Bill > S1861

This bill aims to modify healthcare options for members of the Selected Reserve and National Guard who are also federal employees. Currently, these service members are prohibited from enrolling in TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) healthcare plans if they are eligible for Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB). The bill would remove this prohibition, allowing these servicemembers to choose between military and civilian healthcare plans starting January 1, 2026. The legislation is based on findings that many reserve component and National Guard members work both military and civilian jobs, and that providing them with more healthcare flexibility can improve their continuity of care and overall military readiness. Specifically, the bill amends existing law by changing the expiration date for TRS plan eligibility from January 1, 2030, to January 1, 2026. The bill's proponents argue that giving servicemembers more healthcare choices will increase the overall effectiveness and "lethality" of the Armed Forces by providing them with comprehensive, low-cost health insurance options that can adapt to their unique employment situations.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1861/all-info