MOAA continues efforts to build support for The Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act of 2021 (H.R. 475), introduced by Reps. Elaine Luria (D-Va.) and Michael Waltz (R-Fla.). This bipartisan bill would expand TRICARE eligibility to young adult dependents up to age 26, bringing TRICARE in line with commercial plan requirements.
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The bill is gaining momentum, picking up eight co-sponsors since its February introduction. MOAA’s goal is to advance the legislation to the FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to ensure children from military families transitioning to adulthood have the same health care protections as those afforded to their peers in civilian families.
The TRICARE young adult parity issue will be one of three topics championed by MOAA members during our upcoming Advocacy in Action campaign. MOAA members from across the nation will meet virtually with their elected officials throughout the month of May to urge support for TRICARE young adult coverage parity as well as other key issues.
Please help MOAA generate awareness and support for TRICARE young adult coverage parity as we lead up to our annual advocacy campaign. Contact your representative and urge them to support The Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act.
The Military Coalition (TMC), a group of military and veterans service organizations representing a combined 5.5 million-plus membership (MOAA serves as a co-chair), has added its support with a letter endorsing H.R. 475 and thanking Reps. Luria and Waltz for their leadership on this issue.
The letter highlights the financial burden military families face from TRICARE Young Adult monthly premiums: “For young people whose childhoods were marked by repeated military-ordered moves and frequent separation from their service member parent, and whose educational plans and employment prospects have now been derailed by the pandemic, this cost is an additional blow. We fear the cost will prove to be too much for many families, forcing them to forego health insurance for their young adult children.”
As part of MOAA’s role as co-chair of TMC’s Health Care Committee, we also have been conducting outreach to Senate offices to generate support for a companion bill.
Ensuring TRICARE coverage evolves to keep with changing technologies, treatment protocols and coverage benchmarks established by high quality commercial plans is a top priority for both MOAA and TMC. Contact your representative today to show your support for H.R. 475.
Every Officer Has Two Families
For over 90 years, MOAA has been working to get servicemembers and their families the benefits they deserve.
