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Today, the House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 which included access to TRICARE Standard health care for retired National Guard Reservists.  The TRICARE Standard health care language comes from legislation that Congressman Latta introduced as standalone bills in the 110th (H.R.  6185) and the 111th Congress (H.R. 270).

Congressman Latta’s TRICARE legislation, The TRICARE Continuity Coverage for National Guard and Reserve Families Act, is language that allows retired members of National Guard and reserve units with 20 or more years of faithful and honorable service to purchase healthcare that was available to them during their time in active service or after they reach 60 years of age.  Currently, members who have retired but are not yet 60 years of age are not eligible for TRICARE, and are referred to as being in the “gray area.”  Right now there are approximately 220,000 retirees that fall within the “gray area” and an additional 12,100 service members retiring and entering this status each year.

This issue was brought to Congressman Latta’s attention last year by Pastor Douglas DeWitt of Hamler, Ohio who is the Chaplain for the Michigan Air National Guard.  Pastor DeWitt worked with Congressman Latta’s office on drafting the original language and continues to advocate for this important issue.