TEMPORARY EXTENSION OF TRANSITIONAL HEALTH CARE BENEFITS.

SEC. 704. TEMPORARY EXTENSION OF TRANSITIONAL HEALTH CARE BENEFITS.(a) Extension.—Subject to subsection (b), and notwithstanding section 1117 of the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense and for the Reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan, 2004, during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on December 31, 2004, section 1145(a) of title 10, United States Code, shall be administered by substituting for paragraph (3) the following: “(3) Transitional health care for a member under subsection (a) shall be available for 180 days beginning on the date on which the member is separated from active duty.”.117 STAT. 1528(b) Effective Date.—(1) Subsection (a) shall apply with respect to separations from active duty that take effect on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.(2) Beginning on January 1, 2005, the period for which a member is provided transitional health care benefits under section 1145(a) of title 10, United States Code, shall be adjusted as necessary to comply with the limits provided under paragraph (3) of such section.