Health care benefits could be coming to National Guard personnel responding to pandemic

Six months of premium-free health care benefits could be available to more than 45,000 National Guard service members activated nationwide in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Both the House and Senate this week approved a measure that would extend 180 days of military health insurance coverage to National Guard personnel mobilized in response to COVID-19.

Under current law, National Guard troops serving under federally-funded orders are entitled to this period of health benefits, but those serving in response to the pandemic were activated under a different law that does not confer eligibility for the benefits..

Rep. Joe Cunningham, D-S.C., who is facing a tough re-election battle in his Charleston-based district, was a primary sponsor of the proposal.

Since the provision is included in massive defense bills with several differences, House and Senate negotiators will now try to reconcile the two versions. If and when they do, Congress has to vote again on the bill and have it signed by President Donald Trump.

But because the National Guard health provision is identical in the two bills, it is likely to survive in the final, negotiated bill.

The measure would allow National Guard personnel responding to the pandemic to become eligible for premium-free military health insurance through the Transitional Assistance Management Program.

The program extends coverage through Tricare, the military’s health care program for uniformed service members, retirees, and their families, for 180 days after regular Tricare coverage expires when a service members are demobilized.

Guard members and their families receiving Tricare coverage through TAMP are covered for most primary and preventative care visits, mental health care and substance abuse treatments.

Coverage for most vision-related visits and treatments for these folks are determined on a case-by-case basis and most dental care requires a separate Tricare dental plan. While the Tricare coverage through TAMP is premium-free, people receiving coverage through Tricare may be required to pay a co-pay.

Across the country, National Guard service members have been activated to assist with COVID-19 testing, serve as poll workers for elections and even help clear unemployment application backlogs, among other tasks.

In South Carolina, the National Guard has been activated since March 13 to respond to the pandemic, and currently has about 480 service members mobilized throughout the state, according to Cody Denson, a South Carolina National Guard spokesperson. To date, they have assisted in a variety of tasks, including facilitating COVID-19 testing, distributing personal protective equipment and distributing food at food banks and homeless shelters.