Dear Friends,
While Congress tackles the health care debate, I think it is important for you to know that nothing in the House-passed health reform bill, or the proposal currently being considered in the Senate, will change or diminish the health care our nation’s military and veterans receive.  While I believe that every American should have access to quality, affordable health care, we should not pay for it on the backs of those who have defended us so honorably. For this reason, I will not support a health care plan that imposes any penalties or increases on those in the Tricare or VA system.  

Our military, their families and retirees count on Tricare to deliver high quality health care at low cost- that is a promise we have made and must continue to keep.  I have cosponsored legislation that opposes any increase in Tricare fees and I will continue to fight any attempt to increase what military retirees currently pay in insurance premiums. 

Veterans rely on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to take care of the injuries they have incurred while serving our country.  We should make these benefits easier to access for veterans, not harder.  Veterans should not face mountains of red tape in order to access the care we’ve promised them.

To put it bluntly, VA and Tricare health systems are high quality, low cost health care systems that our nation’s heroes have earned.  Rather than looking at these systems to find alternative sources of funding, we should continue to look at them as models that work for our citizens.

Sincerely, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree

More Information for Veterans about Health Care Reform

Many Veterans have questions about the new health care reform law. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) offers the following information about the law and some of the most pressing questions that have been raised about impacts on Veterans.

Nothing in the new law changes anything about VA health care

• The law contains many complex provisions, including many reforms to the practices of the health insurance industry.
• Nothing in the new law changes anything about the Veterans’ health care program.
• Enrolled Veterans may still rely on VHA for their health care in the same manner as before the law.

Beginning in 2014, everyone will be required to have health care coverage

• The law requires that every individual must have some form of health care coverage.
• The coverage must meet a minimum standard so that everyone will be able to have a minimum level of care.
• Congress wrote into the law a provision that says the Veterans’ health care program, administered by VHA, meets the standard for health care coverage.

Enrolled Veterans do not have to purchase additional coverage

• Because the Veterans’ health care program meets the standard under the law, Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program do not need to obtain additional health care coverage.
• Veterans may continue to purchase additional coverage if they wish, but the law does not require them to do so.