MOAA's Goals for 2011


The Top Ten Goals for 2011
1. Sustain force levels to meet wartime needs 2. Reverse Medicare/TRICARE payment cuts 3. Protect military retirement/COLAs 4. Gain wounded-warrior caregiver fixes 5. Bar disproportional TRICARE fee hikes 6. End disabled/survivor financial penalties 7. Restore military pay comparability 8. Upgrade Guard/Reserve retirement 9. Attain Post -9/11 GI Bill fixes 10. Improve spouse and family support

MOAA's Selected Legistive Goals for 2011
Active/Reserve Force/Family Issues Match active duty, Guard and Reserve force sizes to mission requirements Sustain full military pay comparability with private sector Credit all post-9/11 active duty service toward Guard/Reserve early retirement Restore tax deduction for reservists’ out-of-pocket expenses for military travel of 50 miles or more Protect funding for commissary, dependent schools and other family support programs Improve access to affordable child care Establish flexible spending account coverage for out-of-pocket health/dependent care expenses Provide incentives for employers/government/contractors to hire military spouses Expand career advancement account program (MyCAA) to career spouses and degree programs Raise relocation payments to cover members’ costs for government-directed moves Require better education on serious financial disadvantages of the REDUX retirement option Create new incentives for employers to hire and retain drilling Guard/Reserve members

MOAA's Selected Legistive Goals for 2011

Active/Reserve Force/Family Issues

Match active duty, Guard and Reserve force sizes to mission requirements
Sustain full military pay comparability with private sector
Credit all post-9/11 active duty service toward Guard/Reserve early retirement
Restore tax deduction for reservists’ out-of-pocket expenses for military travel of 50 miles or more
Protect funding for commissary, dependent schools and other family support programs
Improve access to affordable child care
Establish flexible spending account coverage for out-of-pocket health/dependent care expenses
Provide incentives for employers/government/contractors to hire military spouses
Expand career advancement account program (MyCAA) to career spouses and degree programs
Raise relocation payments to cover members’ costs for government-directed moves
Require better education on serious financial disadvantages of the REDUX retirement option
Create new incentives for employers to hire and retain drilling Guard/Reserve members

Health Care Issues

Avert 30+% Medicare/TRICARE payment cut and fix statutory formula to improve access to care
Protect against disproportional increases in TRICARE fees
Improve and standardize DoD and VA benefits coverage for caregivers of ill and injured
Upgrade TRICARE to attract more providers and improve beneficiary access
Allow three years of active-duty-level TRICARE coverage for disability retirees/families
Improve seamless transition between Defense and VA health care/benefits systems
Authorize option to subsidize retention of reservists' civilian family health insurance
Increase orthodontia payment cap under active duty dental plan

Retirement/Survivor Issues

Preserve full-inflation cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs)
End deduction of VA disability compensation from military retired pay
End deduction of VA survivor benefits (DIC) from military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuities
Oppose military benefit changes that are inconsistent with service career sacrifices
Implement a more equitable military disability retirement system
Restore VA survivor annuities for qualifying widows who remarry after age 55
Expand permanent ID card eligibility for elderly/disabled beneficiaries
Authorize survivors to retain a deceased retiree’s full final-month retired pay
Authorize SBP annuities to be paid to Special Needs Trusts for permanently disabled annuitants
Reform the Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act (USFSPA)

Veterans and Other Issues

Improve quality, efficiency, and timeliness of VA claims-processing system
Authorize pre-tax payment of health, dental and long-term care premiums
Reduce Social Security penalties for certain civil service and state retirees/survivors
Prevent disproportional Social Security/Medicare penalties for any population segment
Win congressional approval of Flag anti-desecration amendment