| AUSN Capitol Hill News - 17FEB2011 |
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AUSN – Capitol Hill News – 17 FEB 2011
Reserve Retirement Members – needed for AP Press. If you or someone you know completed mobilization – 9-11-01 until 1-28-08, and did not get credit for those years toward the new reserve retirement provision – we need to hear from you as soon as possible. We are seeking any member or friend that completed a qualifying mobilization during this time but due to the way Congress structure the provision and does not qualify for Reserve Retirement under Public Law -110-181. Please contact ike.puzon@ausn.org as soon as possible if you would like to tell your story to Associated Press for an article about the issue. As you may know we along with others are trying to get Congress to include those that where not included in the provision. I will need name, dates of qualifying mobilization and email-phone number for the Associated Press correspondent to reach you. The story will be done soon – therefore – if you want your story told – do not wait. Ike.puzon@ausn.org. We have met with several in the House and the Senate to find a way to move the correction to this issue. Currently HR 181 (introduced by Congressman Wilson) – is the bill to watch in the House on correcting this issue. We do have options to move this provision forward which we hope to have introduced in Congress soon.
DoD Health Care (TRICARE) Change proposals. There have been many news articles from Pentagon leadership about TRICARE and Health Care cost (please see our web site – www.ausn.org). This week the DoD and The President announced cost savings and efficiencies in the Defense budget. The Veterans budget for the most part – was left in tack. AUSN Executive Director and I attended a special meeting with the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (Secretary Stanley) to brief all Association on the increases in fees, savings, and changes to TRICARE. It was an extraordinary meeting to sell the program. The key changes presented:
a. TRICARE PRIME: A 13% increase ($5.00/month) in TRICARE fees for Retirees under 65.
b. TRICARE PRIME fees adjusted annually -- Open-ended Indexing future increases – yet to be determined on what the indexing will be based.
c. Discontinue the TRICARE USFHP Medicare programs, those already in these programs will be grandfathered in, but the program will go away.
d. TRICARE For Life –NO CHANGES except Rx copays as shown below.
e. Rx Copays Cost Shares – have changed; approximately a plus $3 change in most cases. We are urging as is DoD for all beneficiaries to consider generic drugs and mail-order delivery – which does save resources.
f. Chapter 61 and survivors are exempt from any increase.
The issue is: DoD has not spelled out what the indexing for increases will be, and this is an unacceptable open-ended question. Service members and their families have earned this benefit and have sacrificed/paid much for this benefit. It is our opinion that service members have paid a price and their health care can not be compared to civilian health care. Those that did not serve in the military had the chance to join the military and serve a 20-30+ year career. Although this may appear to be a modest increase for the first year, the open-ended indexing could drive the prices extraordinarily high for an earned benefit. Let us know what your thoughts on this issue, watch for alerts on taking action on this issue with Congress.
Association of the United States Navy (AUSN) Supports FSA Accounts for Service Members and their families. Washington, DC – February 17, 2011. AUSN joined Senator Boxer (D-CA) and Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47) at a press conference today, that announced their new legislation that would provide flexible spending accounts for service members – an important benefit that will help military families save on health care and child care expenses. Flexible spending accounts would result in significant savings for military families by allowing service members to set aside a portion of their income before taxes to cover out-of-pocket child care and health care expenses such as co-pays, dental care and eye glasses. This benefit is currently available to civilian employees at the Department of Defense, but not to uniformed service members.
Senator Boxer introduced Senate legislation with Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) as the lead co-sponsor. Both are co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate Military Family Caucus. Congresswoman Sanchez introduced identical legislation in the House of Representatives which will be co-sponsored by Representatives Virginia Foxx (NC-5) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-5).
AUSN hosted a TMC meeting with Secretary of Defense Reserve Affairs for CY2011 Guard and Reserve legislative goals. 14 Associations of the TMC Guard and Reserve Committee (Co-Chaired by Ike Puzon of AUSN) met with Secretary McCarthy and his Senior Enlisted Advisor (CSM Gipe) for a candid discussion on the CY2011 legislative goals for Reserve Components. A frank discussion of the possibilities for the 112th Congress centered on making the Reserve Components a force of choice for our National Security Strategy in a deficit budget environment.
Capitol Hill Meetings. In an effort to advance AUSN Legislative Goals and our Alliance/Coalition goals we have met with the following; Staff of Congressman Jeff Miller (R-FL),(Chair of the HVAC), Congressman Stutzman (R-IN), Congressman Roe (R-TN), Congressman Jeff Denham (R-CA), Congressman Walz (D-MN), and Congressman Sanchez (D-CA).
Alliance for Military and Overseas Voting Rights www.amovr.org. AUSN is a founding member of this alliance to improve the voting rights of military and overseas voters. You need to watch your states efforts in improving the rights of voters.
POC – ike.puzon@ausn.org
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