We want to hear why you oppose the NDAA's healthcare policy targeting military families

The FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed in December with a last-minute provision banning medically necessary healthcare coverage for transgender adolescents of military service members and retirees. Despite our efforts, the NDAA passed through Congress with the rider still included.

This provision is now in the rule-making phase, and it will soon open for public comment. In the meantime, we want to hear how a potential gender affirming care ban for minors would impact you and your family.

If the final policy is as exclusionary as possible, TRICARE benefits go below the standard of all major civilian plans by adding an exclusion not legally admissible under the Affordable Healthcare Act.

Your story will help us as we advocate for a better policy. Tell lawmakers you don’t want them playing politics with the lives of thousands of military families. Some suggestions on what to share in a video:

• How this provision harms your military family or your loved ones.
• What impact this will have on financial security, medical readiness, and future retention of service members who have to choose between their service and their child’s health.
• Why this care is ordinary medical care, supported by medical science, approved by all major medical associations, and should be managed by individuals and their health providers.
• What positive impacts access to basic healthcare has had for trans youth in your life with real examples of improved self-esteem, healthy relationships, positive school performance, and reduced depression and anxiety.

We may share these videos in social media, on our website and emails, and with lawmakers and decision-makers who need to see the personal impact this bill would have on vulnerable military families.