Pentagon Policy Strips Weight-Loss Drug Coverage from Longest-Serving Veterans, Lawsuit Alleges
WASHINGTON – A policy enacted by the Department of Defense (DOD) is unlawfully denying weight-loss medication coverage to military retirees enrolled in Tricare for Life (TFL), a program for beneficiaries who are also eligible for Medicare, according to a recent opinion piece authored by a concerned veteran. The dispute centers on access to obesity treatments authorized under the FY 2017 National Defense Authorization Act.
While the law authorized programs for “covered beneficiaries” across all Tricare plans, the Pentagon implemented the authority narrowly, excluding TFL enrollees. This resulted in a tiered system where a 64-year-old retiree on Tricare Select pays a $35 co-pay for the same medication, while a TFL beneficiary faces costs ranging from $499 to $1,349 monthly.The veteran argues this selective implementation contradicts the intent of a uniform formulary mandated by law. The DOD, they contend, is misinterpreting regulations, specifically utilizing one that “expressly excludes Tricare for life” to justify the benefit reduction.
The financial burden is especially acute for retirees on fixed incomes, many of whom suffer from service-connected injuries that limit mobility and make weight loss through exercise difficult.The author asserts the policy forces veterans to choose between essential medications and basic necessities.The veteran calls on Congress to take immediate action, including: suspending the policy pending review; investigating the DOD’s justification; clarifying through statute that TFL beneficiaries should have the same drug access as other Tricare enrollees; and requiring public accountability from the DOD regarding its decision-making process.
“‘Tricare for Life’ was meant to be just that – for life,” the author writes. “Not ‘for life with exceptions,’ not ‘for life untill you’re too old.'” They further state that if the Pentagon deems the medications too costly, it should seek additional funding authorization from Congress rather than restricting access through regulatory maneuvering.