1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

The provision in the National Defense Authorization Act that bars TRICARE from covering gender-affirming care for transgender youth under 18 is deeply concerning. Denying access to medically necessary care goes against the recommendations of major medical organizations and jeopardizes the wellbeing of these young people. Many transgender kids rely on TRICARE for mental health support, puberty blockers, and hormone therapy - treatments that are life-changing and can be life-saving. Imposing an arbitrary age restriction disregards the informed decision-making between doctors, patients, and families. This provision forces military families into an unacceptable dilemma of choosing between vital health care or their career. All children, regardless of being transgender or not, deserve to receive appropriate medical care as determined by medical experts, not politicians. I urge you to reject this harmful provision and ensure our military families have access to comprehensive, evidence-based health coverage.