HB3148, the SALUTE Act, directs the Secretary of Defense to establish a pilot program to offer certain members of the Armed Forces and eligible TRICARE-enrolled dependents access to supplemental fixed indemnity insurance coverage for cancer-related expenses that are not otherwise covered under military health benefits. The program must be set up by September 30, 2026, and the Department of Defense may contract with up to two licensed insurance companies to provide the plans for at least three years.
The bill requires the Secretary to negotiate plan terms, premiums, eligibility verification, payroll deduction, and consumer information to be posted on the TRICARE portal. It also requires a report to Congress within three years of the program’s start, including enrollment data, product descriptions, user feedback, and a recommendation on whether to make the program permanent. Unless made permanent, the pilot sunsets five years after enactment.
Impact
The bill would create a new Department of Defense-administered pilot program within the TRICARE framework, allowing eligible service members and dependents to purchase supplemental cancer-related insurance for expenses not covered by existing military health care benefits under chapter 55 of title 10, U.S. Code. It expressly preempts state laws except those governing insurance licensing and solvency, while also stating that participating insurers are not federal contractors. The measure would not use federal appropriations to subsidize premiums, so participants would bear the cost of coverage themselves.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the overall sentiment appears supportive and bipartisan in nature, as reflected by the large group of cosponsors from both parties. The bill is framed as a targeted benefit expansion for military families facing cancer-related financial burdens, suggesting a generally favorable reception. No opposing statements or recorded votes are available in the provided materials.
Contention
The main policy issues likely concern federal preemption of state insurance laws, the use of private insurers to provide the coverage, and whether the Department of Defense should facilitate access to a supplemental product that is not subsidized by the government. Another possible point of contention is the scope of the benefit, since it is limited to noncovered cancer-related expenses and only available through a pilot program with a sunset unless Congress or the Secretary makes it permanent. No specific objections or supporters were recorded in the provided committee materials.
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To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish a pilot program to provide certain members of the Armed Forces with timely and relevant information via text message, and for other purposes.