Military family health care bill enjoys bipartisan backing

Former Hudson Valley congressional member Chris Gibson, a Republican who served from 2011 to 2017, joined forces with Democratic Representative Pat Ryan, who currently represents the 18th district, and Representative Marc Molinaro from the neighbouring 19th district, to advocate for this critical legislation.

Three men who once represented #ny19 in Congress - Democratic Rep. @PatRyanUC, Republican Rep. @marcmolinaro & former Republican Rep. @ChrisGibsonNY - share a joke before a press conference promoting the Healthcare Fairness for Military Families Act. pic.twitter.com/uEF9CiyaYV

— Roger Hannigan Gilson (@OHudsonValley) June 5, 2023

The proposed bill seeks to rectify a loophole in the current system that restricts adult children of military personnel covered under TRICARE, a health insurance program for uniformed services, to remain on their parents’ policies only until they reach the age of 21, or 23 in certain circumstances if they are still pursuing higher education.

This discrepancy has caught the attention of Ryan and Molinaro, who believe that military families should have the same opportunities for extended coverage as civilian families.

The Healthcare Fairness for Military Families Act seeks to rectify this inequity by extending the coverage age to 26, aligning it with the provisions of the Affordable Care Act that apply to most Americans. This extension would provide stability and peace of mind for military families, ensuring that their adult children can receive necessary medical care without facing gaps in coverage.

Gibson fought for a similar bill during his time in office, and expressed his support for the current legislation, highlighting the importance of addressing this issue for military families.
The bipartisan nature of the support for the Healthcare Fairness for Military Families Act is evident with 66 members of the House of Representatives from both sides of the aisle endorsing the bill.

Representative Ryan emphasized the simplicity of the legislation, stating, “This is pretty simple.” The aim is to correct the inequity faced by military families and alleviate the financial burden of purchasing private insurance policies for adult children.
During a news conference held at the Cedar Grove Fire Department, Ryan and Molinaro showcased their united front in advocating for the bill. They stressed the need for equal access to healthcare options for military families and expressed their determination to rally support for the legislation.

In the face of potential challenges, Ryan and Molinaro acknowledged that strong bipartisan support alone might not guarantee the bill’s passage as a stand-alone measure. However, they are open to alternative approaches, such as attaching the Healthcare Fairness for Military Families Act to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which Congress must pass every year. By doing so, they hope to increase its chances of being enacted.