[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 152 (Tuesday, November 4, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S11699]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    FEHBP + 65 DEMONSTRATION PROJECT

 Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, as a co-sponsor of S. 224, to allow 
Medicare--eligible military retirees to join the Federal Employees 
Health Benefits Plan, I am pleased to cosponsor S. 1334, introduced by 
Senator Bond. S. 1334 will create a demonstration project to evaluate 
the concept of increasing access to health care for military retirees 
by allowing them to enroll in the Federal employees plan.
  After hearing from military retirees in Montana, I am convinced that 
FEHBP + 65, as it's called, 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 health care. 
The lucky ones can get services from military treatment facilities 
[MTFs] 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 and 
significant out-of-pocket costs, 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 just not right.
  The Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan 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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