TRICARE Transition Transparency Act

Summary#

This bill would add a new section to Title 10, United States Code, that requires the Secretary of Defense to notify TRICARE beneficiaries when they must make a different enrollment choice to keep TRICARE coverage. Notices must be sent by electronic means. The bill sets three required notice times: one year, 180 days, and 30 days before the beneficiary faces the coverage change. The Secretary must also run an outreach and public awareness campaign using the TRICARE website, social media, and family readiness groups. Each year the Secretary must send the congressional defense committees a report on how the notification and outreach are working, with metrics and any recommendations to improve awareness. The bill defines a "TRICARE coverage transition requirement" as a requirement that a beneficiary make a different election to continue enrollment, such as when a beneficiary reaches a certain age referenced in law.

What it means for you#

• If you are a TRICARE beneficiary, you would receive electronic notices about upcoming required enrollment changes affecting you at 1 year, 180 days, and 30 days before the change.
• The notices apply when you must make a different election to stay enrolled, including when that change is required because of reaching a specific age.
• The Department of Defense would also run outreach on the TRICARE website, social media, and through family readiness groups to help beneficiaries learn about these changes.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

The bill text directs the Secretary to provide electronic notices at set times, run outreach, and report annually to Congress. Sponsors introduced the bill to require these notification and outreach steps. The bill text does not include further statements from proponents.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.