A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the eligibility of certain former members of the Armed Forces who are medically retired and who are entitled to hospital insurance benefits under Medicare part A by reason of previous entitlement to social security disability insurance benefits to enroll in the TRICARE program regardless of whether such members decline enrollment under Medicare part B, and for other purposes.
Health Equity and Access for Returning Troops and Servicemembers Act or the HEARTS Act
This bill extends TRICARE eligibility to certain former members of the Armed Forces regardless of whether they enroll (as required under current law) in Medicare's supplementary medical insurance program. Specifically, the bill applies to former members who are: (1) younger than 65 years of age, (2) medically retired from the Armed Forces, and (3) entitled to Medicare hospital insurance benefits on the basis of their former entitlement to disability insurance benefits under the Social Security Act.
Furthermore, these former members shall not be subject to late-enrollment penalties under Medicare's supplemental medical insurance program.
The Department of Defense must coordinate with the Department of Health and Human Services to: (1) identify former members to which the bill applies, (2) counsel those former members on the effects of declining to enroll in Medicare's supplemental medical insurance program, and (3) report to Congress on specified issues related to the bill's implementation.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
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