As a medically retired veteran, I have personally experienced the financial burden of physical therapy under TRICARE. Despite needing rehabilitation to maintain mobility, reduce pain, and prevent future surgeries, I am forced to pay $102 - $153 per week ($408-$612 a month) just to access the care that should be the first line of defense against chronic pain and disability. Meanwhile, TRICARE would cover my surgery and pain medicine almost entirely, even though rehabilitation could prevent it altogether.

This isn’t just my story—it’s the reality for countless TRICARE Select beneficiaries who are forced to choose between paying thousands out-of-pocket for PT or taking the easier, fully covered route of surgery and pain medication. Studies show that structured rehabilitation programs reduce healthcare costs by thousands per patient, yet TRICARE’s policies discourage their use.

This petition isn’t asking for luxury benefits—it’s asking TRICARE to make the fiscally responsible choice by investing in cost-effective preventative care. By fully covering PT for 12 weeks and subsidizing post-PT rehabilitation, TRICARE can save money while improving the lives of the people who served this country. It’s time to modernize military healthcare for the better.

The numbers support this change. Studies show that increasing physical therapy use reduces long-term healthcare costs by $4,000 to $13,981 per patient by preventing unnecessary surgeries, opioid dependency, and chronic disability. If TRICARE expands PT coverage, it won’t just improve veterans' health—it will save the system money in the long run.