Tricare meets health care bill’s standards, Gates says Published March 23, 2010 By American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, March 22, 2010 -- The Tricare military health plan meets the standards set by the health care reform bill the House of Representatives passed Sunday night, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in a statement issued yesterday. Calling their health and well-being his highest priority, Gates reassured servicemembers and their families that the legislation won't have a negative effect on Tricare, which "already meets the bill's quality and minimum benefit standards." "This was clarified by a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives [March 20], and is expected to be re-affirmed by the Senate," Gates said in the statement. "The president and I are committed to seeing that our troops, retirees and their families will continue to receive the best quality health care," the secretary said.