{"id":1307,"date":"2024-04-12T17:49:17","modified":"2024-08-30T13:58:07","slug":"fetterman-cosponsors-bill-to-expand-healthcare-options-for-selected-reserve-and-national-guard","link":"https:\/\/www.fetterman.senate.gov\/fetterman-cosponsors-bill-to-expand-healthcare-options-for-selected-reserve-and-national-guard\/","title":{"rendered":"Fetterman Cosponsors Bill to Expand Healthcare Options for Selected Reserve and National Guard"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>WASHINGTON, DC<\/strong> \u2013 This week, Pennsylvania U.S. Senator John Fetterman joined bipartisan, bicameral legislation to expand affordable healthcare options for members of the Selected Reserve and National Guard. The <em>Servicemember Healthcare Freedom Act <\/em>allows members of the Selected Reserve and National Guard who are also employed by the federal government to choose between military and civilian healthcare plans.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The legislation is led by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representatives Jen Kiggans (R-VA) and Andy Kim (D-NJ). In addition to Senator Fetterman (D-PA), U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) have cosponsored the bill.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u201cMembers of the\u00a0Reserves\u00a0and National Guard should have access to the benefits they&#8217;ve earned,\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0said Senator Fetterman.\u00a0<strong>\u201cUnfortunately, Guardsmen\u00a0and Reservists who are also federal employees are inexplicably prohibited from enrolling in\u00a0TRICARE Reserve Select, an affordable health care option. This is a good, no-nonsense bill that will fix\u00a0a\u00a0clear problem and I\u2019m proud to cosponsor it.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <em>Servicemember Healthcare Freedom Act <\/em>is endorsed by the National Guard Association of the United States (NGUAS), the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS), and the Reserve Organization of America (ROA).<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The full text of the bill can be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blumenthal.senate.gov\/download\/4112024_-servicemember-healthcare-freedom-act---bill-text\">found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false}}