Attachment B - Survey Questions for Military Retirees

ATTACHMENT B

Survey Questions for Military Retirees

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Attribute

One-Time Cost-of-Living Adjustment

Question

What are your preferences with respect to the following range of one-time
cost-of-living adjustments?

Explanation

To start, we’d like to ask you about your preferences for a retirement pay
increase.
We expect that you will assign your highest preference to the highest pay
increase and your lowest preference to the lowest pay increase…however,
what we are particularly interested in is how you view the alternatives in
between.
This one-time cost-of-living adjustment should be considered separately from
the standard annual increase.

2

Levels

0% - 20% in 5% increments. (5 levels)

Attribute

Retirement Pay

Question

How do you feel about the percentage of base pay Service members receive as
retirement pay?

Explanation

The next three questions ask for your preferences regarding various
hypothetical changes to the current military retirement plan.
By law, the Commission cannot recommend any changes to retirement for
those currently serving or currently retired (often referred to as
“grandfathering”). However, we are asking for your input to understand how
you believe these changes might be perceived by future entrants to military
service.
Retirement pay - under the current retirement system, active duty Service
members who retire with 20 years of service receive retirement pay equal to
50% of the average of their highest three years of base pay.

Levels

30% - 60% in 10% increments. (4 levels)

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4

Attribute

Lump Sum Alternative Options

Question

Would you have preferred an alternative retirement pay option that included
some form of a lump sum payment?

Explanation

Various lump sum payment approaches that could be offered by the DoD in
exchange for delaying receipt of retirement pay until age 65. Note that these
lump sum payment options are not currently offered by the DoD.

Level 1

Lump sum payment for full benefit.

Level 2

Limited lump sum payment.

Level 3

3 years annual base pay; delay retirement pay until age 65.

Level 4

5 years annual base pay; delay retirement pay until age 65.

Level 5

7 years annual base pay; delay retirement pay until age 65.

Level 6

Full annuity payments starting at retirement.

Attribute

TSP Plan Automatic Enrollment

Question

What is your preference for these automatic enrollment contributions into the
Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) upon entering the military?

Explanation

Under the current retirement system, Service members may, but are not
required to, contribute some of their monthly pay to the Thrift Savings Plan
(TSP). TSP is similar to a 401k retirement savings plan and allows Service
members to accumulate retirement savings even if they leave before qualifying
for retirement pay upon reaching 20 years of service.

Levels

0-10% of base pay in 2.5% increments. (5 levels)

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Attribute

TSP Plan Matching Contribution

Question

If DoD contributed to TSP to match a Service member's voluntary contributions,
how do you feel about the following levels of matching contributions?

Explanation Under the current retirement system, Service members may, but are not
required to, contribute some of their monthly pay to the Thrift Savings Plan
(TSP). DoD does not currently match TSP contributions.
Levels

6

7

0-10% of base pay contributions in 2.5% increments. (5 levels)

Attribute

Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) Payments

Question

What is your preference for the following levels of Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)
payments?

Explanation

Under the current Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), military retirees pay 6.5% of
their monthly retirement pay so an eligible beneficiary can receive 55% of the
retiree’s monthly retirement pay.

Level 1

No change to Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)

Level 2

5% payment for 25% coverage

Level 3

10% payment for 50% coverage

Level 4

25% payment for 100% coverage

Attribute

Monthly Health Care Premiums

Question

How much of a monthly health care premium do you prefer?

Explanation

This is the premium you would pay each month.

Levels

$400 to $0 per month in $100 increments. (5 levels)

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Attribute

Doctor Visit Co-Payments

Question

What is your preference for choosing a civilian doctor at the following
incremental co-payments levels (relative to the cost at a Military Treatment
Facility)?

Explanation

These charges are the additional charge over any charge at an MTF.

Levels

$40 to $0 more per visit to a civilian doctor in $10 increments. (5 levels)

Attribute

Prescription Co-Payments

Question

What is your preference for using a local retail pharmacy for filling prescriptions
at the following incremental co-payment levels (relative to the cost at a Military
Treatment Facility)?

Explanation

These charges are the additional charge over any charge at an MTF.

Levels

$20 to $0 more at a local retail pharmacy in $5 increments. (5 levels)

10 Attribute

Health Care Provider Choices

Question

If all the costs are the same, what are your preferences for the following
choices of health care providers?

Explanation

In this case, “health care providers” refers to primary and specialist care.

Level 1

Military Treatment Facilities (MTF) and attached outpatient clinics.

Level 2

A select network of civilian health care providers, as well as Military Treatment
Facilities.

Level 3

Broad range of civilian health care providers along with available MTFs.

Level 4

Full range of care from civilian providers only and no access to MTFs.

11 Attribute

Health Care Experience Quality

Question

If all the costs were the same, which of following aspects of your health care
experience matter the most?

Explanation

Various aspects of the health care experience that drive quality health care for
you.

Level 1

Ability to choose any health care provider.

Level 2

The ability to remain with the same health care provider.

Level 3

Short travel time.

Level 4

Flexible appointment scheduling with your health care provider.

Level 5

Short wait time at your provider’s office.

Level 6

A large network of providers.

12 Attribute

Commissary Benefit Percentage

Question

At what levels of discount do you prefer your commissary over commercial
alternatives?

Explanation

Commissaries charge shoppers the cost of groceries plus a 5% surcharge that is
reinvested back into commissary upgrades. According to DoD, prices paid by
commissary patrons are typically 30% below commercial supermarkets.

Levels

10% to 35% discount in 5% increments. (6 levels)

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Commissary Benefit Features

Question

How important are the following aspects of your commissary benefit?

Explanation

Certain aspects of your shopping experience may be more important to you
than others.

Level 1

Discount groceries and household goods

Level 2

Convenience

Level 3

Product assortment

Level 4

Name brand selection

Level 5

Sense of military community

Level 6

Introduction of store brands

Attribute

Exchange and Commissary Options

Question

Which exchange and commissary benefit offering do you prefer?

Explanation

Commissaries and exchanges are often located in close proximity to one
another.

Level 1

Exchange and commissary situated next to one another

Level 2

Commissary alone without a nearby exchange

Level 3

Exchange alone without a nearby commissary

Level 4

Combined exchange and commissary

15 Attribute

Transitioning Programs

Question

Which of the following transition programs were important to you during your
transition?

Explanation

Transitioning programs can play a critical role in facilitating a comfortable
return to civilian life.

Level 1

Transition Assistance Program

Level 2

One Stop Career Centers

Level 3

Federal Government internet portals

Level 4

Troops to Teachers