A February 6, 2026 Federal Register Notice said an estimated 137,000 civilians may soon receive bills for medical care they received at military treatment facilities over the last three years.   The billing was paused in June 2023 in order for DOD to develop the new Military Health System Modified Payment and Waiver Program, to help these civilians who face financial difficulty.   

Military medical facilities can provide care to individuals who aren’t eligible beneficiaries in certain circumstances, by law, usually on a reimbursable basis. To address those with financial needs, the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act gave DOW the authority to apply a sliding fee scale and catastrophic fee waiver.