Military Moms Act Changes TRICARE Enrollment for Pregnancy, Orders Review of Military Maternal Care

The Military Moms Act proposes several changes aimed at maternal health support within the military community. It primarily modifies the TRICARE program to include pregnancy and pregnancy loss (miscarriage or stillbirth) as qualifying life events (QLEs), allowing beneficiaries to change their enrollment status outside the usual open season. The Secretary of Defense is tasked with updating the official QLE list within one year and providing guidance on necessary documentation, like confirmation from a medical provider. However, the bill explicitly states that abortion, as defined within the text, does not count as a QLE (Sec. 3).

Shifting Gears on TRICARE Enrollment

So, what does this QLE change mean practically? If a military spouse discovers they're pregnant, or experiences a pregnancy loss, they wouldn't have to wait for the annual open enrollment period to potentially switch to a TRICARE plan that better suits their needs during this significant life change. This offers more flexibility for accessing care exactly when it's needed. The bill requires written confirmation from a medical provider to trigger this QLE. It's important to note the specific exclusion: the bill defines abortion narrowly and explicitly prevents it from being used as a reason to change TRICARE plans under this provision (Sec. 3).

Taking Stock: A Deep Dive into Military Maternal Care

Beyond insurance tweaks, the Act mandates a comprehensive look under the hood of military maternal healthcare. Within two years, the Secretary of Defense must report to Congress on access to maternal care for TRICARE beneficiaries over the preceding two years (Sec. 4). This isn't just a quick summary; the report needs to dig into specifics for both military treatment facilities and civilian TRICARE network providers. Key areas include:

• Staffing levels for roles like OB-GYNs and midwives.
• Access challenges, including wait times and travel distances, especially identifying facilities located in "maternity care deserts" (counties without obstetric providers or facilities).
• Continuity of care during permanent change of station (PCS) moves – a major headache for many military families.
• Costs, looking at both DoD spending and out-of-pocket expenses for families over the last decade.
• Patient satisfaction tracking.

The goal is to identify problems and propose solutions to improve staffing, service delivery, and the overall patient experience, particularly during disruptive PCS moves.

Your Go-To Guide: Beefing Up Military OneSource

The bill also directs the Department of Defense to enhance the resources available through Military OneSource, the military's support program website (Sec. 5). Within one year, a comprehensive guide focused on maternal health must be published. This guide should cover available TRICARE services, mental health support (specifying what's reportable vs. non-reportable for service members), prenatal development info, financial assistance options, and best practices for maintaining care continuity during a PCS. Specific resources for pregnant service members regarding leave, career impacts, and uniforms are also required.

Similar to the TRICARE provision, this guide is explicitly prohibited from including information on abortion. Additionally, the bill requires training for Military OneSource counselors on pregnant beneficiaries' non-medical needs and mandates that the head of Military OneSource be notified when a beneficiary informs the Secretary of a pregnancy, a provision that might raise privacy considerations for some families.