Military Officer - June 2006 - (Page 29)

washingtonscene Beneficiary Views on TRICARE Fee Hikes 40,000 MOAA survey responses overwhelmingly opposed both DoD’s proposal to increase TRICARE fees by 40% to 200% over two years with subsequent 8% to 10% annual increases and an alternate plan in which health fees would increase each year by the same percentage that retired pay increases. Remaining percentages responded neutral. DoD Plan ■ PERCENT OPPOSE ■ PERCENT FAVOR 96 2 93 4 97 2 91 3 92 3 Active Duty Guard/Res. Ret. under 65 Ret. age 65+ Survivors COLA-Based Plan ■ PERCENT OPPOSE ■ PERCENT FAVOR 79 12 71 17 74 16 78 11 84 9 Active Duty Guard/Res. Ret. under 65 Ret. age 65+ Survivors tion environment, “a $1,000-a-year cut in retirement beneﬁts can’t help.” He cited MOAA survey results of 40,000 inputs, of which 95 percent opposed the DoD plan (see chart, above). He noted that the 6,000 active duty responses were at least equally opposed. Ryan offered MOAA’s list of 16 ways the Pentagon can help reduce health care costs without hurting beneﬁciaries. Also testifying was former DoD Comptroller Dov S. Zakheim, who reinforced MOAA’s message — that the administration is skirting the FY 2005 Defense Authorization Act (which shifted responsibility for all TRICARE For Life (TFL) trust fund deposits to the Treasury Department) by continuing to charge TFL trust fund deposits against the Defense budget. Zakheim argued, as MOAA has, that these deposits should not be counted, as a matter of law or policy, against the Defense budget. Zakheim also said he was struck by the difference in the positions being taken by CHART: LEW AGRELL today’s military leaders and those of ﬁve years ago. Back then, he noted, the Joint Chiefs urged Congress to increase retiree health beneﬁts because broken promises to retirees were hurting active duty retention. In contrast, all four service Vice Chiefs of Staff testifying at the March 29 hearing supported charging retirees higher fees. Senate Bill to Guard TRICARE Proposals curb DoD authority to charge beneﬁciaries. O n April 7, Sens. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) joined with four other cosponsors to introduce S. 2617, the Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act. JUNE 2006 MILITARY OFFICER 29

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Military Officer - June 2006

Military Officer - June 2006 Contents From the Editor President’s Page Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Chapter Activities MOAA Member Services Living Well 5 Foods for Life The Kindest Cut Winning the Battle Cover Story: Choppers Pages of History Information Exchange Advertising Index MOAA Scholarship Donors Member Books MOAA Calendar Sounding Taps Encore

Military Officer - June 2006

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