SB 738 — Clarifying eligibility for TRICARE program

CS for SB 738 WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION IntroducedCommittee Substitute for Senate Bill 738 By Senator Willis [Introduced[Reported February 4,20, 2026;2026, from the Committee on the Military] CS for SB 738 A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §15-1B-15, relating to the National Guard;

referredestablishing tothe West Virginia National Guard TRICARE Premium Reimbursement Program within the CommitteeAdjutant onGeneral’s Military;department;

anddefining thenterm; to the Committee on Finance] Intr SB 738 2026R3760 A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §15-1B-15, relating to the National Guard;

providingclarifying definitions;eligibility for the TRICARE reimbursement program;

clarifyingauthorizing eligibilitypremium forreimbursement thewhen TRICAREcertain program;requirements are met;

authorizingproviding reimbursementfor whenthe certainestablishment requirementsof arepolicies met;and guidelines by the Adjutant General;

requiring policies and guidelines;

National guardGuard servicemember'sServicemember's medicalMedical readinessReadiness act.Act.

(b) The West Virginia nationalNational guardGuard TRICARE premiumPremium reimbursementReimbursement programProgram is createdhereby established within the militaryAdjutant General’s department.

and (2) Eligible for TRICARE reserve select or TRICARE dental program coverage.coverage;

(d)and The(3) militaryIn departmentcompliance maywith award reimbursement grants to an eligible recipient who meets the reimbursement application requirements established by the adjutantAdjutant generalGeneral forpursuant reimbursementto ofsubsection one(f) or both of thethis following:section.

(d) Upon application by an eligible recipient, the Adjutant General’s department may award premium reimbursement grants to an eligible recipient for one or both of the following:

1 CS for SB 738 (e) If any portion of the premiums eligible for reimbursement inunder this section are later paid for, reimbursed, or otherwise provided to an eligible recipient by the federal government, then that portion shall cease to be reimbursed by the TRICARE premiumPremium reimbursementReimbursement programProgram Intr SB 738 2026R3760 established inby this section.

(f) The adjutantAdjutant generalGeneral shall adopt and publish written policies and guidelinesguidelines, including reimbursement requirements and application procedures, to effectuate the purposes of this section.

(g) ThisNothing actin is not an appropriation of funds, and funds must not be obligated or expended pursuant to this section unlessshall thebe fundsconstrued areas specificallyan appropriatedappropriation byof thefunds. general appropriations act.

(h)Funding Thisfor actthe takesTRICARE effectPremium JulyReimbursement 1,Program 2026,is thesubject publicto welfareappropriation requiringby it.the Legislature.

(h) The provisions of this section shall be effective July 1, 2026.