Washington, DC – Today, local Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand, a Member of the House Armed Services Committee, announced that she has introduced the “Military Healthcare for Dependents Act,” H.R. 5832.  This bill will expand health care coverage for military family members not residing with their sponsor.

“Upstate New York is home to thousands of National Guardsmen and Reservists.  This bill will ensure that the families of these brave service members have access to the 100% healthcare coverage they are entitled to when their spouse or parent is activated.  We need to reassure our deploying service members that their families are well taken care of during their absence.”

TRICARE Prime Remote is for family members who do not reside within a 50 mile radius or over an hour drive time from a military treatment facility.  Current law states that for a family member to be eligible, they must reside with their sponsor.  Many members of the reserve components do not meet that requirement and are penalized based solely on their home of record.  This has especially hurt children with divorced or separated parents. 

“Under current law, family members not residing with their active duty sponsor are not eligible for TRICARE Prime Remote – which provides 100% healthcare coverage for kids.  My bill will correct this oversight and ensure that kids that aren’t living with their military parent can still get full healthcare coverage,” said Gillibrand.

Congresswoman Gillibrand hopes to have this benefit correction included as part of the 2009 Defense Authorization bill.