Attack on Military Retiree Medical Care Unrelenting

Blackanthem Military News, Harry Riley, February 14, 2006 13:45

Yes or No to DoD TRICARE Fee Increase now in the hands of Congress

(The opinions expressed in this column represent those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, or philosophy of Blackanthem.com.)

In Tom Philpotts piece of February 11, 2006 he continues the discussion on TRICARE fee increases and states "The Bush administration, in its fiscal 2007 defense budget, unveiled its plan to raise TRICARE fees and deductibles for military retirees under age 65 and their dependents. Co-payments in the TRICARE retail pharmacy network also would climb, but for all beneficiaries except those on active duty."

If we get right down to the ethical, moral, and factual basis of military retiree medical program, there should be no fees placed on military retiree medical care as the care is earned compensation... not a give-away, "extremely rich" benefit as some suggest, but an earned moral obligation of the United States government resulting from military service, military policy, and congressional promises.

There is clear evidence in official recruiting policy and other data, of government/congress intention to provide government funded life-long healthcare for military retirees, and this policy extended well into the decade of the 1990s'. If there is any doubt that military retiree healthcare was policy and funded by Congress for decades...it was proven by a lawsuit prosecuted by attorney Col Bud Day, Medal of Honor recipient, POW in Hanoi, on behalf of older military retirees which ended in the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C. A portion of the courts ruling reads: "IV. Conclusion- We cannot readily imagine more sympathetic plaintiffs .... 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."

The fact remains Congress has not acted to roll back the TRICARE and other fees, so the fight is on to keep the fees from increasing.

For more years that I care to remember Congress consistently explained low active duty military pay (well below cost of living, inflation, minimum wage, etc) as accounting for the "retirement benefits of commissary privileges, post exchange access and no cost life-time medical care" to justify the low compensation. Year after year warriors heard the congressional explanation, didn't like it, but sacrificed quality of living, long periods of separation from loved ones, and life threatening conditions in service to our nation...fully expecting the US Government to keep it's word. Congress was clearly stating that military members were purchasing no cost heath care and other retirement benefits from the inadequate pay being held back at the time of service.

Not only are military retirees forced to pay medical care fees, they are required to do so based on the pittance received in military and social security retired compensation, which is directly correlated to low wages while on active duty.

Dr. William Winkenwerder Jr., the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs explains his rationale for the reported fee increase this way. "There would be no change for active duty military or their families, or military retirees age 65 or older and their families. When the Tricare health care program for active duty and retired military members and their families was established in 1995, retirees then were contributing about 27 percent of the cost of their benefit.... However, military health care costs doubled from $19 billion in 2001 to just over $37 billion in the 2006 defense budget... And today's average military retiree contribution for health care coverage has dropped to about 10 to 12 percent, he said. "Their contribution did not change, while the value of the benefit continued to rise," Winkenwerder said. (This is "spin" and disingenous)

Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) adds an element of the "military retiree" budget problem that DoD, Winkenwerder, and others conveniently ignore. "A great deal of the Pentagon's concern over rising health care costs involves the nearly $9 billion annual deposit to the TRICARE For Life trust fund that the Administration wrongly counts against the defense budget. Two years ago, when Defense leaders said the Administration was making them take this deposit "out of hide" at the expense of other Defense programs, the Armed Services Committees acted to change the law to shift that deposit from the Defense budget to the U.S. Treasury budget. The clear intent was that TFL expenses weren't to come at the expense of other readiness needs. Congress passed that provision as part of the FY2005 Defense Authorization Act (Public Law 108-375)." In reality, DoD and the Administration is distorting facts, if not breaking the law, to pad their argument. (http://capwiz.com/moaa/home/

Winkenwerder, and to be fair, most other elements of the Administration and Congress only look at "contributions" in dollars and cents...they ignore the costs in "lost lives, bodily devastation, family sacrifices, life-long pain in body and spirit...these contributions seem of small consequence in the eyes of bean counters.

More often than not, leadership forgets the forces that propelled him/her to the position they occupy...there are always subordinates that are struggling, sacrificing, winning the battles that push leaders up the line...military leaders are not successful because of what "they" do, but because they ride on the shoulders of privates and sergeants. Has this lesson been lost in the White House, DOD and Joint Chiefs of Staff? Has the Joint Chiefs forgotten they ride the shoulders of the troops? Does Secretary Rumsfeld, Under Secretary Winkenwerder or Chu really understand warrior, family and widow sacrifices? I don't think so.

If the President and Secretary of Defense understood leadership they would ensure a budget that takes care of the troops in harm's way and keep commitments to all military retirees and those who previously experienced the smell of war. How can the Joint Chiefs remain true to the principle of "taking care of the troops", spouses, and widows and support military retiree medical care betrayal?

The short but profound reality is that warriors contributions have indeed, not changed...they are still contributing their blood, body parts, and yes, life itself, as a willing sacrifice to sustain our nation...and of equal contribution is the sacrifice of families, and especially widows. For members of DoD/Administration and some members of Congress to continually harp on monetary costs of warrior, spouse, and widow medical care while down-playing and ignoring the horrific personal, sacrificial costs to these patriots is nothing short of disgraceful, dishonorable, and a immoral stain on the fabric of America.

Related story : DoD Proposes Tricare Hikes for Younger Military Retirees

By Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret