STRIVE Act of 2025

Subchapter III of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1722C the following new section:

Notwithstanding subsections (f) and (g) of section 1710 of this title, section 1722A(a) of this title, section 1725A of this title, or any other provision of law requiring an individual to make a copayment to the Secretary, the Secretary may not require a veteran to make any copayment for the receipt of hospital care or medical services under the laws administered by the Secretary after the end of the two-year period beginning on the date such veteran received such hospital care or medical services if the Secretary failed to provide the veteran notice—

(1) of the copayment within applicable timeliness standards established by the Secretary; or

(2) that the aggregate amount of copayments for such care or services the veteran owes to the Secretary is greater than the dollar amount described in paragraph (1) of subsection (b).

(1) The dollar amount described in this paragraph is $2,000.

(2) On the first day of each fiscal year beginning after the date of the enactment of the STRIVE Act of 2025, the Secretary shall, increase the dollar amount described in paragraph (1) by a percentage equal to the percentage by which the Consumer Price Index (all items, United States city average) increased during the previous fiscal year. In the event that such index does not increase during such period, the Secretary shall maintain the dollar amount in effect under paragraph (1) during the previous fiscal year.

The Secretary may waive the requirement for a veteran to make any copayment for the receipt of such hospital care or medical services in any case in which the Secretary determines such a waiver would be appropriate, without regard to whether the veteran submits to the Secretary a request for such waiver.

The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1722C the following new item: