Young, Klobuchar Introduce Legislation to Cover Medical Costs for Military Applicants

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) introduced bipartisan legislation to reduce medical costs for civilians as they apply to join our armed services. The Applicant Medical Reimbursement Act would authorize the Department of Defense to reimburse applicants for co-pays up to $100 for visits to civilian medical providers seen as part of the military application process.

“When enlisting to serve our country in uniform, many applicants are forced to choose between paying for certain required medical appointments out-of-pocket, which can result in long wait times, or ending their enlistment process. Our bipartisan bill would address current gaps in coverage and better ensure that those who desire to serve our country are not hindered or prohibited by medical costs,” said Senator Young.

“When Americans answer the call to serve, they shouldn’t face barriers and prohibitive costs. I have heard from the Minnesota National Guard about recruits who want to join the military but drop out of the process once it’s clear there are medical costs they will have to shoulder on their own. This bipartisan bill will enable the Department of Defense to reimburse for co-pays from civilian medical visits associated with the application process,” said Senator Klobuchar.

During 2023, the military services collectively missed recruiting goals by about 41,000 recruits. The Applicant Medical Reimbursement Act will minimize cost barriers for eligible and interested applicants.

Full text of the legislation can be found here.