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INSIGHTi
FY2023 NDAA: TRICARE for Reservists
August 19, 2022
Background
Since September 11, 2001, Congress has enacted a number of new or modified benefits tailored for
certain Selected Reserve members (i.e. drilling reservists) and their dependent family members. These
benefits include expanded eligibility for health care benefits offered through the TRICARE program.
Most drilling reservists are eligible to enroll in a premium-based health plan called TRICARE Reserve
Select (TRS).
TRS is structured similarly to TRICARE Select (i.e., preferred provider option) and is available
worldwide. The beneficiary cost features of TRS include monthly premiums, annual deductibles, fixed
co-pays when receiving care from a network provider, and a percentage of the allowable charges when
receiving care from a TRICARE-authorized, non-network provider. In addition to TRS, drilling reservists
and their dependent family members may be eligible for dental insurance through the TRICARE Dental
Program (TDP) or vision insurance through the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program
(FEDVIP).
Reservists (including members of the National Guard) on federal active duty orders for more than 30
consecutive days receive identical health benefits as active duty servicemembers. These benefits include a
premium-free health plan (i.e., TRICARE Prime) and premium-free dental and vision care. Once
activated reservists complete an active duty period, they may be eligible for transitional health benefits as
they return to a reserve status. Table 1 lists the proposed reserve component-specific health care
provisions included in the House-passed version (H.R. 7900) and Senate Armed Services Committee-
reported version (S. 4543) of the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY2023) National Defense Authorization Act
(NDAA).
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Table 1. FY2023 NDAA Legislative Proposals
Senate Armed Services Committee-Reported S.
House-Passed H.R. 7900
4543
Section 703 would amend 10 U.S.C. §1076a to establish a
No similar provision.
new dental plan under the TRICARE Dental Program (TDP)
that may be offered to members of the Selected Reserve
(i.e., dril ing reservists) with no premium or cost-sharing
requirements.
No similar provision.
Section 702 would amend 10 U.S.C. §1145 to extend
eligibility for the Transitional Assistance Management
Program (TAMP) to members of the National Guard who
are transitioning from certain periods of “active service of
more than 30 days” ordered under 32 U.S.C. §502(f).
No similar provision.
Section 705 would authorize the Secretary of Defense to
conduct a study on the feasibility and cost effects of
extending eligibility for TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) and
TDP to all members of the Selected Reserve, their
dependents, and nondependent children under 26 years old.
Section 4501 would authorize $100 mil ion for the
No similar provision.
establishment of a new TDP dental plan.
Source: CRS analysis of H.R. 7900 and S. 4543.
Discussion
Certain military service leaders and military service organizations have advocated for an expansion in
TRICARE benefits for reservists to ensure continuity of care when transitioning between active and
reserve status, and to assist with resolving deficient medical readiness requirements. Other observers have
noted potential challenges with DOD’s ability to sustain existing health benefits and broader personnel
costs associated with the addition or expansion of new benefits to a larger population.
Both versions of the FY2023 NDAA include provisions to expand or evaluate the feasibility of expanding
eligibility to certain TRICARE benefits for drilling reservists and their dependent family members.
Health and Dental Benefits
Section 703 of the House bill would amend 10 U.S.C. §1076a to establish a new dental plan under TDP
for Selected Reserve members. The new plan would be administered in a similar manner as other plans
under TDP; however, there would be no associated premium or cost-sharing requirements for enrolled
reservists. Section 4501 would authorize $100 million in the “In-House Care” line item of the Defense
Health Program account for the establishment of the new dental plan. The Senate bill does not include any
similar provisions.
Section 705 of the Senate bill would authorize the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study on the
feasibility and potential cost effects of expanding eligibility for TRS and TDP to all Selected Reserves
members, their dependent family members, and nondependent children under 26 years old. The bill
suggests that this assessment could include
cost-shifting between DOD, the Office of Personnel Management’s Federal Employees
Health Benefits Program, Medicaid, and other health insurance payers;
new costs or cost savings to DOD;
resources necessary for implementation of expanded benefits; and
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impacts to recruitment and retention of reservists.
Within one year after enactment, the Secretary would be required to brief the House and Senate Armed
Services Committees on the study design and provide a report to the committees no later than two years
after enactment. The House bill does not include a similar provision.
Transitional Health Benefits
Since 1992, Congress has periodically authorized the provision of temporary TRICARE coverage for
servicemembers transitioning from active duty to reserve duty status, or who are involuntarily separated
from active duty under honorable conditions. This temporary coverage period, known as the “Transition
Assistance Management Program” (TAMP), provides premium-free TRICARE Prime or TRICARE
Select benefits to an eligible transitioning servicemember and their dependent family members for up to
180 days after their active duty status ends. In general, TAMP is available to activated reservists
(including members of the National Guard on federal active duty, also known as Title 10 orders) when
separating from a period of more than 30 consecutive days of active duty service in support of a
preplanned mission, contingency operation, or the whole of government response to the COVID-19
pandemic.
Section 702 of the Senate bill would amend 10 U.S.C. §1145 to extend TAMP eligibility to National
Guard members who are separating from a period of more than 30 consecutive days of full-time National
Guard duty in support of certain operations ordered under 32 U.S.C. §502(f). The House bill does not
include a similar provision.
For more on TRICARE for reservists, see CRS Report R45399, Military Medical Care: Frequently Asked
Questions, and CRS Report R45968, Limits on TRICARE for Reservists: Frequently Asked Questions.
Author Information
Bryce H. P. Mendez
Acting Section Research Manager FDT/DB
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff
to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of
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