Findings

Congress finds the following: (1) Thousands of members of reserve components and the National Guard, in addition to their military service, work for the United States Government in a civilian capacity. (2) Nearly all members of the Selected Reserve and the National Guard, and their families, are entitled to purchase a TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) healthcare plan as a service-related benefit. (3) As of the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, eligibility for Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) prohibits members of the Selected Reserve and National Guard from enrolling in Tricare Reserve Select plans. (4) Removal of such prohibition for members of the Selected Reserve and the National Guard will provide continuity of care throughout mobilization cycles. (5) Providing members of the Armed Forces with the ability to purchase comprehensive, low-cost health insurance increases the readiness and lethality of the Armed Forces as a whole.