Since 03-22-06
Congress Must Block White House From Cutting Military Health Care
Since 03-22-06
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Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2006 5:17 AM
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Subject: Congress Must Block White House From Cutting Military Health Care
Congress Must Block White House From Cutting Military Health Care
by Martin Frost
Contributer to Fox News
20 March 2006
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,188567,00.html
Gather around, boys and girls, I’m going to tell you a ghost story. This
particular story is pretty scary but it still can have a happy ending. Hope
springs eternal.
Once upon a time, our government promised young men and women that they would
have lifetime health care if they volunteered to serve as least 20 years on
active duty in our nation’s armed services. Many young people patriotically
accepted and performed long and honorable service to our country.
But, after years of obtaining quality military health care, something happened.
Our government began looking for ways to renege on its commitment.
It happens like this. When men and women retire from our military, they often
choose to live near a military installation that has a convenient military
hospital where they can go for medical care.
Some years ago, our government started several rounds of base closings in order
to save money for other defense priorities such as sophisticated new weapons.
When bases were closed, the military hospitals also were closed.
The defense department told retirees not to worry…they could sign up for the
military’s health care plan, TRICARE.
This plan has two options:
TRICARE Prime which is treatment at military hospitals that remain open, or TRICARE Standard which is a fee for service plan which permits the patient to choose his own civilian doctor and own hospital, assuming the doctor and hospital will accept what TRICARE pays (not all doctors and hospitals agree to take TRICARE).
TRICARE serves as an important bridge for retirees who normally leave military
service long before they become eligible for Medicare.
Retirees who sign up for TRICARE Prime are charged a nominal annual enrollment fee.
Retirees who sign up for TRICARE Standard don’t currently pay an enrollment fee
but are subject to small deductibles and co-pays.
Starting a few years ago, retirees 65 and older who were eligible for Medicare
also were given TRICARE for free as a Medicare supplement. So far so good.
But this year, the Bush administration decided it was time to make major cuts in
the TRICARE retiree program to help pay for the war in Iraq.
The administration has proposed a defense budget which would triple the annual
TRICARE Prime enrollment fee for retired officers under 65, double the annual
enrollment fee for senior enlisted retirees under 65 and increase the annual
enrollment fee by 41 percent for enlisted retirees E-6 and below under the age
of 65.
Anyone who opts for TRICARE Standard would have to pay an annual enrollment fee
for the first time, though it would not be as high as the TRICARE Prime
enrollment fee.
At the same time, the administration also proposed raising deductibles for
everyone covered under TRICARE Standard.
Let’s be very specific.
Retired officers under TRICARE Prime will see their annual enrollment fee for an individual go up from the current level of $230 to $700 in two years.
Family enrollment fees for retired officers will go up from the current level of
$460 to $1,400 in two years.
For senior enlisted retirees under TRICARE Prime the annual fee would increase
from the current individual level of $230 to $475 in two years and the family
enrollment fee would go up from $460 to $950 in two years.
Those military retiree families who elect TRICARE Standard could expect new
enrollment fees ranging from $280 to $560 plus higher deductibles.
In a move that can only be described as cynical, the Bush administration is
trying to create savings by raising fees, deductibles and co-pays to such a
level that many retirees will abandon TRICARE in favor of health insurance
provided by their post-military employers (for those who have second career
jobs).
The assumption is that employed retirees currently sign up for TRICARE rather
than health insurance through their new employer because TRICARE is so much
cheaper and since many employers require the employee to pay a hefty portion of
their health insurance premiums.
Further complicating the situation is the fact that some retirees are working
for small companies that don’t offer health insurance or are self-employed and
thus would bear all the increased TRICARE costs.
The reason that TRICARE is so important for military retirees is that many
retire from active duty service in their 40’s or 50’s and will not be eligible
for Medicare until they reach age 65. In addition, some older retirees have
dependents who are not Medicare eligible (younger spouses, dependent children)
and need affordable health insurance for their families even when they reach
Medicare age.
And so, at a time when our nation is asking more and more sacrifice from its
armed forces and our military is having a hard time filling its recruiting
quotas, the Bush administration is trying to decrease a long standing benefit
and a key tool used to recruit new soldiers, marines, airmen and sailors.
Not only is this short-sighted, it is simply wrong. We made promises to the
brave men and women who are willing to risk their lives for their country. We
should honor those promises, not turn our backs on our nation’s heroes.
But this scary story can still have a happy ending.
Legislation to block the implementation of the Bush administration's proposed increases in TRICARE fees and co-payments has been introduced in the U.S. House and has bi-partisan support.
The bill, the Military Retirees Healthcare Protection Act (HR 4949), has been refered to the House Armed Services Committee.
Congress must approve this proposal.
The Bush administration underestimates the power of the constituent voice in
influencing Congressional votes. Boys and girls – get on the phone, on e-mail or
send a letter to your senator or representatives. Tell them to write a happier
ending to this sad chapter of Bush politics.
It’s not enough to simply trust the president now to do the right thing for our
troops.
Martin Frost served in Congress from 1979 to 2005, representing a diverse
district in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. He served two terms as chairman of the
House Democratic Caucus, the third-ranking leadership position for House
Democrats, and two terms as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign
Committee.
Frost serves as a regular contributor to FOX News Channel, and is a scholar in
residence at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington,
D.C. He holds a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Missouri
and a law degree from the Georgetown Law Center.Respond
to the Writer
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Contrributed,
YNCS Don Harribine, USN(ret)