[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 96 (Wednesday, July 9, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S7128]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   ALLOWING MEDICARE ELIGIBLE MILITARY RETIREES TO JOIN THE FEDERAL 
                     EMPLOYEES HEALTH BENEFITS PLAN

 Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I recently added my name to the list 
of cosponsors of S. 224, introduced by Senator Warner, which will allow 
Medicare-eligible military retirees to join the Federal Employees 
Health Benefits Plan. After hearing from military retirees in Montana, 
I am convinced that this is a necessary step to help ensure that 
military retirees have access to quality health care.
  When military retirees turn 65, they no longer have guaranteed access 
to military health care. The lucky ones can get services from military 
treatment facilities [MTF's] on a space-available basis, but the rest 
do not have access to MTF's. They must rely on Medicare, which has less 
generous benefits, despite the commitment they received for lifetime 
health benefits by virtue of their service to this country. They are 
the only group of Federal employees to have their health benefits cut 
off at age 65. That's just not right.
  This bill offers a simple solution by allowing military retirees who 
are eligible for Medicare to join the Federal Employees Health Benefits 
Plan. This is a popular program which provides good benefits at a 
reasonable cost. It will serve military retirees well and uphold the 
Government's commitment to provide quality health benefits. Our 
military retirees deserve no less.

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