Wounded Warrior Project Announces Broad Coalition of Support for FAIR Heroes Act

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Fifteen veteran and military service organizations have joined a coalition led by Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) to urge Congress to quickly pass S. 2117, the Fair Access to Insurance for Retired (FAIR) Heroes Act. Introduced by Sens. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), the FAIR Heroes Act will provide the most severely injured warriors the ability to choose between Medicare and TRICARE, a choice they've earned through their service that could save their families over $1,000 each year in premiums alone. 

The FAIR Heroes Act is supported by a coalition of veteran and military family organizations including the Air Force Association, Association of the United States Army, Association of the United States Navy, AMVETS, Army Aviation Association of America, Chief Warrant & Warrant Officers Association of the U.S. Coast Guard, Got Your 6^™, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Military Officers Association of America^®, the National Military Family Association, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Service Women's Action Network, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Vietnam Veterans of America^®.

"We're pleased to see such broad support for the FAIR Heroes Act, which will help our warriors and their families who have been forced to participate in more expensive Medicare coverage," said René Bardorf, WWP senior vice president of government and community relations. "Our most seriously injured veterans should not have to shoulder this financial burden. They deserve to choose which health care plan works best for them and their families."

TRICARE is a health insurance program available to service members, retirees, and their families. Many of the military's most seriously injured veterans lose access to low-cost TRICARE plans because of their injuries. Although they earned these benefits through their service, they have to purchase Medicare Part B. If they decline Part B, they lose all access to TRICARE benefits. Medicare Part B premiums are nearly 5 times that of TRICARE plans – a significant sum for someone on a fixed income.

According to a recent Center for New American Security report (https://www.cnas.org/publications/reports/improving-federal-health-and-benefits-programs-to-support-seriously-wounded-ill-and-injured-veterans), an estimated 29,000 veterans could be affected by this issue, who would benefit from the financial relief provided by the FAIR Heroes Act.

To support the FAIR Heroes Act, visit https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/FAIR.

About Wounded Warrior Project
Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) connects, serves, and empowers wounded warriors. Read more at http://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org/about-us.

SOURCE Wounded Warrior Project