Bill Overview
Title: Access to Healthcare for Reservists Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to study the feasibility of expanding eligibility for TRICARE Reserve Select and the TRICARE dental program to include all members of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve of a reserve component of the Armed Forces, their dependents, and their non-dependent children under the age of 26. The study must also assess potential cost effects, changes in out-of-pocket costs to beneficiaries, and effects on other federal programs. DOD must contract with a federally funded research and development center that is qualified and appropriate to conduct the study. Additionally, DOD must brief Congress on the methodology and approach of the study and submit a report on the results.
Sponsors: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Target Audience
Population: Members of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve, and their dependents and non-dependent children under 26
Estimated Size: 2000000
- The Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve includes various groups of reservists across different branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.
- The U.S. Armed Forces in total have approximately 1.3 million active duty personnel, and the total reserve components, including Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve, National Guard, and Individual Ready Reserve, contribute hundreds of thousands more.
- This number does not include their dependents and non-dependent children under 26, which will multiply the potential number impacted.
- Globally, armed forces are significant in size, but this legislation pertains only to the U.S. military reserves and their families.
- TRICARE Reserve Select is a health insurance program available for members of the Reserve Component and their families.
Reasoning
- The selected population includes many reservists across the U.S., who often juggle military commitments with civilian careers. This policy could significantly impact their healthcare accessibility.
- Reservists generally have access to healthcare through civilian employment, but TRICARE Reserve Select offers potentially more affordable and consistent military-focused services.
- The monetary budget over 10 years is constrained, necessitating an efficient implementation to maximize benefits. The focus should be on families who heavily rely on TRICARE.
- The wellbeing impact will vary depending on current healthcare access, financial situation, and specific health needs of reservists and their families.
- We include interviews from various geographic, occupational, and demographic backgrounds to understand the holistic impact.
Simulated Interviews
IT specialist & Army Reserve (Dallas, Texas)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Access to TRICARE would alleviate our concerns about rising healthcare costs, which currently take up a significant part of our budget.
- Balancing reserve duties with my IT job and having consistent healthcare access will improve my family's security.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Nurse & Naval Reserve (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could provide better coverage for my daughter, who is in college.
- I often worry about medical expenses if something were to happen, especially with the unpredictable work schedule.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Freelancer & Air National Guard Reserve (New York, New York)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Without consistent coverage, I'm always anxious about getting sick or injured.
- TRICARE Reserve Select could provide stability and peace of mind, allowing me to focus on my work and duties.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 2 |
Construction Worker & Marine Reserve (Atlanta, Georgia)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My wife's condition makes healthcare a significant concern, and private options are expensive and limited.
- Expanding TRICARE access would tremendously reduce our expenses and stress.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
School Teacher & Army Reserve (Miami, Florida)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having access to TRICARE could make retirement planning easier, especially for savings needed for my son's care.
- This policy would allow me to continue serving without financial burden due to healthcare.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Graduate Student & Coast Guard Reserve (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 27 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Graduate school is expensive, and this policy could help reduce some financial pressure by ensuring health coverage.
- TRICARE access could also benefit other student reservists, balancing studies and service.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Stay-at-home mom & Army National Guard Reserve (Rural Alabama)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is crucial as health emergencies can financially devastate us.
- Secure, accessible healthcare through TRICARE would be life-changing for my family.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 1 |
Police Officer & Air Force Reserve (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Access to TRICARE could fill gaps in our current insurance, especially given our consistent healthcare costs for the kids.
- This policy would strengthen support for those reservists juggling demanding civilian jobs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Retired & Naval Reserve (Boston, Massachusetts)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Even in retirement, healthcare is always a top priority, and this policy ensures my kids have coverage.
- It's vital support for older reservists helping their family transition to adulthood.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Engineer & Army Reserve (Denver, Colorado)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- For my children, having expanded access to TRICARE is reassuring, easing their own transition to independent adulthood.
- On the brink of retirement, this policy aids in minimizing family-related worries.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 2: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The main cost is related to conducting a comprehensive feasibility study by a qualified research center.
- The outcome of the study could lead to future policy changes which are not within this cost estimate.
- The potential expansion of TRICARE could have significant financial implications, but this estimate focuses on the study itself.