05.20.03

Cantwell: Military Reservists a Step Closer to Receiving Year-Round Health Care

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The U.S. Senate today passed an amendment to the Department of Defense (DoD) authorization bill to provide military reservists year-round health care coverage. U.S. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) voted for the amendment, which passed 88-10.

"The men and women who serve our country without question when called to duty should not have to wonder whether they and their families will have health care when they get home," Cantwell said.

Currently, military reservists and members of the National Guard are only eligible for military health care when called to active duty. When reservists and members of the National Guard return to private life, they and their families often have difficulty reenrolling in their private health care plans, causing an interruption of health coverage.

The amendment, authored by Senators Tom Daschle (D-SD) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), would change current law by making military reservists, Guardsmen and women, and their families eligible for the military health care year-round. Under the proposed plan, service members and their families would pay to enroll in TRICARE, the military plan.

The DoD authorization bill is expected to pass the Senate later this week, after which the Senate and House of Representatives will resolves any differences.

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