Ed Palmer
01-14-05, 11:36 AM
This ought to be for everyone at least some states are trying
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States May Pay Troops Insurance
Associated Press
January 14, 2005
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Dawn Archuleta, a member of the New Mexico National Guard, wants to know that her son and daughter will be taken care of if she's called to serve in Iraq and doesn't make it home.
"That's my biggest worry if something did happen," said Archuleta, 25, who spent 11 months in Iraq as an Army truck driver.
Now, lawmakers in some states are hoping to ease such concerns with proposals to pick up the tab for $250,000 life insurance policies.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson wants the state to pay premiums under a federal program that allows service members to buy life insurance through a payroll deduction. The basic premium is about $16 a month, which would cost New Mexico an estimated $800,000.
Since Richardson's announcement earlier this month, legislators in Alabama, Iowa, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania have lined up with similar proposals.
"People think the military gets paid a lot but they don't realize how $16 can make a big difference," Archuleta said. "Getting an extra $16 on a Guard check is huge."
Support for those once regarded as "weekend warriors" is increasing because the active-duty Army is too small to meet demands - particularly in Iraq, where troop levels have far exceeded original predictions.
In fact, the National Guard has been used so much in Iraq and Afghanistan that the Army now has deployed, or put on notice, all 15 of its main combat brigades.
Still, some question whether states should pay insurance premiums since deployed soldiers are following federal orders. New Mexico does not cover premiums for any other state employees, including those with potentially dangerous jobs, such as state police officers.
Delano Garcia of the New Mexico Office of Military Affairs says regardless of who pays the premiums, it's something that needs to be done.
"I'm a Vietnam veteran and I hope that what happened to us never happens to these soldiers. Not again," he said.
New Mexico has about 400 guardsmen in Iraq, while Rhode Island has more than 800 stationed overseas. The Alabama Guard has 13 units in Iraq and four in Afghanistan. Iowa and Pennsylvania each have more than 4,000 guardsmen on active federal duty.
Richardson's administration says New Mexico can afford the premiums, citing its healthy reserves and that the cost will not erode funding used to maintain guard armories around the state.
Staff Sgt. Luis Otero, 22, of the New Mexico Air National Guard's 150th Fighter Wing, may have to return to Iraq this year. He said having his premium paid would make it easier. If anything happens to him, then his parents, brother and sister would benefit from his insurance policy.
"An extra $16 to have in our pocket would be nice, but the thing that the governor is talking about is worth more than $16," says Otero. "It's nice to know your family will be taken care of."
Sound Off...What do you think? Join the discussion.
ITOR'S TOP PICKS
EDEDITOR'S TOP PICKS
53,000 Soldiers Overpayed
Call for Increased Death Benefits
Write Your Senator
Tax Time! Are You Ready?
Gettysburg Battle Game
RELATED LINKS
Army Adopts NASCAR Technology...
Soldiers Practice Security for...
Army Port Team Handling...
States May Pay Troops Insurance
Associated Press
January 14, 2005
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Dawn Archuleta, a member of the New Mexico National Guard, wants to know that her son and daughter will be taken care of if she's called to serve in Iraq and doesn't make it home.
"That's my biggest worry if something did happen," said Archuleta, 25, who spent 11 months in Iraq as an Army truck driver.
Now, lawmakers in some states are hoping to ease such concerns with proposals to pick up the tab for $250,000 life insurance policies.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson wants the state to pay premiums under a federal program that allows service members to buy life insurance through a payroll deduction. The basic premium is about $16 a month, which would cost New Mexico an estimated $800,000.
Since Richardson's announcement earlier this month, legislators in Alabama, Iowa, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania have lined up with similar proposals.
"People think the military gets paid a lot but they don't realize how $16 can make a big difference," Archuleta said. "Getting an extra $16 on a Guard check is huge."
Support for those once regarded as "weekend warriors" is increasing because the active-duty Army is too small to meet demands - particularly in Iraq, where troop levels have far exceeded original predictions.
In fact, the National Guard has been used so much in Iraq and Afghanistan that the Army now has deployed, or put on notice, all 15 of its main combat brigades.
Still, some question whether states should pay insurance premiums since deployed soldiers are following federal orders. New Mexico does not cover premiums for any other state employees, including those with potentially dangerous jobs, such as state police officers.
Delano Garcia of the New Mexico Office of Military Affairs says regardless of who pays the premiums, it's something that needs to be done.
"I'm a Vietnam veteran and I hope that what happened to us never happens to these soldiers. Not again," he said.
New Mexico has about 400 guardsmen in Iraq, while Rhode Island has more than 800 stationed overseas. The Alabama Guard has 13 units in Iraq and four in Afghanistan. Iowa and Pennsylvania each have more than 4,000 guardsmen on active federal duty.
Richardson's administration says New Mexico can afford the premiums, citing its healthy reserves and that the cost will not erode funding used to maintain guard armories around the state.
Staff Sgt. Luis Otero, 22, of the New Mexico Air National Guard's 150th Fighter Wing, may have to return to Iraq this year. He said having his premium paid would make it easier. If anything happens to him, then his parents, brother and sister would benefit from his insurance policy.
"An extra $16 to have in our pocket would be nice, but the thing that the governor is talking about is worth more than $16," says Otero. "It's nice to know your family will be taken care of."
Sound Off...What do you think? Join the discussion.
ITOR'S TOP PICKS