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The Department of Veterans Affairs also puts a forth an image of giving the military community a helping hand, when in reality it works in lock step with whatever direction the Department of Defense is marching. It is only through long and repeated efforts by individual veterans, service organizations, and a small handful of elected officials that anything gets accomplished through the VA. All of the groups previously mentioned have been making appeals through the VA for years with minimal positive results.

While these agencies are far from being strong advocates for the entire military community, Congress is even a less friendly body. Those members of Congress with any military service listed on their resumes are few in number and have very little influence. Though they repeatedly file bills in support of the military community, this proposed legislation usually dies for lack of support by the majority, be it Democrat or Republican at the time.

The Democrat majority has a history of supporting proposed pro-military legislation during election campaigns or when in a minority role in the House or Senate. When in a position to do something positive, they are usually missing in action, or anti-everything when it comes to the armed forces. Now as a new Democrat leadership takes the helm in Washington another attack is about to be waged on both the active duty service families and the retired military community.

Since the mid 1990s a DoD program called Tricare has been the plan by which active duty service members, retired military under age 65 and their dependents received health care. Originally military hospitals cared for retirees and active duty families. That service is still offered on paper. Regulations allow for treatment when there is "space available". However, that space never seems to be "available" to those in need. So, those in uniform and their families, visit civilian doctors using one of three different Tricare programs. Even then some service members claim getting treatment can be difficult. Many doctors will not accept the plans due to the low rates of payment for medical care.

The latest attack on our men and women in uniform comes from the Congressional Budget Office, which has presented in cost saving recommendation to the incoming Administration and Congress. The CBO

recommends that Tricare Prime which is purchased at an annual enrollment fee of $230 per individual and $460 per family, in addition to a $12 co-pay for each outpatient visit, be increased to $550 annual enrollment fee per individual and $1,100 per family, plus and increase in co-payments to $28 per visit. Those who use Tricare Standard or Extra plans would face an annual deductible of $50 per individual and $700 per family. Also, for the first time, those who enroll in Tricare Standard or Extra would face and annual fee of $50 per individual and $100 for family coverage.

One of the most outrageous recommendations made by the CBO involves a program called Tricare for Life. This program became law following the Supreme Court rejection of retired military litigation, which attempted to win their promised lifetime medical care. Though the court rejected the request because, as it claimed, the armed forces did not have the authority to make such promises, it also admonished both the service branches and Congress for allowing the practice to continue from World War II until the late 1950s.

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