[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3148 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3148
To direct the Secretary of Defense to carry out a pilot program to
assist certain members of the Armed Forces and dependents with
additional supplemental coverage relating to cancer.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 1, 2025
Mr. Jack (for himself, Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia, Mr. Figures, Mr.
Carter of Georgia, Mr. Bresnahan, Mr. McCormick, Mr. Moore of Alabama,
Ms. Sewell, Mr. Collins, Mr. Gill of Texas, Mr. Bishop, Mr. Moore of
West Virginia, Mr. Fine, Mrs. Wagner, Mrs. Houchin, Mr. Strong, Mr.
Goldman of Texas, Mr. McGuire, Mr. Aderholt, and Mr. Bacon) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed
Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Defense to carry out a pilot program to
assist certain members of the Armed Forces and dependents with
additional supplemental coverage relating to cancer.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Supporting America's Leaders
Undergoing Tough Expenses Act'' or the ``SALUTE Act''.
SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM TO ASSIST CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND
DEPENDENTS WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTAL COVERAGE RELATING
TO CANCER.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than September 30, 2026, the
Secretary of Defense shall establish a pilot program under which a
covered individual may obtain supplemental insurance for noncovered
expenses under a fixed indemnity supplemental benefit plan described in
subsection (b)(1).
(b) Agreement.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out the pilot program under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall enter into an agreement
with not more than two companies to each offer one or more
fixed indemnity supplemental benefit plans that--
(A) meet the requirements for a supplemental
insurance plan under section 199.2 of title 32, Code of
Federal Regulations, and the exception in section
199.8(b)(4) of such title, as in effect on the date of
the enactment of this Act;
(B) are provided under a separate policy,
certificate, or contract;
(C) provide no coordination with any other health
benefit plan; and
(D) are designed to help participants pay
noncovered expenses.
(2) Duration.--An agreement entered into under paragraph
(1) shall be for a period of at least three years.
(3) Requirements.--In entering an agreement under paragraph
(1) with a company, the Secretary--
(A) may not select the company unless the company
is licensed in each State;
(B) shall award the contract based on the expertise
of the company;
(C) shall negotiate the terms and conditions of the
fixed indemnity supplemental benefit plan provided
under the contract, including with respect to the
ability of the company to communicate with individuals
not enrolled in the plan and whether such communication
may include information on other insurance products;
(D) shall negotiate the cost of coverage with the
company that will cover the participants who elect to
enroll in such plan;
(E) shall provide a method for verification of the
eligibility of applicants and procedures for
determination of eligibility; and
(F) shall provide a method for payroll deduction of
premiums.
(4) Provision of information.--The Secretary shall provide
information to covered individuals regarding the pilot program
under subsection (a) by making available on the online portal
of the TRICARE program the following information:
(A) A notice of availability of a fixed indemnity
supplemental benefit plan provided under the pilot
program.
(B) A description of how to enroll in such plan.
(C) A description and explanation of the benefits
provided under such plan.
(D) A description of the costs to the individual
through premiums and remittances to a company providing
such plan.
(c) Election To Enroll.--A covered individual may elect to enroll
in a fixed indemnity supplemental benefit plan provided under the pilot
program under subsection (a).
(d) Limitations on Authorization of Appropriations.--None of the
amounts authorized to be appropriated by this Act to carry out the
pilot program may be used to subsidize the cost of a fixed indemnity
supplemental benefit plan provided under the pilot program under
subsection (a).
(e) Treatment of Companies.--For purposes of the pilot program
under subsection (a), companies selected to carry out the activities in
subsection (b) shall not be considered contractors of the Federal
Government.
(f) Preemption.--The provisions of this section shall supersede the
laws of any State except with respect to State laws relating to
licensing of an insurance company or plan solvency of such a company.
(g) Report.--Not later than three years after the date on which the
pilot program under subsection (a) commences, the Secretary shall
submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House
of Representatives a report regarding such pilot program, including the
following:
(1) A description of the insurance products provided
through a fixed indemnity supplemental benefit plan provided
under the pilot program under subsection (a).
(2) The number of covered individuals who enrolled in such
a plan.
(3) Feedback and examples of use cases by such individuals.
(4) A determination by the Secretary with respect to
whether such pilot program should be made permanent.
(h) Sunset.--Unless the Secretary makes a determination under
subsection (g)(4) to make the pilot program under subsection (a)
permanent, the pilot program under subsection (a) shall terminate on
the day that is five years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(i) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``covered individual'' means the following:
(A) A member of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air
Force, or Space Force.
(B) A dependent (as defined in section 1072 of
title 10, United States Code) of such a member who is
enrolled in the TRICARE program.
(2) The term ``noncovered expense'' means, with respect to
a covered individual, any expenses relating to the screening
for and diagnosis and treatment of cancer that are not
otherwise covered by the health care benefits the individuals
receives under chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code.
(3) The term ``State'' has the meaning given such term in
section 901 of title 32, United States Code.
(4) The term ``TRICARE program'' has the meaning given that
term in section 1072 of title 10, United States Code.
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