Healthcare for Our Troops Act

This bill makes health care cheaper and simpler for members of the Selected Reserve and their families. It removes monthly premiums for individual TRICARE Reserve Select coverage for reservists and sets in-network care at no cost for those individuals. Out-of-network costs for individuals, and both premiums and cost-sharing for family coverage, follow the same rules used for active-duty families. Family members can keep coverage for six months if the reservist dies while covered. Coverage ends when the member leaves the Selected Reserve. These changes start one year after the bill becomes law .

The bill also tells the Department of Defense to create standard forms for civilian doctors to report a reservist’s medical readiness and fitness for deployment within 180 days of the bill becoming law .

• Who is affected: Members of the Selected Reserve and their immediate family members under TRICARE Reserve Select .
• What changes:
  • No premium for individual TRICARE Reserve Select coverage; in-network care is free for individuals .
  • Family coverage still has a uniform premium (28% of the actuarial cost) and follows active-duty family cost-sharing rules; out-of-network costs for individuals also follow those rules .
  • Family coverage continues six months after a member’s death; coverage ends when service in the Selected Reserve ends .
• When it takes effect: Health-care changes start one year after enactment; new provider forms are due within 180 days of enactment .