MILITARY RETIREES: Would Get FEHBP Option Under New Bill
Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-Escondido) introduced a bill earlier this week to allow military retirees to receive the same health care coverage as federal employees. The Military Health Care Fairness Act would give ex-military personnel, their dependents and surviving spouses the ability to enroll in the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program. The San Diego Daily Transcript reports that retirees would pay "similar amounts as other federal civilian workers" for the coverage. According to Cunningham, when retired military personnel turn 65 they are often "shut out of military health care programs and forced into Medicare, which offers reduced coverage and often requires supplemental insurance." He said, "To maintain a strong, all-voluntary armed forces in the United States, we must keep our health care commitments." Reps. J.C. Watts (R-OK), John Mica (R-FL), William "Mac" Thornberry (R-TX) and Bob Inglis (R-SC) co-sponsored Cunningham's bill (Peterson, 4/1).
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