TRICARE in trouble
March 20th, 2010 Posted in The SandGram v1.0FOR 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
Tags: Health Care Bill, Military, Retirees, Tri Care
3 Responses to “TRICARE in trouble”
By Laura on Mar 21, 2010
One of the undecideds, Rep. Glenn Nye (D-VA), stated the reason he was undecided was because he hadn’t finished reading the bill. He is now a confirmed “no” because the bill does not protect our military and Tricare and it does not reduce costs. Yay!
By Taco Mama on Mar 21, 2010
That is extremely good news about Rep. Nye. I have been doing a Google search on this topic and do not see any coverage on many of the Veterans websites. Surely this means something to all veterans and active duty.
By Laura on Mar 22, 2010
Don’t despair, Taco. I’m very proud of Rep. Nye. He took this health care bill seriously. You (our armed forces) are more important to him than politics. Here in Virginia, the AG has the lawsuit ready to file as soon as your CiC signs the bill into law. South Carolina is poised to do the same.
We’re fighting like h*ll for you on the home front. You have never given up on us, and we d*mned sure won’t give up on you. We’re doing everything we can to watch your six.