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VETERANS’ SURVIVOR BENEFITS

IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2001 

PUBLIC LAW 107-14 

(H.R. 801, AS AMENDED) 

TITLE:  To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for CHAMPVA, to provide for family coverage and retroactive expansion of the increase in maximum benefits under Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance, to make technical amendments, and for other purposes. 

H.R. 801, as amended: 

1.      Expands health insurance under CHAMPVA for survivors of veterans who die of a service-connected disability.  CHAMPVA beneficiaries who are Medicare-eligible would receive coverage similar to the “TRICARE for Life” enhancements that Public Law 106-398 provided for Department of Defense beneficiaries.  Future Medicare-eligible CHAMPVA beneficiaries would be required to obtain Medicare Part B coverage as a pre-condition to eligibility for this new benefit; coverage would be automatic for CHAMPVA beneficiaries who are eligible for Medicare on the date of enactment.  

2.      Expands the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) program to include spouses and children.  Spousal coverage could not exceed $100,000; child coverage could not exceed $10,000.  Upon termination of SGLI, the spouse’s policy could be converted to a private life insurance policy. 

3.      Makes the effective date of an increase from $200,000 to $250,000 in the maximum SGLI benefit provided for in Public Law 106-419 retroactive to October 1, 2000, for a servicemember who died in the performance of duty and had the maximum amount of insurance in force. 

4.      For purposes of VA’s outreach program, defines an eligible dependent as the spouse, surviving spouse, child or dependent parent of a servicemember/veteran.  It would also require VA to make eligible dependents aware of VA’s services through media and veterans publications. 

EFFECTIVE DATE:  Date of enactment except the following sections 

  Sec. 4:  The first day of the first month that begins more than 120 days after date of enactment.

  Sec. 5:  October 1, 2000, with respect to any member of the uniformed services who died in the performance of duty.

  Sec. 7(a)(1):  Shall take effect as if enacted on November 1, 2000.

  Sec. 7(b):  Shall take effect as if enacted on November 1, 2000.

  Sec. 7(c):  Shall take effect as if included in the enactment of sec. 105 of the Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-419; 114 Stat. 1828).

  Sec. 7(d):  May 1, 2001.

  Sec. 7(e):  Shall take effect as if enacted on November 1, 2000.  

COST:  The Congressional Budget Office estimates that H.R. 801, as amended, would make the survivors of certain veterans eligible for medical insurance, and extend coverage under Servicemembers” Group Life Insurance (SGLI).  Neither measure would affect pay-as-you-go scoring. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

           March 21, 2001:  H.R. 801 ordered reported amended favorably by the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

            March 26, 2001:  H.R. 801 reported amended by the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. H. Rept. 107-27.

            March 27, 2001:  Passed the House amended under suspension by vote of 417-0 (Roll No. 63).

            March 28, 2001:  Referred to the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

            May 24, 2001:  Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs discharged by unanimous consent.

            May 24, 2001:  Passed the Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the title by unanimous consent.

            May 24, 2001:  House agreed to the Senate amendments under suspension by voice vote.

            June 5, 2001:  Signed by the President, Public Law 107-14.