Jun
02
2009
New Life for Old Information
We have written two articles here on BotB regarding the emails going around regarding the Congressional Budget Office and the future of TRICARE and TFL. The subject has also been addressed in Legislative Updates and ‘As I See It’, but the steep rise in the number of emails received in the past week has been surprising as these things usually trail off. One possible reason for the resurgence is a new introductory commentary in the email, but the more probable reason is that this concerns health care and money, two things everyone is worried about right now.
Below the fold you will find the email in question and MOAA’s official response to the CBO/TFL concerns.
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May
13
2009
Update #2: This one keeps on rolling, with more stories regarding the future of TFL, so I’m pinning it to the top of the page for a while. I’ve also copied my comment (that was vetted by our legislative experts) for ease of viewing.
A quick update on a previous Bilge story regarding Tricare For Life funding. The original article can be found here.
As stated in MOAA’s Legislative Update from May 8th:
Full funding for the TRICARE program. The good news is that this is the first time in four years that the budget hasn’t included formal proposals for big hikes in TRICARE fees for retirees under 65. The bad news is that Pentagon leaders still want to raise TRICARE fees. A key difference is that this year, they’re going to ask Congress to do that rather than cutting the budget on the assumption that it will happen.
This is good news for TFL and TRICARE as a whole. Congress is very unlikely to raise fees, especially when it is not in the budget already proposed to them. Since we are still receiving the original email that was going around, the word has not gotten out completely just yet.
June 1 Addition
Just to clarify CBO does not draft legislation nor have they proposed legislation. CBO does publish a list of options or ways to reduce or increase the budget in certain areas. Included in those recommendations were changes to TFL.
Please know that MOAA is doing everything we can to improve TRICARE For Life, we hope that the only changes you do see in the future are positive ones. We wholeheartedly agree that any increases in health care premiums/copays/deductibles would be diluting the retirement benefit and could have an adverse affect on recruiting and retention.
Apr
22
2009
Summary
Today, MOAA staffers, Board of Directors and Chapter leaders from all over the nation are participating in our yearly ‘Storming the Hill‘ campaign. The premise is simple. Have one representative from each state come to DC and, along with a MOAA staff member well versed in legislative issues, meet with their Representatives and Senators in Congress. This article examines one of our top goals this year – TRICARE fee increases, and some of the bilge-related issues and misconceptions that stand in our way.
TRICARE Health Fee Increases
The Department of Defense has proposed increases in fees for Retirees under the age of 65. The cost of the fee increases amount to an average of $1,000 for coverage and premiums, and another $1,000 for prescriptions.
Their reasoning for these hikes are, in part:
- Need to reflect civilian practices
- Costs of benefits increases
- Need to free funds for weapons
- There have been no increases in fees since 1995
Why these justifications are not supported by reality:
- Nation Owes More to Military Retirees than GM Does to Its Employees
- Can’t Replace Mid-Career Losses
- Career Members Pay Premiums in Extended Service, Sacrifice
- Far Exceed Retired Pay Increases
- Would Erode Retired Pay/SBP Value
- Congress Rejected Far Smaller Fees for Non-disabled Vets’ VA Care
- 1983-98 Pay Caps Cut Ret Pay Avg 10% (making the ‘no fee increase since 1995′ moot)
What is the solution? DoD should fix TRICARE Problems without having to hurt the beneficiaries.
- Reject Disproportionate Fee Hikes
- Push Positive Cost-Saving Ideas
- Sustain Full TRICARE Funding
- Support/Enact H.R. 816
How You Can Help
Contact Washington by using the MOAA Legislative Action Center.
You can send a message directly to President Obama on the subject here.
Also send out a message to your representatives if they are not yet on board for H.R. 816 by using this form.
Apr
14
2009
True article, real response, but the intro contains falsehoods…
BotB Verdict
Average Number of Times Received Daily at MOAA: 1
Summary
An article from 2000 that caused quite a stir in the military community continues to come up from time to time. The article, entitled ‘Our GIs Earn Enough, was written by Cindy Williams, a columnist for the Washington Times can be read here.
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Apr
01
2009
Always a concern, but no danger yet
BotB Verdict
Average Number of Times Received Daily at MOAA: 4
Summary
One of the most common source of viral emails in our community has to do with health care and benefits. It’s a natural topic and one of great interest to everyone since it affects our bottom line and sparks emotions from every subset of the military community. The most prevalent subject recently has been Tricare For Life, the program put in place in 2001 to act as a supplemental insurance to Medicare for retirees. Each year the message is dire, and fighting cuts in coverage or additions of premiums is always near the top of MOAA’s legislative agenda.
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