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ARMED FORCES NEWS |
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Retiree Forced Choice Update
Retiree and veterans groups are objecting to the Bush administration's attempt to force military retirees with VA disabilities to choose between Tricare or the Department of Veterans Affairs for their medical care because: (1) VA care is earned by incurring disability due to military service while Tricare is earned through the hardships of a military career, and (2) selecting one over the other would force the beneficiary either to forego specialty care that other veterans rate, such as hearing aids and prosthetics, or to relinquish a choice of civilian providers that other military retirees rate. A provision in the fiscal 2002 VA appropriations bill, awaiting the president's signature, would block forced choice for fiscal 2002. Meanwhile, the House version of the fiscal 2002 defense authorization bill would permanently prohibit the plan, but the Senate version doesn't mention it. Negotiations between the two versions are ongoing. |
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