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TRICARE in trouble

March 20th, 2010 Posted in The SandGram v1.0

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, March 19, 2010

Contact: Joe Brettell

(202) 510-5304 or (202) 429-5600

MFU: Military Families may be at risk with current Healthcare Bill

Washington, D.C. Brian Wise, Executive Director of Military Families United issued this statement in response to the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Ike Skelton’s (D-MO), intent to introduce legislation to protect the military’s healthcare program TRICARE from the effects of the Senate’s healthcare bill currently being considered by Congress:

“In the rush to pass healthcare, the leadership in Congress has somehow forgotten about active duty service members, military families, and retired veterans. The unintended consequence of their haste is that the military healthcare plan, TRICARE, is no longer specifically set aside as a qualified healthcare program and may subject the Department of Defense to the complex new system of mandates and penalties in the Senate healthcare legislation.

With this omission 9.4 million military families may be subject to penalties. Congress must fix this problem before it becomes the law of the land. Military families, veterans, and active duty service members need to know that they will not be penalized for their service. Congressman Skelton understands the seriousness of this oversight and we will work with his office to make that our service members and their families are not penalized through this healthcare legislation.”

*Note – To schedule an interview with Veterans, military families or leading defense experts please contact Joe@MilitaryFamiliesUnited.org or call 202-510-5304.

About Military Families United

Military Families United (MFU) serves as the nation’s leading military family advocacy organization, representing the interests and values of those who sacrifice for our security and our freedom: America’s troops and their families. MFU gives America’s military families a voice in the national conversation on military, national security and other public policy issues through our outreach to media, government, and the general public. We seek to communicate the truth about our brave men and women in uniform and their mission to protect our freedom.

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Joseph J. Brettell

Communications Director

Military Families United

(202) 510-5304 – Wireless

(202) 293-4656 – Main

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