To the Editor:

Please vote to reject the TRICARE prescription co-pay increases that the Senate in pushing. Frankly, I and my family are very upset at seeing our benefits package suffer one hit after another as national leaders view service members like every other citizen.

A military career is very difficult, and military families sacrifice a great deal. They need a solid healthcare benefit now, and look forward to a healthcare benefit for life, pre-paid by 20 or 30 potentially deadly years of service. Yet each year, Congress seems to chip away at the healthcare benefit for these men and women and their families. Please act now to stop this constant attack on our men and women in uniform.

A Senate proposal for the NDAA is to increase TRICARE prescription co-payments for the third time in four years-then to institute programmed further increases over the next nine years. Come on! I am a member of the Air Force Sergeants Association, and I know AFSA and the Military Coalition have repeatedly pointed out other DoD healthcare areas that are actual waste that have never been enacted. And I know that my family and I have earned our healthcare benefits.

I strongly feel that these further co-payment cuts need to be stopped.

I need your help to stop the TRICARE prescription co-payments proposed for next year and beyond. I hope you'll agree with me that military members deserve better than this from our national leaders that we already pay enough for this nation through our service and sacrifice, and that further TRICARE cost increases are not justified.

Clayton Hewes

Canton