Servicemember Healthcare Freedom Act of 2025
The Servicemember Healthcare Freedom Act of 2025, introduced in the Senate by Senator Blumenthal, would amend title 10 of the U.S. Code to give members of the Selected Reserve and National Guard who hold Federal Government civilian jobs the option to choose between military and civilian health plans. Specifically, it would extend the window during which those eligible for Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) can enroll in the TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) program, moving the enrollment eligibility date from January 1, 2030 to January 1, 2026. The bill’s findings argue that providing this choice and extending access to TRS would improve continuity of care during mobilizations and enhance overall readiness by offering a low-cost, comprehensive health insurance option. In short, the bill aims to permit, sooner than currently allowed, enrollment in TRS for reserve members who are federal employees, creating a broader “choice” between the civilian FEHB program and the military TRS plan.
Key Points
- 1The bill is titled the Servicemember Healthcare Freedom Act of 2025.
- 2It would modify Section 1076d(a)(2) of title 10, U.S. Code by changing the enrollment expiration date from January 1, 2030 to January 1, 2026.
- 3It would allow members of the Selected Reserve and National Guard who are federal government employees to enroll in TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS).
- 4It creates a framework for choice between TRS (military plan) and FEHB (civilian plan) for affected reservists and guardsmen.
- 5The bill emphasizes benefits such as continuity of care during mobilization and improved readiness by expanding access to lower-cost, comprehensive health insurance; it does not include new funding provisions.