Senator Tammy Baldwin, a Wisconsin Democrat, has introduced a new bill to guarantee free health insurance for National Guard and Reserve members.
Under the proposed Military Health Care Act, service members would be able to access the TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) plan without paying premiums. Currently, medical and dental coverage under TRS is an out-of-pocket expense.
Supporters argue that access to comprehensive health care is crucial for long-term military readiness, recruitment, and retention.
“National Guard troops are always on the front lines—at home and abroad. Health care isn’t a benefit; it’s a readiness requirement,” said retired Major General Francis M. McGinn, president of the National Guard Association.
Baldwin emphasized that an estimated 130,000 National Guard and Reserve members currently lack private health insurance. “I think it’s morally wrong. It undermines readiness. Yes, we need to address this,” she emphasized at the 147th NGAUS General Assembly in Milwaukee on August 23.
Baldwin, who recently received the 2025 Harry S. Truman Award—the association’s highest honor—outlined how the bill would strengthen readiness by ensuring troops receive the medical exams required for deployment.
Furthermore, the proposal would incentivize employers to hire National Guard and Reserve members and guarantee access to health care networks without the burden of cost-sharing. The proposal also aims to expand affordable preventive care and improve access to mental health services.