GUARD Veterans’ Health Care Act

This bill lets the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) get paid back by Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D drug plans when the VA gives veterans care that those plans cover. It includes outpatient and inpatient care, prescriptions, medical devices, lab tests, and care in post-acute or long-term settings. It applies whether the care is for a service-connected condition or not, and plans must reimburse the VA even if they would normally require extra paperwork or approvals. The VA will use its existing recovery process to collect these payments, and the money goes into the VA Medical Care Collections Fund. The policy starts for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

Key points:

• Who is affected: Veterans who use VA care and are enrolled in Medicare Advantage or a Part D plan; Medicare Advantage organizations and Part D plan sponsors; the VA health system.
• What changes: Plans must reimburse the VA for covered services provided by the VA, without extra plan hurdles; the VA uses its usual recovery methods; recovered funds support VA medical care.
• When: Applies to plan years starting January 1, 2026.