Mace and Stefanik Stand Up for Military Moms with Common-Sense TRICARE Reform
Pro-Family, Pro-Women Legislation Ensures Expectant Military Moms Get the Care They Deserve
(Washington, D.C. April 8th 2025) – Representatives Nancy Mace and Elise Stefanik reintroduced the Military Moms Act to support maternal healthcare quality and access for mothers serving in the military and dependents of service members. The bill allows pregnancy to be classified as a Qualifying Life Event (QLE) under TRICARE, enabling service members or their spouses to change their TRICARE plans to meet their maternal care needs.
“Our service members and their families make extraordinary sacrifices to protect our nation, and their healthcare needs don’t pause when they choose to start or grow their families,” said Rep. Nancy Mace. “Right now, pregnancy isn’t even considered a qualifying life event under TRICARE—it’s absurd. The Military Moms Act puts military families first by giving expectant service members and spouses the power to choose the healthcare plan best suited to their needs before, during, and after pregnancy. This pro-family, pro-women legislation delivers a common-sense solution to a problem long overdue for fixing."
“As a mom and the Representative of Fort Drum, I am proud to reintroduce the Military Moms Act to support and expand access to healthcare for our pregnant service members or their spouses as their families grow. Our military families serve our nation selflessly and it is our duty to take care of them, their children, and their families so that they can focus on safeguarding our nation,” said Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.
“Our brave service members and their families deserve a healthcare system that truly supports them—especially during life’s most critical moments,” said Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01). “I’m proud to join my colleagues Reps. Mace and Stefanik in introducing the Military Moms Act to ensure pregnant service members or military spouses aren’t left navigating unnecessary red tape just to access the care they need. By recognizing pregnancy as a Qualifying Life Event under TRICARE, we are giving military families the flexibility and support they deserve. This legislation is a vital step in making sure our military moms can focus on their health and their growing families without added stress or delay.”
This bill is also supported by Americans United for Life.
Specifically, the Military Moms Act directs the Department of Defense to classify pregnancy and loss of pregnancy as qualifying life events under TRICARE, enabling women to change their plan to better meet their maternal care needs; requires the Pentagon to provide Congress with a comprehensive study on access to maternal healthcare within the Military Health System, mirroring provisions from the Improving Access to Maternal Health for Military and Dependent Moms Act; and calls for the publication of a dedicated webpage on the DoD-run Military One Source website with maternal and infant health resources, as well as information for new mothers and families.
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