Panel Inundated by Tricare Mail

Last week the House Armed Services military personnel subcommittee convened a special hearing on the Defense Department’s plan for increases in Tricare fees. On the scene were nearly 40,000 letters the committee had received on the issue. Chairman John McHugh, R-N.Y., advised that member offices had received a comparative volume of mail. “Collectively these are the voices of beneficiaries that we cannot ignore,” he said. McHugh said a key factor that influenced Congress to pass Tricare for Life was that the senior military leaders called it necessary for retention. The Air Force Sergeants Association said, “It was very clear at (the) hearing that DoD officials and senior military officials are either unaware or have grossly underestimated the potential impact these increases will have on the morale and retention of active military members.”