TRICARE Travel Improvement Act

TRICARE Travel Improvement Act would change how the Department of Defense reimburses travel for specialty-care appointments. The bill lowers the distance threshold that triggers travel reimbursement from 100 miles to 50 miles, making more beneficiaries eligible for reimbursement when they must travel for specialty care. It also reorganizes and clarifies the rules for exceptional circumstances and for military retirees and their dependents, ensuring they are covered under the same 50-mile standard. The changes are codified in 10 U.S.C. § 1074i and are part of broader provisions governing TRICARE. In short, the legislation aims to improve access to specialty care for a larger group of TRICARE beneficiaries by reducing the required travel distance and clarifying coverage for retirees and dependents.