New Bern Sun Journal: Jones gives veterans a reason to rejoice

March 15, 2006
SUE BOOK
SUN JOURNAL STAFF

Representative to propose legislation today to prevent hike in medical premiums

HAVELOCK — “Hallelujah,” Pat Quisenberry said when she heard legislation will be introduced in Congress today to block a planned government hike in military retiree medical insurance rates.

Her husband, Floyd Quisenberry, retired from the Marine Corps as a gunnery sergeant 20 years ago, so an administration budget proposal to raise premiums for about 3 million enlisted and officer retirees using Tricare military insurance will not affect her family directly.

However, the Quisenberrys are members of The Retired Enlisted Association in Havelock, an 83-member group that has lobbied hard to prevent Defense Department plans to double fees for senior enlisted retirees and triple them for officer retirees. The increase would cost some as much as $1,000 more each year.

The Military Retiree’s Health Care Protection Act, bi-partisan legislation to be introduced today by N.C. Rep. Walter B. Jones (R-3rd dist.) and Rep. Chet Edwards (D-Texas) would block increases to Tricare military health insurance premiums, deductibles, and co-payments; co-payments for pharmaceuticals; deductibles for inpatient care; and premiums for those in the Reserves and Guard who are enrolled in Tricare.

Pat Quisenberry said her husband had talked to Jones about the issue, as TREA members across the country phoned, wrote and e-mailed Congress in an effort to stop the increase.

“We feel the military today should be treated as we were,” said Quisenberry. “We never paid a dime unless we were referred outside. Then we paid 25 percent.
“We’re fortunate that we’re over 65 and have Tricare for Life.”

With that insurance, what is covered by Medicare is also covered by the insurance, and that means most of their medical expenses are paid.

“Those under 65 are the ones hit hard, and there are a lot of military retirees between 38 and 64,” she said.

They have to pay premiums based on the level of coverage they choose, and those costs are about to go up unless this or similar legislation is enacted.

The association’s national deputy legislative director will join Jones, Edwards, and representatives of 11 other retired military groups for the 10:30 a.m. announcement today in the Cannon House Office Building in Washington.