Military Retiree Medical Care email to Senator Boxer by your Web Master

Since 01-28-06

January 28, 2006

Dear Senator Boxer:

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 coverage 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,

James R. Santos, MS
SR to TM2(SS) USN Submarine Reserve, 6/65 - 6/71; qualified in submarines on USS Diodon (SS-349) Aug, 1967
PS3 to PSCS, USCGR, 10/2/78 - 1/1/96; Retired Awaiting Pay