mickeyd
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Tricare fee structure come under the Congressional microscope. If you are retired military (or will be someday) you may also find this interesting.
Sorry that I can not give a link or URL as this was from an email that I received from MOAA.
Sorry that I can not give a link or URL as this was from an email that I received from MOAA.
Personnel Chiefs Take Fee Flak
On March 6, Service personnel chiefs testifying at a hearing before the House Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee ended up getting an earful from legislators about the Pentagon's proposed plan to impose dramatic TRICARE fee increases on military retirees.
Chairman Joe Wilson (R-SC) questioned both the level of fee increases and the "tiered" fee method that would means-test fees based on retired pay level. "I'm concerned. It seems that (budget) reductions only apply to military personnel," Wilson said. "Commitments have been made to our military in terms of health care benefits. Over 5 years [TRICARE Prime] enrollment fees will increase 94% and 345%. I’m just concerned about the fairness of this."
Congressman (Dr.) Joe Heck (R-NV), an Army Reserve physician who practiced medicine in the military for over 21 years, took exception to the witnesses' statements that the Pentagon needs to do this to control health care costs. "You're cost shifting. It does nothing to control costs by shifting the burden to those we are suppose to be taking care of," Heck asserted.
The discussion turned to the Administration's proposal to establish a BRAC-like commission to review the current retirement system.
Dr. Heck expressed his appreciation to panelists for recognizing the negative impact of even suggesting retirement changes with the currently serving troops, but followed rhetorically with stating, "Why anybody would ever say were going to put together a BRAC-like commission to look at military retirement is beyond me when BRAC is not a term that's well-embraced."
The witnesses reiterated that the military needs to "share the burden" and be "part of the solution" to meet the nation's fiscal responsibility.
Congressman Austin Scott (R-GA) retorted, "I hear 'share the burden' over and over. The bottom line is the military, and those that serve in the military, and those that support those that serve in the military and their families…are taking it on the chin."
MOAA couldn't agree more. A statement offered by MOAA and the Military Coalition at the hearing highlighted a variety of priorities, including:
- Protecting against drawing down force levels faster than wartime missions are reduced
- Sustaining the link between military pay raises and private sector pay growth
- Resisting proposals to short-circuit the normal legislative process by "fast-tracking" proposals to impose radical reforms on military retirement
- Protecting funding for commissaries, exchanges, and dependent schools
- The need for further progress to ease retirement/compensation inequities imposed on disabled retirees, Guard/Reserve personnel, and military survivors
- Needed protections for wounded warriors, families and caregivers