A bipartisan House bill would require TRICARE beneficiaries approaching a change in their coverage – a family member aging out of their current plan, for example – to receive a series of notices before the change takes place.

The TRICARE Transition Transparency Act (H.R. 5586) mandates email notices at the 180-day, 60-day, and 30-day marks before any deadlines to act. The bill would ensure families are aware of upcoming changes, such as the need to switch to TRICARE Young Adult to maintain TRICARE coverage when a dependent turns 21 (or 23 if a full-time student), or the move into Medicare and TRICARE For Life coverage when a beneficiary turns 65.

[MEMBER-EXCLUSIVE PUBLICATION: Transitioning Into Medicare and TRICARE For Life]

“TRICARE is a complex benefit, and awareness of pending eligibility changes is key to ensuring seamless coverage and access to health care,” MOAA President and CEO Lt. Gen. Brian T. Kelly, USAF (Ret), said in a statement announcing the bill’s introduction by Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.). “MOAA appreciates Rep. Kiggans’ leadership on this important legislation, and we look forward to supporting her efforts to improve TRICARE communication to military families.”

Initial cosponsors of the legislation include Reps. Patrick Ryan (D-N.Y.), Robert Wittman (R-Va.), and Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.). The text of the bill also is included in the House version of the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which passed the chamber Sept. 10. The Senate’s version does not include the provision.

“Too often, families are caught off guard by coverage changes that create confusion, gaps in care, or unexpected costs,” Kiggans said in the announcement. “This bipartisan bill ensures TRICARE beneficiaries get repeated, clear reminders, well in advance, so they can plan, budget, and make informed decisions.”

[MOAA’S TRICARE TOOLKIT: Coverage for Young Adults]

Along with the personalized communication, the bill requires Pentagon officials to mount an outreach campaign discussing the coverage changes on the TRICARE website, on social media, and with family readiness groups. It also requires an annual report on these outreach efforts, along with recommendations for improvement.

The bill would prevent coverage from being “ripped away without notice,” Ryan said in the announcement, adding that “we have to be all-hands-on-deck to deliver much-needed relief to military families across the country.”

For updates on this and other MOAA advocacy priorities, visit MOAA’s Legislative Action Center.