No Result
View All Result
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Result
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
Reserve & National Guard

Bipartisan dental-care bill for guardsmen about readiness, ‘peace of mind’

Crystal Kupper
by Crystal Kupper
July 5, 2022
Dental care

Tropic Care Innovative Readiness Training dental personnel conduct a cleaning on a patient in Lihue, Hawai'i, on June 15 2022. Photo by Senior Airman Brody Katka

When Rep. Andy Kim speaks with National Guardsmen and reservists in his home state, they often have the same message – finding consistent and affordable dental care is a challenge.

“Speaking with them, hearing their stories, it became clear to me that something needed to be done,” the New Jersey Democrat wrote in an email. “Dental care is a top readiness issue for our Guard and reserve, which is why I decided to move forward on this effort first.”

On June 16, Kim and Rep. Trent Kelly (R-Mississippi) introduced the Dental Care for Our Troops Act. If approved, the bipartisan bill would guarantee that every guardsman and reservist receives no-fee dental health care just like active-duty service members already do ― even when not on active status.

“No-cost dental care will save families money, ensure that Guard [members] and reservists are ready to deploy, and our bill would make sure that everyone who serves doesn’t have to worry about the cost of visiting their dentist,” Kim wrote. “It’s more than just about the money or readiness; it’s also about peace of mind.”

Tooth trouble

The Dental Care for Our Troops Act is part of the larger Healthcare for Our Troops Act. When guardsmen and reservists have access to the same level of health care as their active-duty counterparts, they are able to deploy and serve immediately.

Retired Army Reserve Major Gen. Peggy Wilmoth remembers when dental problems affected Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. There were four levels of “dental readiness,” she said, with Category 3 meaning the troop could not deploy.

“What they found in Desert Shield and Storm was there were awful lot of reservists with Category 3 dental problems,” she said.

RELATED: Reservists’ caregivers advocate for passage of Elizabeth Dole Act

Sometimes to get enough bodies in formations, dentists would simply yank troublesome teeth, she said.

After the operations ceased, officials created TRICARE Reserve Select, a guardsmen and reservist dental insurance plan that troops could purchase. But Wilmoth said the costs often ate an entire drill weekend’s pay for junior enlisted members.

“This is an issue that has taken an awful lot of time, and this bill would certainly simplify that process,” Wilmoth said. “It’s very much needed for reservists to have some parity with our active-duty brethren.”

Biting down

Wilmoth serves as the chair of the National Health Services Committee for Reserve Association of America (ROA), which has endorsed Kim and Kelly’s bill.

“I can’t say enough for these two representatives supporting this particular effort,” Wilmoth said. “This is a benefit to help provide some equity across the force and maintain readiness for military duty.”

Kim’s office stated in a press release that in the post-9/11 period, more than 20% of guardsmen and reservists have been non-deployable and another 15% removed from duty while deployed thanks to dental problems.

Air Force Reserve Staff Sgt. Courtney Tutela has seen the issue firsthand, watching fellow reservists be unable to go TDY or deploy because of dental issues. And even when funds are not a problem, simply accessing on-base dental care can be tricky, she said, unless on orders.

“So this bill is just awesome,” Tutela said. “I think it would afford every reserve member just the peace of mind that they don’t have to try to pay for dental work themselves or go through civilian providers.”

Kelly, a major general in the Mississippi National Guard, has a personal take on what it’s like to serve as a guardsmen or reservist without full dental coverage. He has served 36 years, including a stint in Desert Storm and multiple deployments to Iraq since 9/11.

“Dental care is not just a financial burden or health issue for Guard families,” he wrote in an email. “Dental problems can prevent service members from being able to deploy or go to certain trainings, which impacts their unit’s readiness to protect our nation both at home and abroad.”

Read comments
Tags: BipartisanDental Care for Our Troops ActMississippi National GuardNational GuardRep. Andy KimRep. Trent KellyReserve
Crystal Kupper

Crystal Kupper

Crystal Kupper is a writer, photographer, runner, mom of (at least) four and Air Force wife currently stationed in Arizona. There's nowhere she'd rather be other than with her family or chatting about orphan justice.

Related Posts

CrossFit for duty: Soldiers lean on functional fitness to stay in shape 

by Crystal Kupper
3 days ago
0
CrossFit

Some guardsmen and reservists consider CrossFit, the popular functional fitness regimen, a great way to get military ready.  

Read more

Navy reservist captures history over 30-year career

by Taneika Duhaney
6 days ago
0
Navy reservist

Amy Forsythe, now a Navy reservist, has documented service members in some of the most remote regions in the world...

Read more

Marine Corps Reserve veteran reflects on ‘fly on the wall’ view of Iraq War

by Kari Williams
1 week ago
0
Iraq

When talk of the Iraq War began, retired Marine Corps Capt. Matthew Hoh was a junior officer for the Secretary...

Read more

AFRC, Mercy hospitals training agreement benefits multiple parties

by Allison Churchill
3 weeks ago
0
Mercy

An agreement between Air Force Reserve Command and Mercy allows reservists in medical fields to train at the Catholic hospital...

Read more

Ohio Guard quietly removed guardsman guilty of making ghost guns last year

by Military.com
3 weeks ago
0
Ice covers the "Minuteman" statue in front of the Ohio Air National Guard Headquarters building, Dec. 20, 2016. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Joe Harwood\Released)

The Ohio National Guard says it booted a guardsman who was sentenced for making ghost guns from its ranks months...

Read more

National Guard, reserve veterans among IAVA’s advocacy all-stars

by AmeriForce Staff
4 weeks ago
0
IAVA

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America's (IAVA) All-Star Advocacy Fly-In on Capitol Hill included several reserve component veterans.

Read more

Ads

Let's get social

The RNG Drill

News delivered directly to your inbox

Let's connect!

ABOUT US

  • OUR STORY
  • OUR TEAM
  • OUR WRITERS

MAGAZINE

  • GET PRINT
  • GET DIGITAL
  • GET THE NEWSLETTER

ADVERTISE

  • GET OUR MEDIA KIT
  • PUBLISHER’S STATEMENT

SUBMISSIONS

  • PITCH US
  • SUBMIT YOUR STORY

Never miss out on the latest stories.

© 2021 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Privacy Policy | Terms | Site by Swiss Commerce

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
  • YOUR CAREER
    • UNIT TRAINING
    • DEPLOYMENT
    • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
    • RECRUITING & RETENTION
    • ENTREPRENEUR
    • TRANSITION
  • EDUCATION
  • MILITARY LIFE
    • MILITARY SPOUSES
    • MILITARY KIDS
    • PARENTING
  • OFF DUTY
    • ENTERTAINMENT
    • TRAVEL
  • HEALTH
    • FITNESS
    • MEDICINE
    • MENTAL HEALTH
  • SPORTS
  • OPINION
  • HISTORY
  • MONEY
    • PERSONAL FINANCE
    • BENEFITS
  • GET THE MAGAZINE
    • PRINT MAGAZINES
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINES
    • GET THE NEWSLETTER
  • ABOUT US
    • MEET OUR TEAM
    • OUR AUTHORS
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
    • SUBMIT YOUR STORY
    • PITCH US
    • CONTACT

© 2022 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Site by SCBW

Skip to toolbar
  • About WordPress
    • WordPress.org
    • Documentation
    • Support
    • Feedback
  • AMP
    • View AMP version