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119-hr-244119th CongressWALLET

Veterans’ True Choice Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]

In Committee

Summary

Would expand TRICARE eligibility for veterans with service-connected disabilities. It would create a new "covered veteran beneficiary" category allowing those veterans to enroll in TRICARE Select and to access a new pathway to TRICARE for Life, while prohibiting concurrent VA medical care during TRICARE enrollment.

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  • Veterans: Covered veteran beneficiaries could enroll in TRICARE Select during the annual open enrollment and gain eligibility for TRICARE for Life under the new pathway. Cost-sharing for TRICARE Select would follow the program's existing formula.
  • Dependents: A dependent could not enroll in TRICARE solely because a covered veteran beneficiary enrolls.
  • Agencies and implementation: The Department of Veterans Affairs would reimburse the Department of Defense for the costs of enrolling covered veteran beneficiaries through a memorandum of understanding. The bill sets a one-year rulemaking window, phased enrollment tied to annual open enrollment, and requires quarterly reports for two years, then annual reports to Congressional Veterans' Affairs and Armed Services committees.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

TRICARE enrollment means no VA care

If enacted, a covered veteran who enrolls in TRICARE could not stay enrolled in the VA patient system at the same time. VA could not provide that veteran VA medical care while they are in TRICARE. Dependents would not get TRICARE just because the veteran enrolls; they must qualify on their own. These limits would begin one year after enactment.

TRICARE option for Medicare-eligible veterans

If enacted, some veterans with service‑connected conditions who are on Medicare would be able to choose TRICARE Select during the annual open season. Those enrolled under this new path could also enroll in TRICARE for Life. What you pay under TRICARE Select would follow the standard cost‑sharing rules in law, no matter when you first served. These changes would start one year after enactment.

Rollout timeline and agency funding plan

If enacted, the changes would start one year after the bill is signed. In the next year, VA and DoD would issue rules. Enrollment for covered veterans would then phase in during TRICARE’s annual open season the year after those rules are issued. VA’s Center for Innovation would run the rollout. VA and DoD would sign an agreement so VA reimburses DoD for the costs of enrolling these veterans, with amounts and terms set by both Secretaries.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]

FL • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 2/11/2026

  • Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 2/24/2026

  • Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 2/23/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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