Jim Webb: “today I introduced a bill that speaks directly to the welfare of our military service members and their families.…”

“today I introduced a bill that speaks directly to the welfare of our military service members and their families. TRICARE, TRICARE for Life, and the nonappropriated fund health plans are the programs that provide health care for our men and women in uniform, their families, retirees, and other eligible individuals. These programs, as well as today's military veterans health care system, exceed the minimum essential coverage for individual health insurance required by the health care reform bill passed yesterday by the House of Representatives. I am pleased to offer a companion bill to one introduced last week by my good friend, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton, that explicitly protects TRICARE and NAF health plans. Representative Skelton's bill, which passed Saturday by a vote of 403 to 0, makes it perfectly clear that no TRICARE or NAF health plan beneficiary will be required to purchase additional coverage beyond what they already have. My companion legislation to Chairman Skelton's provides a similar reassurance to our servicemembers and their families.”