Behind the Fanfare

Last month there was much fanfare in Washington over implementation of a new health care option for National Guardsmen and Reservists.

Some of you have probably seen the stories. Officials from the Pentagon to Capitol Hill celebrated what is a step-albeit a very small one-in the right direction.

Unfortunately, Tricare Reserve Select is several steps short of what we actually need. Not only is its scope limited, but it treats health care as a reward for special service instead of what military medicine has always been about: individual readiness.

That's why we will vigorously support renewed efforts in Congress to provide health care on a cost-share basis to every Guardsman and Reservist regardless of mobilization status or history. You should, too.

Medical readiness is the objective here.

One in five Guardsmen and Reservists has no health coverage. Many are among the thousands over the last few years who have been unable to deploy because of ailments that previously went undetected or treated because of lack of health care insurance.

The situation has forced many units to scramble to find replacements or go to war without 100 percent of their personnel.

Meanwhile, non-deployable Guardsmen and Reservists have had to remain behind for treatment often more time-consuming and costly because of a delayed diagnosis.

Better access to health care prior to mobilization would certainly reduce this problem. Better access to health care would also streamline the mobilization process and improve unit readiness and mission capability.

A more open program would also bolster recruiting as well as help retain those who struggle mightily with soaring health care premiums, such as students and the self-employed.

Such a program could also put an end to the turbulence created when mobilizations force Guardsmen and their families with health coverage to shift back and forth between their civilian plans and Tricare.

Tricare Reserve Select does little to address any of these concerns.

It simply turns health care into a reward. If you have been deployed since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks you may be allowed to purchase Tricare. The operative term here is may. And if you haven't deployed, you'll just have to wait.

This is the product of a compromise between lawmakers who link health care to readiness and those in the Pentagon who lament the cost of taking action but fail to grasp the higher price-to our people, to our units and to our missions-of inaction.

On the surface, more than 400,000 Guardsmen and Reservists who have served in federal (Title 10) contingency operations since 9/11 are now eligible for Tricare Reserve Select. But restrictions will greatly reduce that figure.

First, the service must be for more than 90 consecutive days and is limited to one year of coverage for every 90 days of operational service. Second, Guardsmen and Reservists must extend their service contract one year for every year of coverage desired. No extension, no health care, regardless of how many years remain on an existing contract.

Finally, those who have already deployed and returned home only have until Oct. 28, 2005, to extend their service agreement and become eligible. After that, the window closes.

There is no doubt that Tricare Reserve Select will help some of our soldiers and airmen. It may even help keep a few more valuable people in our ranks. And we all should make every effort to make those eligible aware of this option.

But the program runs fundamentally counter to the way we operate.

Think about it: We take care of our weapons, vehicles and aircraft so they will be ready when needed. Preventive maintenance, we all know, is critical to readiness. Why then are we waiting until they are needed to take care of our soldiers and airmen?

Brig. Gen. Robert V. Taybr, NGAUS Chairman of the Board, will continue to share this space with other association leaders.

Copyright National Guard Association of the United States May 2005
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