Servicemember Healthcare Freedom Act of 2024

Bill: 118-s-4116
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2024-04-11
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Latest action: action_date: 2024-04-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Summaries:

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4116 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 11 (legislative day, April 10), 2024 Mr. Blumenthal (for himself, Ms. Smith , Ms. Sinema , and Mr. Fetterman ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To amend title 10, United States Code, to allow members of the Selected Reserve and National Guard holding employment within the Federal Government the choice between military and civilian healthcare plans, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Servicemember Healthcare Freedom Act of 2024 . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Thousands of members of reserve components and the National Guard, in addition to their military service, work for the United States Government in a civilian capacity. (2) Nearly all members of the Selected Reserve and the National Guard, and their families, are entitled to purchase a TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) healthcare plan as a service-related benefit. (3) As of the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, eligibility for Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) prohibits members of the Selected Reserve and National Guard from enrolling in TRS plans. (4) Removal of such prohibition for members of the Selected Reserve and the National Guard will provide continuity of care throughout mobilization cycles. (5) Providing members of the Armed Forces with the ability to purchase comprehensive, low-cost health insurance increases the readiness and lethality of the Armed Forces as a whole. 3. Modification of expiration date to allow members of the Selected Reserve and National Guard, eligible for Federal Employee Health Benefits, to enroll into TRICARE Reserve Select as of January 1, 2025 Section 1076d(a)(2) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking January 1, 2030’’ and inserting “January 1, 2025 .