---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 1086b"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "1086b"
heading: "Prohibition against requiring retired members to receive health care solely through the Department of Defense"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/1086b"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part II — Personnel"
  - "Chapter 55 — Medical and Dental Care"
---

# §1086b. Prohibition against requiring retired members to receive health care solely through the Department of Defense


The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense may not take any action that would require, or have the effect of requiring, a member or former member of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) who is entitled to retired or retainer [pay](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-15) to enroll to receive [health care](/usc/10/1072.md?p=10) from the Federal Government only through the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense.


## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title VII, § 731(a), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1169.)