H.R. 7667: TRICARE Fairness for National Guard and Reserve Retirees Act

This bill, known as the TRICARE Fairness for National Guard and Reserve Retirees Act, aims to modify the eligibility for the TRICARE healthcare program, which is available to military service members and their families. Here are the key provisions of the bill:

Adjustment of Eligibility

The bill changes the eligibility criteria for members of the Retired Reserve who are eligible for non-regular retirement benefits under a specific section of the United States Code. Here’s how it works:

• Under the existing law, individuals under 60 years old who qualify for retired pay are not automatically eligible for TRICARE.
• The bill proposes that members or former members eligible for retired pay who are under 60 years are now eligible for TRICARE if they meet certain conditions.

TRICARE Retired Reserve Updates

The legislation also makes specific changes to who is covered under the TRICARE Retired Reserve program:

• Currently, only those who are at least 60 years old can qualify—but the bill would allow younger members who are:
• Qualified for non-regular retirement at age 60,
• Under the age of 60, and
• Not currently receiving their retired pay, unless their pay is being withheld due to certain provisions in another law.

Effective Date

The changes mentioned in this bill would take effect 18 months after the bill is enacted, allowing for a reasonable implementation period after the law is passed.

Relevant Companies

None found.