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MOAA 5Feb12

“32 Stars+” Weigh In
Last week we reported on the Pentagon’s initial roll-out of the FY2013 defense budget that would hike health fees for all retirees, impose means-testing of health care fees, chop force levels, curtail future pay raises, close bases, and seek a commission to reform retirement for new entrants.
On January 25, the Joint Chiefs and the Services' Senior Enlisted Advisors added their support for military compensation reforms included in the Pentagon's proposal by writing to House and Senate Armed Services Committee leadership.
In what's being dubbed the "32-star letter", the Services' officer and enlisted leadership called the proposed cutbacks as "sensible" and characterized TRICARE enrollment and deductible fee increases for retirees as "comparatively moderate and tiered based on retirement income."
This isn't the first time the Joint Chiefs have endorsed TRICARE fee increases for retirees. MOAA understands that the Joint Chiefs are in a precarious position and need to find ways to cut defense spending, but we don't believe it should be done on the backs of those that have served a career in the military.

MOAA strongly objects to means-testing health care fees based on retired pay. No other federal employee or retiree has their health benefits means-tested.

This proposal actually undermines the whole basis of a health care benefit, switching from one that is "earned by service" to one based on "level of need"...in other words, a social welfare mentality that undermines the whole principle that longer and more successful service shouldn't be rewarded by lower benefits.
MOAA plans to fight inappropriate fee hikes and more. Our concern is that the DoD proposal continues to push for beneficiaries to pay more while failing to address inefficiencies within the delivery of military healthcare.
As for the other proposals on the table, MOAA plans to hold our fire to see if it results in a balanced approach. Our biggest concern is that leaders in the administration are starting to take the all volunteer force for granted.

New Rules Help Caregivers
On Monday, First Lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis announced new rule changes to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) that would allow more currently serving and veteran family members to take time off from work before, during or after deployments and leave to care for wounded, ill or injured veterans.
The FMLA allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid (job-protected) leave in a 12-month period for specified family and medical reasons such as birth, adoption or placement of a child, care of a family member with a health condition, or the employee’s own health condition.
In 2008, the FMLA was expanded to provide certain family members of the active duty, Guard and Reserve with up to 26-workweeks in a 12-month period to care for servicemembers with a serious injury or illness incurred in the line-of-duty.
The new rules would extend FMLA leave protections to military families as a whole. Key aspects of the new rules would:
Provide up to 26-weeks of caregiver leave to cover family members caring for recently separated veterans with serious line-of-duty injuries or illnesses, including conditions that may surface up to five years after the member leaves the service
Allow the spouse, child or parent of an active duty member to take leave to deal with deployment-related issues and events such as financial, legal, child care arrangement, and to attend military events before, during or after a deployment overseas
Allow families up to 15 days of leave to spend time with a servicemember during rest and recuperation leave.
"We are going to work every day until every last one of you feel the pride and the honor that this entire country feels," said the First Lady to an auditorium full of senior service leaders and caregivers. "As long as we all just keep joining forces to support these amazing families, we will be able to serve all of you as well as you’ve served us."
MOAA is grateful for the efforts of the First Lady along with her Joining Forces campaign, and the Labor Department in expanding military leave protections for our military, veterans and their families. We look forward to the implementation of the new rules and doing all we can to let potential eligibles know about these new protections.

MOAA Hosts Spouse Career Fair
MOAA, in partnership with Blue Star Families, hosted its 6th annual Spouse Symposium in San Diego last week.
The symposium, titled "Keeping a Career on the Move", drew more than 300 military spouses to the morning session, which included a dynamic employer panel, "Five Things Employers Want You to Know". Representatives from the Society for Human Resource Management, Facebook, United Way, and CSC provided attendees an insider's look at how employers see military spouse job seekers.
Monique Rizer, MOAA Deputy Director, Spouse Programs, rounded out the morning with an interactive workshop on "Finding Your Dependable Strengths".
In the afternoon, over 500 military spouses and veterans attended a career fair featuring over 50 local employers who were actively recruiting and hiring.
During the career fair, MOAA Benefits Information Director Bud Schneeweis, (USCG-Ret) delivered his popular seminar, "The Dollars and 'Sense' of Working Outside the Home."
MOAA's Government Relations Department hosted a very successful "Capitol Hill Q and A" session. Set up as "coffee shop"-like interactive session, it offered spouses the opportunity to meet one on one with experts in the areas of health care, employment, education and legislation.
Karen Golden, MOAA Deputy Director of Government Relations (Military Family Issues) fielded questions regarding spouse licensure, the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, military spouse residency, GI Bill, pay and retirement. The event provided valuable feedback from the "grassroots level."