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Section 722 -
Makes the TRICARE program the secondary payer for any health care services provided by an employer to a TRICARE-eligible employee (and their spouse) of a public or private employer who offers a group health care plan. Prohibits public and private employers with 20 or more employees from providing a financial incentive to TRICARE-eligible retirees to utilize TRICARE as the primary payer for health care rather than the employer-sponsored group health care plan. Provides a $5,000 fine for each violation. Directs the Secretary to conduct outreach to inform TRICARE-eligible beneficiaries of the rights and responsibilities of beneficiaries and employers under this section. Makes this section effective on January 1, 2008.

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Dear Mr. Likens:



Thank you for contacting me about employee sponsored Tricare supplemental insurance. Your views on this issue are important to me.



You are correct. Last year’s National Defense Authorization Act contained provisions that will prevent employers from offering Tricare supplemental insurance as an incentive to encourage military retirees who work for them to drop employer-provided health plans and use their Tricare benefits instead. These provisions will take effect on January 1, 2008.



This legislation was initiated after evidence showed that many employers were consciously working to shift their health care costs to the federal government by offering financial incentives urging eligible employees to use Tricare rather than the employer’s health care plan. Congress cannot afford to underwrite the health care costs that should be bourn by employers. Private companies should pay the full costs of the health insurance they provide and should not be allowed to shift these costs on to the federal government.



That said, Tricare beneficiaries have earned their right to Tricare benefits through their service and under this legislation these benefits will remain unchanged. In addition, this legislation does not impact Tricare Supplement plans offered by beneficiary associations or commercial insurers.



I recently opposed proposals by the Bush Administration to significantly increase Tricare fees for military retirees their dependents. The 2008 National Defense Authorization Act, passed by both the House and Senate, would prohibit the increase of Tricare fees, would freeze current pharmacy co-payment fees and would encourage pharmacies in the Tricare retail network to obtain pharmaceuticals at the same price that is available to Federal agencies, including the Department of Defense and VA. Please be assured of strong support for freezing Tricare and pharmacy co-payment fees and of my continued commitment to improving healthcare for military retirees.

I hope you will continue to stay in touch on issues of concern to you. If you would like to receive weekly updates on the activities in Congress, please sign up for my weekly e-mail newsletter on my website. Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.



Sincerely,



Sander M. Levin

Member of Congress

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Originally posted by 13015811:
Here is a new twist on this subject. My employer Embarq (previously Sprint's Local Telephone Division) has taken this legislation to the other extreme. They have denied TRICARE as a waiverable Employee Sponsored Group Plan and FORCING me to take THEIR Health Care!! This places TRICARE into secondary payment position AND STRIPS A NICE $1800+ OUT OF MY POCKET for 2008! I spoke with TRICARE and the Federal Department of Labor whom both stated that this didn't sound correct. After a few heated emails back and forth between myself and Human Resources without result, I fired a final volley off to my entire management chain to include the CEO noting that the issue would land in my senator's office the next day (which it did). The following day, I received a long-winded, legalese reply from the Director of Benefits with attachements, etc... which I promptly fowarded on to the senator's office including my last reply to the corporate buzzards stating it isn't over till TRICARE, DOL and the Senartor say it is.

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Originally posted by Dave_M:

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Originally posted by 13015811:
Here is a new twist on this subject. My employer Embarq (previously Sprint's Local Telephone Division) has taken this legislation to the other extreme. They have denied TRICARE as a waiverable Employee Sponsored Group Plan and FORCING me to take THEIR Health Care!! This places TRICARE into secondary payment position AND STRIPS A NICE $1800+ OUT OF MY POCKET for 2008! I spoke with TRICARE and the Federal Department of Labor whom both stated that this didn't sound correct. After a few heated emails back and forth between myself and Human Resources without result, I fired a final volley off to my entire management chain to include the CEO noting that the issue would land in my senator's office the next day (which it did). The following day, I received a long-winded, legalese reply from the Director of Benefits with attachements, etc... which I promptly fowarded on to the senator's office including my last reply to the corporate buzzards stating it isn't over till TRICARE, DOL and the Senartor say it is.

I believe that this may be governed by ERISA, managed by the US Dept of Labor. You can find information at:
http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/erisa.htm

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If you opt out of coverage, you get 700.00 bucks over a years time for not taking coverage.

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Originally posted by 13015811:
Here is a new twist on this subject. My employer Embarq (previously Sprint's Local Telephone Division) has taken this legislation to the other extreme. They have denied TRICARE as a waiverable Employee Sponsored Group Plan and FORCING me to take THEIR Health Care!! This places TRICARE into secondary payment position AND STRIPS A NICE $1800+ OUT OF MY POCKET for 2008! I spoke with TRICARE and the Federal Department of Labor whom both stated that this didn't sound correct. After a few heated emails back and forth between myself and Human Resources without result, I fired a final volley off to my entire management chain to include the CEO noting that the issue would land in my senator's office the next day (which it did). The following day, I received a long-winded, legalese reply from the Director of Benefits with attachements, etc... which I promptly fowarded on to the senator's office including my last reply to the corporate buzzards stating it isn't over till TRICARE, DOL and the Senartor say it is.

quote:

Originally posted by 13015811:
Here is a new twist on this subject. My employer Embarq (previously Sprint's Local Telephone Division) has taken this legislation to the other extreme. They have denied TRICARE as a waiverable Employee Sponsored Group Plan and FORCING me to take THEIR Health Care!! This places TRICARE into secondary payment position AND STRIPS A NICE $1800+ OUT OF MY POCKET for 2008! I spoke with TRICARE and the Federal Department of Labor whom both stated that this didn't sound correct. After a few heated emails back and forth between myself and Human Resources without result, I fired a final volley off to my entire management chain to include the CEO noting that the issue would land in my senator's office the next day (which it did). The following day, I received a long-winded, legalese reply from the Director of Benefits with attachements, etc... which I promptly fowarded on to the senator's office including my last reply to the corporate buzzards stating it isn't over till TRICARE, DOL and the Senartor say it is.