Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) recently cosponsored the Improving Access to Prenatal Care for Military Families Act, introduced by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Andy Kim (D-NJ), to expand access to prenatal care for military servicemembers and their families.
If enacted, this legislation would create a five-year pilot program designating pregnancy as a Qualifying Life Event (QLE) under TRICARE, giving servicemembers and military families the flexibility to switch to a health care plan that meets their needs during a pregnancy.
Currently, QLEs include marriage, divorce, a job change, a move, and the birth or adoption of a child, but do not include pregnancy, making it harder to get prenatal health care.
In a recent comment, Sen. Ossoff highlighted the obligation to provide only the most expansive care to our service members. To him, this legislation is about guaranteeing them the care they deserve.
“Our servicemembers and families deserve great health care,” said Sen. Ossoff. “This legislation would help military families get the care they deserve as they prepare to welcome a child into the world.”
The Bill and its Context
The primary purpose of the legislation is to direct the Secretary of Defense to establish a five-year pilot program that treats pregnancy as a QLE for enrollment in TRICARE Select.
For context, TRICARE Select is a self-managed Preferred Provider Organization plan for military families, retirees, and reserve members allowing the use of a doctor network.
It offers flexibility in choosing providers without needing referrals for specialists, and it is actually available globally with higher out-of-pocket costs than entities like Prime.
As of now, health plan changes are typically restricted to open enrollment periods or specific life events. This bill would allow beneficiaries to enroll or change their coverage specifically because they are pregnant.
Within 180 days of enactment, the Secretary of Defense must launch the pilot program. The Secretary must then brief the relevant congressional committees within one year of enactment on the workings of the program.
