Legislative

EANGKY RESOLUTION 12-01

PERTAINING TO: Availability of Tricare Reserve Select (TRS) Health Insurance for Dual Status Technicians and Traditional (M-Day) Federal Civilian Employees

ISSUE: Currently Dual Status Technicians and Traditional (M-Day) National Guard members with Federal Civilian jobs have a choice to purchase Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) through their full-time employer. They can also utilize insurance benefits through their spouse or through individual purchase on their own. Per Title 5 U.S. Code Chapter 89 (Health Insurance Coverage), these individuals are being excluded from eligibility to purchase the Tricare Reserve Select (TRS) health insurance benefit which all other National Guard members are entitled. The sole reason for this is due to their eligibility for the FEHB health benefits. Dual Status Technicians are Federal employees who are required to be a member of the National Guard. Both Dual Status Technicians and Federal Civilian Employees who are also in the Guard have the same training and deployment responsibilities as any other privately employed traditional National Guard member.

BACKGROUND: Tricare Reserve Select is substantially lower in cost for Dual Status Technicians, Federal Civilian Employees, and their families than the federal option FEHB healthcare insurance. Traditional National Guard members, who are full-time employees with the Federal Govt, and Dual Status Technicians are not allowed to sign up for TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) simply because they are eligible for Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB). This inequitable, exclusionary act toward Dual Status Technicians and Federal Civilian Employees causes increased financial hardship to the service members and their families.

RECOMMENDATION: The members of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS) urge the United States Congress to enact equity and fairness into the FY13 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which would entitle Dual Status Technicians and Federal Civilian Employees who serve as Traditional (M-Day) Guard members to participate in the Tricare Reserve Select (TRS) program.

SPONSOR: Area II, KY