislative push aligns with previous efforts by Ciscomani focused on improving veteran services. He has introduced multiple pieces of veteran-focused legislation during his tenure, reflecting his ongoing commitment to addressing challenges faced by former military personnel.