|
||||||||
League-Supported Legislation Signed Into Law
TREA Senior Citizens League (TSCL) is pleased to announce that a legislative proposal it has been monitoring and lobbying on behalf of, has been signed into public law. As part of the Medicare prescription drug bill, the late fee for enrolling in Medicare part B for military veterans has been waived and a special enrollment period has been established. TSCL has been fighting for this legislation in the first session of the 108th Congress (see H.R.2361 and S.1249, the “TRICARE Retirees Opportunity Act” in the “Legislation Worth Watching” section of the TSCL website at http://www.tscl.org/bills.asp). Under law as it stood prior to enactment of the prescription drug bill, veterans -- in order to obtain TRICARE for Life benefits -- find themselves “forced” to sign up for Medicare part B and paying a 10% penalty for each year beyond age 65. Veterans were led to believe that they would have access to health care through military and veterans’ facilities. Thus, they did not sign up for Medicare part B immediately when they turned 65 and -- later -- found themselves without health care. The prescription drug bill waives the penalty and provides for a special enrollment period. The President signed the Medicare prescription drug bill on Monday, December 8, 2003. There are plenty of faults with the comprehensive prescription drug legislation; waiving the late fee is one positive provision that rights a wrong for our retired military personnel. Given so many of our servicemen and women are once again putting their lives on the line for the citizens of the United States of America, it is only fitting that this injustice is corrected now. December 2003 | ||||||||
|
|
||||||||
