Comment on DOD-2007-HA-0078-0001

I am retired from the US Army and am covered by Tricare Health Insurance. I was hired as a State employee in 1997 and was placed in the Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Insurance Plan with Dental Coverage. I did not add my spouse and children to that plan due to the cost. I had to pay out of pocket copays and annual initial deductables that averaged over 1000.00 annually. My wife and two chidren had out of pocket deductables with Tricare that also costs over 1000.00. The State offerred a plan that would provide us with a Tricare supplement with ASI Insurance and the State gave my whole family Dental Care which saved me the Delta Dental Plan Costs. For the first year we had no out of pocket costs. Now "Big Brother", the US Government is attacking my Veterans Retiree Benefits by disallowing the state from helping me. When president Bush took office he stated that the Federal Government needs to keep outr of state business. As an Army Retiree, I believe I deserve to use my Tricare Benefits and that it should be my choice, not yours, which plan I use. Since your rules, I have decided to pay for my supplement and still opt out of BC/BS just to prove to you that I am going to use the Tricare. You will not save one cent on me from your ruling, but you have caused me to have more expenses as a retiree. Great job at taking care of us!! What a joke! I was promised full health and dental care for my 20 years of service when I kept reenlisting. Now you government guru's have dwindled away at my benefits so I must pay for the dental and much of my medical. And guess what! If the democrats get in office, my taxes will go up again and I will still have my own medical costs to pay. I can not use the local Army Hospital Medical Care as I am not on Tricare Prime. If I choose Prime I would be paying money to be restricted as to where I can get specialized care. Why should I pay for restrictions? I think all of the Defense Healthcare Managers have lost touch with fairness. Let the State help me save money. I feel I earned it with my twenty years of 24/7 duty, committment and patriotism. Please get out of our business and reverse this discriminatory ruling! Thank you.