Healthcare for Our Troops Act
Sponsored By: Senator Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced
Summary
Eliminates premiums for TRICARE Reserve Select individual coverage. This bill would make individual Selected Reserve members eligible for premium-free TRS health benefits, set a uniform family premium, align cost-sharing with active-duty families, and require new forms and rules for providers and administration.
Show full summary
- Members of the Selected Reserve would get TRICARE Reserve Select individual coverage with no premium and eligibility that ends when their Selected Reserve service ends.
- Immediate family members would be eligible for TRS family coverage with a single uniform monthly premium set at 28% of an actuarial monthly amount and continued coverage for six months if the member dies.
- In-network care for TRS individual coverage would have no charges. Out-of-network and family cost-sharing would follow the same rules used for active-duty family members.
- The Secretary of Defense must write implementing regulations and, within 180 days, create provider forms that include medical readiness and fitness-for-deployment information for TRS beneficiaries.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Zero monthly premium for reservists
If enacted, the bill would set the TRS individual monthly premium to $0. Reservists enrolled only for individual TRS coverage would not pay a monthly premium.
New family premium for TRS
If enacted, the bill would set one monthly premium for each immediate family member in TRICARE Reserve Select. The premium would equal 28% of the actuarially determined monthly cost for that coverage. Premiums may be withheld from basic pay or compensation. Amounts collected would be credited to the Defense Health Program and replace prior enrollment fees.
TRS and TRICARE cost-sharing changes
If enacted, the bill would align TRS family cost-sharing with active-duty family rules for the same year. For TRS individual coverage, in-network services would carry no charge while out-of-network care would follow active-duty out-of-network rules. The bill would also change how cost-sharing is worked out for TRICARE Select reserve and young adult beneficiaries, with special exceptions for some groups under other statutes.
Who can get TRICARE Reserve Select
If enacted, this bill would let members of the Selected Reserve join TRICARE Reserve Select. While a reservist is covered, their immediate family could get TRS family coverage. If a covered member dies while covered, family coverage would continue for six months. The bill would also define key terms like "network" and "immediate family" and say dental care is excluded. The TRS changes would begin one year after enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
WI • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov