Gunner's Blog

Washington, D.C. – In a press conference today on Capitol Hill, Third District Representative Walter B. Jones (R-NC) joined Rep. Chet Edwards (D-TX) to introduce H.R. 4949, the Military Retirees’ Health Care Protection Act, a bill to block the Administration's budget proposal to double and triple health care premiums for about three million enlisted and officer retirees under TRICARE, the military’s health insurance system.  

"This legislation is about offering protection for the men and women who are willing to protect our nation from its enemies, and keeping promises to those who have promised to put themselves in harm’s way when called upon," Congressman Jones said.  "The families of our armed forces deserve consistent health care benefits."

Congressman Edwards, with whom Jones coauthored the bill, said, "Our common bond is a deep and abiding respect for those who have committed their lives to military service.  Our common goal is to ensure that those who serve our nation in uniform are treated fairly."

H.R. 4949 establishes the principle that it is the responsibility of Congress, not the Pentagon, to establish when and by how much military health fees will be increased.  The bill would block the Pentagon from dramatically raising health care fees on military retirees by removing the Secretary of Defense’ current authority to make virtually unlimited increases in four specific areas:

• Enrollment fees for retired members and survivors in TRICARE Prime, the military-managed health plan

      The current Defense budget plan would raise these fees by 50% to 200%, depending on grade.

• Pharmacy copayments

The current Defense budget plan proposes raising retail drug copayments by 67% for all military beneficiaries.

• Enrollment fees for the new TRICARE Reserve Select program that was implemented last year to maintain health coverage continuity for Guard and Reserve families

Within just a few months of its implementation, the Secretary of Defense raised these fees by 8.5%, and proposes similar increases each year in the future.

• Retiree and survivor copayments for inpatient care

The Secretary of Defense has raised these copayments regularly for years.  They now amount to $535 per day or 25% of billed charges – far larger than any civilian plan charges for inpatient care.

Representatives from the following organizations were present to announce their support for the legislation:   Military Officers Association of America, Air Force Association, The American Legion, National Association of Uniformed Services, Reserve Officers Association, National Military Family Association, The Navy League, Air Force Sergeants Association, Fleet Reserve Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Naval Enlisted Reserve Association, and The Retired Enlisted Association.

For additional information please contact Kathleen Joyce in Congressman Walter B. Jones’ office at (202) 225-3415.