Protecting those who protect us

By Marc Racicot and Linda de Seife

Originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch

Virginia is the backbone of our national security - home to the largest naval base in the world, thousands of active-duty service members, and countless families stationed across our commonwealth. Yet too many face a rising cost of living, high health care costs after insurance coverage, and bureaucratic excess that threaten their well-being and fail to return the promise of caring for those who protect us. Our country's national security is defended by the very individuals struggling to afford an American life, undercutting Our Republican Legacy's (ORL) principle of peace through strength.

Virginia stands at the heart of American defense. In 2022, more than 125,000 active-duty personnel, over 25,000 reservists and nearly 100,000 civilian Department of Defense employees were based in Virginia, along with 139,000 Virginians employed by defense contractors - totaling hundreds of thousands whose livelihoods are tied to our military mission. Hampton Roads hosts Naval Station Norfolk - the world's largest naval base - and

Virginia alone captures over $36 billion in arms and defense industry activity annually, supporting 300,000-plus jobs. Our security at home depends on Virginia - but so should our commitment to care for those who serve.

One such issue affecting active duty military are the escalating insurance premiums outpacing actual services delivered. From 2019 to 2023, employer-based health insurance premiums in Virginia surged by 20.2o/o for individuals and 22.1o /ofo r families, while actual health care spending barely budged (only up 1.2%). That means families are paying more - but not necessarily receiving more care.

Although active-duty service members receive primary health care via Tricare, many families rely on Medicaid for services Tricare doesn't cover - from longterm care to specialized pediatric support. In Virginia, more than 56,000 individuals are dually enrolled in Tricare and Medicaid, including about 15,500 veterans, and nearly 47,155 veterans rely on Medicaid alone for care. Also affecting health care costs are the undisclosed hospital costs to individuals, which only become transparent after care has been delivered. A recent review found that 78% of Virginia hospitals are noncompliant with federal price-transparency rules, making it nearly impossible to know in advance how much care will cost.

Another major factor affecting military personnel employed in the Virginia area is the inability to find affordable housing with a sustainable commute to and from work. Due to a high cost of living in general, expensive health care costs, for example, add to the challenge of merely staying afloat. In Arlington - the Virginia jurisdiction with the highest costs - median home values are nearly $865,000. A single doctor's visit averages $177.67, well above the national norm adding to the monthly costs of living. Add taxes, housing and transportation, and many military households are squeezed. Little is left over for much else.

Many military families are posted to Hampton Roads or Northern Virginia, areas where housing affordability is crisis-level. In the state's urban centers, 67% of cost-burdened households live in places like Hampton Roads, with severe housing costs caused by a shortage of over 200,000 affordable units. When families can't afford rent or a mortgage - even after state and federal pay - it's not just an economic issue; it's a moral one.

One of ORL's main pillars of Republicanism, peace through strength, isn't just about military might. It's also about ensuring those who protect us aren't crumbling under the weight of financial or health stress. Strength means:

• Secure families, not just secure borders.

• Accessible health care, not hidden bills.

• Affordable homes, not forced relocation or overcrowded quarters.

ORL stands by the belief that national power must be matched by robust support for those serving in the military to defend our country. Political leaders must restore Medicaid portability across state lines, enforce hospital price transparency, and expand housing assistance for active-duty families.

To make it personal, take a local Virginia military family with a service me1nber in the Navy, who depends on specialized care for their young daughter, Marisa, requiring the added help available under Medicaid. During his service, the father has been reassigned out of state multiple times over the past nine years. Michelle, Marisa's mother, states: "It's not

just medical care...There's respite care, personalized care, behavioral supports and also job opportunities support. All of our family is in Texas...Leaving Virginia would mean leaving behind the care Marisa needs!"

If we truly value strength and our security, we protect those who protect us. No soldier should have to choose between mission readiness and basic care. Military members and their families deserve the opportunity to thrive - not just survive.

(Photo credit: U.S. Navy)