Bill Overview
Title: Financial Relief for Civilians Treated at Military Hospitals Act
Description: This bill prohibits the Department of Defense (or the military departments) from attempting to collect a debt owed by a civilian not covered under TRICARE for certain emergency medical treatment at a military medical treatment facility. The bill also prohibits a military medical treatment facility from charging any fee for certain emergency medical treatment provided to a civilian who is not covered under TRICARE, or a third-party payer of such civilian (e.g., Medicare).
Sponsors: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Target Audience
Population: Civilians receiving emergency treatment at military hospitals not covered by TRICARE or Medicare
Estimated Size: 30000
- The bill specifically addresses civilians receiving emergency medical treatment at military hospitals.
- Civilians who are not covered by TRICARE or Medicare will be impacted as they will no longer face debt collections from military hospitals for certain emergency medical services.
- The global population that receives emergency medical treatment at military hospitals mainly includes residents of countries hosting US military bases, where such facilities might be located, and where civilians might seek emergency care.
- There are around 750 US military bases in over 70 countries worldwide, thereby affecting potentially significant numbers of people who might find themselves near these facilities when needing emergency medical care.
Reasoning
- This policy targets a specific subset of civilians who find themselves in need of emergency medical treatment at military hospitals and who are not covered by TRICARE or other forms of insurance like Medicare.
- The estimated 30,000 civilians in the US likely to be affected by this are those living near military installations, traveling for work or leisure near military sites, or otherwise in proximity to such facilities during emergencies.
- The policy mainly impacts those civilians who would otherwise face financial burdens from emergency medical debts at military hospitals.
- Wellbeing scores are expected to improve for these individuals due to decreased financial stress, better access to needed emergency care, and elimination of debt concerns.
- The budget constraints imply the policy can alleviate financial burdens effectively for many eligible individuals without straining resources. It is assumed care costs and logistics are well-managed under the given budget.
Simulated Interviews
Teacher (San Diego, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's a relief knowing that if I have an emergency near the base, I won't have to worry about financial debts from being treated there.
- I wasn't sure if I would be turned away in an emergency because of cost concerns, so this changes how I view my safety options.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Software Developer (Houston, TX)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a lifesaver, literally and financially. Getting emergency care is terrifying without insurance.
- Knowing I won't end up in debt over an accident is a load off my shoulders.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Retired (Fayetteville, NC)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a family member of a veteran, being able to receive emergency care without worrying about costs is very important to me.
- I have limited healthcare options due to my insurance situation, so this policy covers a gap.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Student (Honolulu, HI)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Living near a base without full insurance meant avoiding base services due to costs.
- I feel more secure knowing I can rely on emergency services now without the financial fallout.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 1 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 1 |
Navy Contractor (Norfolk, VA)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's stressful to work on base and know that if something happens, care costs could financially ruin me.
- This act gives peace of mind as I handle equipment and deal with potential site hazards daily.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Freelancer (Anchorage, AK)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I used to worry about emergency health costs because I don't have insurance yet.
- Hearing about this, I no longer panic every time I feel the need to get close to a base for any reason.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 2 |
Retired (Colorado Springs, CO)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Previously, military hospitals billed me way beyond my capacity to pay. I feared getting treated there.
- This policy makes it feasible to rely on military hospitals for emergencies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
NGO Worker (Okinawa, Japan)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While working near the base, emergencies happen, and I used to worry about medical coverage.
- This act reassures me that I can get necessary care without excessive stress over debts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 1 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 1 |
Hospitality Worker (El Paso, TX)
Age: 36 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My job sometimes puts me in situations where directing people to military hospitals was but a source of anxiety due to potential costs.
- This policy reassures both myself and those I might assist in emergencies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 1 |
Caretaker (Augusta, GA)
Age: 55 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I volunteer and see civilians worrying about medical costs often.
- This will ease many's minds about seeking medical aid, a needed change.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 2: $5100000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7100000)
Year 3: $5200000 (Low: $3100000, High: $7200000)
Year 5: $5500000 (Low: $3200000, High: $7500000)
Year 10: $6000000 (Low: $3500000, High: $8000000)
Year 100: $10000000 (Low: $6000000, High: $14000000)
Key Considerations
- Potential loss of an estimated $5M to $6M annually in charges collected from civilians not covered under TRICARE or Medicare.
- The bill may improve access to emergency care for civilians who might otherwise avoid seeking necessary treatment due to cost concerns.
- There might be some administrative savings in reduced billing and collections efforts which could modestly offset costs.