ALLOW MEDICALLY-RETIRED COMBAT VETERANS UNDER 65 TO KEEP THEIR FAMILIES ON TRICARE PRIME NO MATTER WHERE THEY LIVE.

Starting Oct. 1, 2013 the Pentagon will eliminate TRICARE Prime for some 171,000 military retirees and their family members who live more than 40 miles from a base, forcing them instead to enroll in the more costly TRICARE Standard or Extra. This is said to save taxpayers millions per year. While this change may not affect a 20 year veteran retiree with enough financial stamina to afford the change, a veteran with possibly less than 5 years in service who served one or more combat tours, was critically injured and subsequently medically-retired can not afford to lose TRICARE Prime. These are disabled veterans who are under 30 with families and little education and career experience. Please allow medically-retired veterans under 65 to remain on TRICARE Prime regardless of where they live.