LTC Nanci Visser, USMC (Ret.), former second vice chair of the national MOAA and a former board member of the Portland Chapter, chats with VADM Norbert R. Ryan, Jr., USN (ret.), president of the national MOAA, at the 50th anniversary celebration of the Portland Chapter at a dinner at the Portland Air National Guard Base.

MOAA, as a professional organization, helps members take charge of their lives.  Members enjoy a host of benefits, discounts and services.

MOAA nationally often takes the lead of key military groups in Washington, DC, when it comes to major legislation on military issues before Congress or legislation that affects retirees.  The leadership at the Pentagon in 2008 tried to raise the annual contribution military members pay for TRICARE health insurance, but MOAA went to bat for the military community, and the effort was sidelined by Congress, at least for now.     

With MOAA at the helm on many of the battles, the list of legislative accomplishments is impressive.  Here are a few:

•  Elimination of the “military widow’s tax” (Survivor Benefit Plan, or SBP), fully effective in 2008.  This boosts your survivor’s portion of your military pension from 35 percent after age 62 to 55 percent.  This is an important and major benefit.

•  Fee-based TRICARE Standard coverage for members of the Selected Reserve who have been mobilized for at least 90 days since Sept. 2001.

•  MOAA earlier played an important and key role in getting the Congress to approve TRICARE, the military’s current health care system, and in gaining approval for TRICARE For Life for retirees eligible for Medicare.