# Military Families Mental Health Services Act

This bill makes mental health care more affordable for military families by removing out-of-pocket costs for the first three mental health visits each year. Right now, when military family members use TRICARE (the military's health insurance program), they typically have to pay a copay or coinsurance fee each time they see a mental health professional. This bill eliminates those fees for the first three visits annually, making it easier for people to access counseling, therapy, or psychiatric care without worrying about the cost.

The bill specifically helps active-duty service members' families and certain other military beneficiaries covered under TRICARE Select and TRICARE Prime, which are the two main TRICARE insurance options. This means spouses and children of active-duty military personnel would be able to see a therapist, counselor, or psychiatrist three times a year without paying anything out of pocket. After those three free visits, normal copays would apply for any additional mental health appointments. The goal is to remove a financial barrier that might prevent military families from seeking help when they're struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges.

For military families, this could make a real difference. Mental health care can be expensive, and even a $20 or $30 copay per visit can add up and discourage people from getting treatment. By making the first three visits free each year, the bill acknowledges that military families face unique stressors—including frequent moves, deployments, and separation—and deserve easier access to mental health support. The bill gives the Secretary of Defense flexibility to set up the specific rules for how this program works, but the core idea is straightforward: remove the cost barrier for initial mental health care visits.

Military Families Mental Health Services Act

Neguse, Joe

Military Families Mental Health Services ActThis bill authorizes the Department of Defense to waive cost-sharing requirements for the first three outpatient mental health visits for certain beneficiaries of TRICARE Select and TRICARE Prime each year.Under the bill, active-duty family members are eligible for such waiver of cost-sharing requirements under both TRICARE Select and TRICARE Prime. Active-duty family members are dependents (e.g., spouses and children who are under the age of 21) of members of the uniformed services who are on active duty for a period of more than 30 days. Additionally, children who are under the age of 26 and are not eligible for an employer-sponsored health care plan are also eligible for such waiver under TRICARE Select.&nbsp;