Good news for all Veterans.  I, like many of you have been concerned with the move afoot to increase the TRICARE payment and Co-Pays.

Reps. Chet Edwards, D-Texas and Walter Jones, R-N.C., reintroduced the Military Retirees' Healthcare Protection Act (H.R. 816), that, if enacted, would prevent the Defense Department from increasing health care enrollment fees and copayments.  It would also require the Administration to request future increases through Congress.

"I believe that keeping our promise of quality, affordable health care for military retirees is the right thing to do and the smart thing to do.  It is right because our nation has a moral obligation to keep our promises to those who have kept their promise to defend our nation.  It is the smart thing to do because we cannot attract the best and brightest to fight our war on terrorism in the years ahead if they see us breaking faith with those who served in years past.  To win the war on terrorism, we must keep faith with our warriors," said Edwards, Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs.

"This legislation is about offering protection for the men and women who are willing to protect our nation from its enemies, and keeping promises to those who have promised to put themselves in harm's way when called upon," Rep. Jones said.  "The families of our armed forces deserve consistent health care benefits."

H.R. 816 establishes the principle that it is the responsibility of Congress, not the Pentagon, to establish when and by how much military health fees will be increased.  The bill would block the Pentagon from dramatically raising health care fees on military retirees by removing the Secretary of Defense's current authority to make virtually unlimited increases in four specific areas:

-- Enrollment fees for retired members and survivors in TRICARE Prime, the military-managed health plan;

--Pharmacy copayments;

--Enrollment fees for the new TRICARE Reserve Select program that was implemented last year to maintain health coverage continuity for Guard and Reserve families; and, 

--Retiree and survivor copayments for inpatient care.