The Military Coalition, which represents 33 military and veterans’ organizations, is pressing lawmakers to reject a proposal that would require retirees to switch to a more expensive health care plan. Spurring the reaction was a letter Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., wrote to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction that recommended military retirees now enrolled in TRICARE Prime be switched to TRICARE Standard, the Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) reports. TRICARE Prime would then be offered only to active duty service members and their dependents. If the change is approved, retirees’ out-of-pocket costs would no doubt rise. According to FRA, the annual catastrophic cap under TRICARE Standard would rise to $7,500, up from $3,000. Also on the table: a plan to bar TRICARE Standard eligibility for retirees who can receive health care coverage through civilian employers.
