MRGRG-MS - Mil. Retiree Medical Care Senate FAX List for Jan 30-31 and Feb 1-3
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Since 01-28-06

From: MRGRG-MS@yahoogroups.com [mailto:MRGRG-MS@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of Floyd Sears
Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2006 4:19 PM
To: !CAG/MRGRG e-mail network
Cc: Tim (G.T.) Forehand
Subject: [MRGRG-MS] [Fwd: Mil. Retiree Medical Care Senate FAX List for Jan 30-31 and Feb 1-3]

 

 MRGRG-MS Main Page  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MRGRG-MS
 

THIS E-MAIL IS BEING FORWARDED FOR TIM FOREHAND. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS THEN ADDRESS THEM TO TIM AT tim@alaweb.com

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Mil. Retiree Medical Care Senate FAX List for Jan 30-31 and Feb 1-3
Date:     Sat, 28 Jan 2006 14:33:13 -0600
From:    Tim <tim@alaweb.com>
To:        E-mail List

Regardless of age all military retirees are at risk if DoD, Congress and the President proceed with increases in TRICARE fees for medical care. Civilian non-military retirees should also be concerned as it will affect military recruiting and thus the future defense of the nation.

 

Each person receiving this is requested to Fax (Preferred), email or call each Senator listed on the date shown. Please use: “Military Retiree Medical Care” in the subject line or when placing the call. Say what you wish regarding the medical care but take action immediately.

 
To FAX using your computer/printer use the FAX number following each Senators name.

<>When you have completed your correspondence, go to
http://mrgrg-ms.org/educate-the-congress.html , the "MRGRG
Educate the Congress Tracking System" and follow the directions shown. If you want more information on your Senators or Representatives go to:</>

http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/ or http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.html

Your participation is vital to keep Congress, DoD and the President from further destroying the earned Military Retiree benefits. If you won’t do it for yourself, take action for the sake of your spouse since she will likely outlive you, be defenseless and having to live on lower income.

Senators FAX List for January 30-31 and February 1-3

 

January 30

 

Senator Sam Brownback    202-228-1265

Senator Pat Roberts            202-224-3514

Senator Mitch McConnell  202-224-2499

Senator Jim Bunning          202-228-1373

Senator Mary Landrieu       202-224-9735

Senator David Vitter           202-228-5061

 

January 31

 

Senator Olympia Snowe                 202-224-1946

Senator Susan Collins                    202-224-2693

Senator Paul S. Sarbanes              202-224-1651     

Senator Barbara Mikulski                202-224-8858

Senator Edward Kennedy               202-224-2417

Senator John F. Kerry                      202-224-8525

  

February 1

 

Senator Carl Levin                            202-224-1388

Senator Debbie Stablenow               202-228-0325

Senator Mark Dayton                        202-228-2186

Senator Norm Coleman                    202-224-1152                    

Senator Thad Cochran                      202-224-9450

Senator Trent Lott                             202-224-2262

 

February 2

 

Senator Christopher Bond                   202-224-8149

Senator Jim Talent                              202-228-1518

Senator Max Baucus                           202-224-0515

Senator Conrad Burns                         202-224-8594

Senator Chuck Hagel                           202-224-5213

Senator Ben Nelson                             202-228-0012

 

February 3

 

Senator John Ensign                           202-228-2193

Senator Harry Reid                              202-224-7327

Senator Judd Gregg                            202-224-4952

Senator John Sununu                          202-228-4131

Senator Frank Lautenberg                   202-228-4054

Senator Robert Menendez                   202-228-2197


The above schedule is also posted at http://mrgrg-ms.org/fax-it.html
 

Thank you for your assistance in getting Congress to understand how irate the Community is over PART B fees for MR and the proposed increases in TRICARE fees.

 

My FAX will read:

 

The Joint Chiefs are joining the Defense Department in seeking to more than triple annual enrollment fees for officers in Tricare Prime and double the fees for enlisted retirees by 2008. 

DoD wants Congress to jack up fees for those under-65 officer retirees from $240 a year for individual cov erage to $750, and from $450 annually for family coverage to $1,500. The department wants to raise fees for enlisted retirees under age 65 to $450 for individuals and $900 for families. The deductible for Tricare Standard also would be raised and an annual enrollment fee would be imposed. Medicare-eligible retirees also would take a hit, with co payments for retail generic drugs jumping from $3 to $5 and for brand name drugs from $9 to $15 retail and $10 by mail order. DoD claims it needs the money from the retirees to balance the defense budget.

How much more are military retirees (MR) to sacrifice? MR gave 20 or more years of their lives, barely surviving at times, undergoing all kinds of hardships, low pay and long hours.

 

Then, from 1976 - 1993 Congress screwed with MR COLA's eight times- three years of which there was no COLA at all. During that same timeframe dental, eye and hearing medical care was lost. In 1995, Congress took the no-out-of-pocket-cost medical care that military retirees and family members were promised and earned. When MR go on Social Security they draw less than their peers for having served with low military pay.

 

Now, TRICARE FOR LIFE is costing over 65 military husband and wife $2,100.00 per year from meager retirement incomes. That is one hell of a reduction in retirement income! That is one hell of a reduction in standard of living. and MEDICARE Part B is going up each year.

In response to a lawsuit filed by Military Retirees the U.S. Appellate Court said: "IV.

 

Conclusion- We cannot readily imagine more sympathetic plaintiffs than the retired officers of the World War II and Korean War era involved in this case. They served their country for at least 20 years with the understanding that when they retired they and their dependents
would receive full free health care for life. The promise of such health care was made in good faith and relied upon."

"Congress has the power and authority under the Constitution to establish a system for the payment of retired pay [for military service members] and to change the system from time to time. . . . We understand and appreciate the dissatisfaction of the plaintiffs with the change in the retirement pay system, as they have rendered long and faithful service to our country
in time of peace and war. However, if they are to get any relief, it must come from Congress, as this is not within [a court's] jurisdiction."

 

Action that has been taken against military retirees is not beneficial for military recruiting, nor does it bode well for supporting government when its most deserving citizens see that they cannot trust those elected to keep legitimate promises made by its agents.


You are therefore requested to heed the Appellate court's words and take immediate action to get legislation through Congress that will return no-out-of-pocket-cost medical care (to include dental, eye and hearing care) to deserving military retirees and their immediate family members.

Thank you for your assistance in this matter.

Respectfully,

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