STRIVE Act of 2025

This bill amends title 38, United States Code, to establish new conditions under which the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is prohibited from collecting healthcare copayments from veterans. It specifically addresses situations where delays or errors by the VA lead to unexpected or excessive charges. The legislation aims to protect veterans from financial burdens resulting from administrative failures within the Department. Under the proposed changes, the VA may not require a veteran to make a copayment if the Department's failure to process information within applicable timeliness standards prevents the veteran from paying within a two-year period. Furthermore, copayments exceeding $2,000 are prohibited if the amount is attributable to an error by a VA employee, official, or information system. The bill also grants the Secretary of Veterans Affairs discretionary authority to waive any copayment requirement when deemed appropriate, even without a formal request from the veteran.