Military Retiree Medical Care - Regardless of age, all military retirees are at risk

Since 01-24-06

To FAX using your computer/printer use the FAX number following each Senators name.When you have completed your correspondence, then 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 23-27 January 23

Senator Richard C. Shelby (R- AL)1-202-224-3416Senator Jeff Sessions (R- AL) 1-202-224-3149Senator Ted Stevens (R- AK) 1-202-224-2354Senator Lisa Murkowski (R- AK) 1-202-224-5301Senator John McCain (R- AZ) 1-202-228-2862Senator Jon Kyl (R- AZ) 1-202-224-2207 January 24 Senator Blanche Lambert Lincoln (D- AR) 1-202-228-1371Senator Mark Pryor (D- AR) 1-202-228-0908Senator Dianne Feinstein (D- CA) 1-202-228-3954Senator Barbara Boxer (D- CA) 1-415-956-6701Senator Wayne Allard (R- CO) 1-202-224-6471Senator Ken Salazar (D- CO) 1-202-228-5036 January 25 Senator Christopher J. Dodd (D- CT)1- 202-224-1083Senator Joseph I. Lieberman (D- CT) 1-202-224-9750Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D- DE) 1-202-224-0139Senator Thomas R. Carper (D- DE) 1-202-228-2190Senator Bill Nelson (D- FL) 1-202-228-2183Senator Mel Martinez (R- FL) 1-202-228-5171 January 26 Senator Saxby Chambliss (R- GA) 1-202-224-0103Senator Johnny Isakson (R- GA) 1-202-228-0724Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D- HI) 1-202-224-6747Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D- HI) 1-202-224-2126Senator Larry E. Craig (R- ID) 1-202-228-1067Senator Mike Crapo (R- ID) 1-202-228-1375 January 27 Senator Richard J. Durbin (D- IL) 1-202-228-0400Senator Barack Obama (D- IL) 1-202-228-4260Senator Richard G. Lugar (R- IN) 1-202-228-0360Senator Evan Bayh (D- IN) 1-202-228-1377Senator Charles E. Grassley (R- IA) 1-202-224-6020Senator Tom Harkin (D- IA) 1-202-224-9369

Thank you for your assistance in making Congress 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 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,

(signature)

Address

--------------------