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Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) announced that on Wednesday, October 28th, President Barack Obama signed the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) into law which included TRICARE legislation Congressman Latta authored.  

Congressman Latta’s TRICARE language was amended into the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2010 during debate in the House and Senate.  

During the 110th and 111th Congress, Congressman Latta introduced standalone legislation, H.R. 270, The TRICARE Continuity Coverage for National Guard and Reserve Families Act, which 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.”  Currently, there are approximately 220,000 retirees that fall within the “gray area” and an additional 12,100 service members are 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.

“I want to thank my colleagues in the House and Senate, specifically Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) and Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) for their efforts to ensure this TRICARE language was included in the NDAA and signed into law.  With this language, retired members of the National Guard and reserve are now able to access the health care benefits they deserve for their service to our Nation,” Latta stated.