H.R. 3594: Gold Star Spouses Health Care Enhancement Act

This bill, titled the Gold Star Spouses Health Care Enhancement Act, proposes changes to health care benefits for surviving spouses of military members who have died while on active duty. Here’s a breakdown of what the bill intends to do:

Expansion of Health Care Benefits

The bill aims to amend specific sections of Title 10 of the United States Code, which governs the military and related matters, to enhance the health care benefits available for Gold Star surviving spouses. Key points include:

Medical Benefits

• The amendment clarifies that surviving spouses of deceased military members will no longer be subject to a three-year time limit on their eligibility for benefits under TRICARE Prime, which is the health care program for military members and their families.

Dental Benefits

• Similar to the medical benefits, this section of the bill also removes the three-year time limit for dental benefits for the surviving spouses.

Applicability of Amendments

The amendment changes will apply to all surviving spouses of military members whose deaths are covered by specific provisions, regardless of when the death occurred. This means that even spouses of members who passed away before the enactment of the bill will benefit from these expanded health care provisions.

Overall Impact

The bill is designed to provide long-term health care support to Gold Star spouses, recognizing their sacrifices and ensuring they have access to necessary medical and dental care without undue restrictions.

Relevant Companies

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