National Guard Association of the United States says switch to TRICARE Reserve Select could cost troops $5,000 per year less.
WASHINGTON — More than 113,000 drilling National Guardsmen and Reservists who are full-time federal employees would be eligible to purchase TRICARE Reserve Select health care.
The Servicemember Healthcare Freedom Act of 2024 would allow members of the Selected Reserve and National Guard who are employed by the federal government to choose between military and civilian healthcare plans.
Currently, federal law restricts National Guard and Reserve members who work as federal employees from receiving TRS benefits.
Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Virginia, 2nd District) is a co-sponsor of the measure.
“Just giving the option for them to participate in the TRICARE program. I think that’s important right now they didn’t have that option,” Kiggans said in an interview with 13News Now. “So, we’d like to be able to provide that option for our National Guardsmen, making sure we’re providing health care for those guys. They …