Kaptur Introduces Bipartisan Gold Star Spouse Healthcare Enhancement Act to Extend Care For Spouses of Fallen Soldiers
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), a senior member of House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee and Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation introduced the bipartisan Gold Star Spouse Healthcare Enhancement Act. Currently, surviving spouses retain healthcare coverage through TRICARE in the “active-duty family member” category for just three years after their servicemember passes away. After three years, they automatically shift to “retired family member” status, which forces them to pay higher fees and out-of-pocket costs. This Act effectively removes the three-year limitation for spouses who meet criteria for the Gold Star lapel button. It enables them to remain in “active-duty family member” status, reducing the costs and burden on those who have already sacrificed so much for our country.
“Today, I am joined by Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska to introduce a bipartisan bill that recognizes the sacrifice of Gold Star spouses by expanding their healthcare benefits. Military service requires our young men and women to risk their lives fighting and defeating America’s enemies,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). “They selflessly accept this risk to secure Liberty across the globe. We owe so much to those who answered the call to service and perished in defense of our nation and must ensure we take care of their surviving spouses. I encourage each of my colleagues to support the Gold Star Spouses Healthcare Enhancement Act as one small way we can honor the debt they and their spouses are owed by our grateful nation.”
“Gold Star spouses of servicemembers who sacrificed their lives overseas defending the United States' interests should still be treated as active-duty dependents in regard to their healthcare. We as a nation have a responsibility to these families our heroes leave behind, and this is a small step forward in honoring their sacrifice and caring for their families,” said Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02). “Thousands of Gold Star spouses are paying the retiree rate for healthcare because of current law. The Gold Star Spouse TRICARE Act of 2024 will allow Gold Star spouses to be treated as “active-duty members” instead of a family member of a retiree so they will no longer have to incur additional costs to either continue TRICARE Prime or transition to TRICARE Select.”
You can find a full copy of the bill text for the Gold Star Spouse Healthcare Enhancement Act by clicking here.
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