Military Benefits in Jeopardy

by Lt. Col. Carolyn Abell, USA, Retired

After a few months busy with getting married, moving from one home to another, planning for Christmas, and suffering a variety of illnesses, I am somewhat behind in my reading. In an effort to catch up, I opened my November issue of "Military Officer," the magazine published by the Military Officers' Association of America (MOAA) today.  Seeing an article entitled "Misguided Attack," with the catch line, "A White House proposal cites a goal to civilianize some military benefits" I immediately turned to that page.

Now I realize that proposing to reduce military benefits isn't exactly new news. But this article cited some specific cuts that I found appalling.

The primary target for pillaging was health benefits.  The administration proposes establishing an annual "enrollment" charge for TRICARE For Life members, to the tune of $200 per person. A cost index would increase this charge by an unspecified amount each year.

TRICARE pharmacy copayments would also be targeted for this slash and burn policy. The current copay of $5 for generic prescriptions would double, to $10, starting in 2013. In the out years, it would be raised until it reaches 20% of the cost of each prescription. For some medications which cost hundreds of dollars each, the proposed copay would rise exponentially.

The copayment for retail brand name prescriptions would go from $12 to 15% in 2013, and subsequently 30% of prescription cost. I have two medicines that fall into that category. For the one that costs $123, 30% would raise my copay from $12 to $37--more than triple.

Similar copay increases would apply to mail-order brand names and mail-order non-formulary prescriptions.

In addition to this proposed slashing of benefits in health care, the Obama administration is calling for an overall "modernizing" of the military retirement system, in order to make it more like the civilian system. Converting the retirement to a civilian-style 401(k) plan, while simultaneously delaying retired pay until age 57 or longer is another proposal for saving money.

As the authors of the "Military Officer" article so aptly phrased it, "This shows a shocking insensitivity to the radical difference between military and civilian careers...The whole purpose of the unique military retirement and health care package is to offset the extraordinary demands and sacrifices inherent in a service career."

Without these incentives, the services would find it increasingly difficult to recruit quality personnel who are willing to endure the rigors of intense training, deployments to war zones, and lengthy separations from their families.

According to my research, TREA (The Retired Enlisted Association) has informed its members of these same proposed changes.

I can think of many other federally funded programs more deserving of reduction than the Department of Defense, starting with the United Nations. This useless organization that is allowed to sit in New York, enjoying a tax-free status and continuing to receive millions of U.S. dollars every year, while they simultaneously vote for policies that oppose U.S. interests and jeopardize our security, should be cut off from all funding and relocated to Haiti.

The Obama family's frequent six-figure vacation junkets should also be targeted. The idea that they require two luxury jets to get to vacation spots, so that Michelle can depart Washington four hours before her husband, is waste and abuse in its most blatant. This has happened more than once. Their cavalier disregard for the prudent use of taxpayer money constitutes an elitist attitude of entitlement. (No wonder the NASCAR fans gave "Michelle Antoinette" a resounding booing at a recent appearance.)

I am sure you can think of many other federal programs that could use a good shaving.

And I hope that you are addressing these concerns to your representatives in Congress.

Complacency is something we simply cannot afford. With a Congress that is made up of only 20% veterans, our voice is being lost in the crowd. People who have never served in the military cannot possibly understand our background or our needs.

For officers, I highly recommend that if you are not a MOAA member, you join as soon as possible. They are one of our most dedicated voices on Capitol Hill, relentlessly pushing for the preservation of benefits and other military-related issues. I have been a lifetime member for many years.

Enlisted members, both active and retired, have a similar voice in TREA. Your support will enable them to continue to fight for your rights and benefits.

Copyright 2011 Carolyn Abell