Senate approves TRICARE legislation
Bill stipulates that military health plans meet new health reform requirements.
The Senate on Tuesday unanimously approved a bill that explicitly states service members, military retirees and their families will not have to purchase additional health insurance under the new health reform law.
The House passed the bill (H.R. 4887) on March 20, a day after it was introduced by House Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo. It clarifies the tax code to stipulate that TRICARE and Defense non-appropriated fund health care plans meet all requirements for individual health insurance under the recently enacted Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
"Our nation's military provides us with first-class protection, and it is our obligation to provide them and their families with first-class health care in return," Skelton said.
The bill heads to President Obama to be signed into law.
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