COMPTROLLER GENERAL STUDY OF HEALTH CARE COVERAGE OF MEMBERS OF THE RESERVE COMPONENTS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND THE NATIONAL GUARD.

SEC. 721. COMPTROLLER GENERAL STUDY OF HEALTH CARE COVERAGE OF MEMBERS OF THE RESERVE COMPONENTS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND THE NATIONAL GUARD. (a) Requirement for Study.—The Comptroller General shall carry out a study of the needs of members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces and the National Guard and their families for health care benefits. The study shall include the following: (1) An analysis of how members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces and the National Guard currently obtain coverage for health care benefits when not on active duty, together with statistics on enrollments in health care benefits plans, including— (A) the percentage of such members who are not covered by an employer health benefits plan; (B) the percentage of such members who are not covered by an individual health benefits plan; and (C) the percentage of such members who are not covered by any health insurance or other health benefits plan. (2) An assessment of the disruptions in health benefits coverage that a mobilization of members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces and the National Guard causes for the members and their families. (3) An assessment of the cost and effectiveness of various options for preventing or reducing disruptions described in paragraph (2), including— (A) providing health care benefits to all members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces and the National Guard and their families through the TRICARE program, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, or otherwise; 115 STAT. 1168 (B) revising and extending the program of transitional medical and dental care that is provided under section 1074b of title 10, United States Code, for members of the Armed Forces upon release from active duty served in support of a contingency operation; (C) requiring the health benefits plans of such members, including individual health benefits plans and group health benefits plans, to permit such members to elect to resume coverage under such health benefits plans upon release from active duty in support of a contingency operation; (D) allowing members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces and the National Guard to participate in TRICARE Standard using various cost-sharing arrangements; (E) providing employers of members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces and the National Guard with the option of paying the costs of participation in the TRICARE program for such members and their families using various cost-sharing arrangements; (F) providing financial assistance for paying premiums or other subscription charges for continuation of coverage by private sector health insurance or other health benefits plans; and (G) any other options that the Comptroller General determines advisable to consider. (b) Report.—Not later than May 1, 2002, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report describing the findings of the study conducted under subsection (a).