Military Retirees' Health Care May Rise

[cal04]

Bush administration wants many military retirees to pay more for health care, a proposal that could force the Republican-run Congress to choose between savvy politics and budget discipline. Annual health-care costs for the military have doubled to nearly $38 billion in the past five years, nearly one dollar of every $12 the Pentagon spends. The price tag is projected to soar to $64 billion by 2015.

To help contain those costs, President Bush's proposal includes higher prescription drug co-payments for all beneficiaries of military health care except those on active duty, and increased annual enrollment fees for military retirees under age 65. If lawmakers want to follow Bush's lead and control spiraling health care expenditures, they will have to vote to boost costs for some of the nation's military families in a year in which the entire House and one-third of the Senate is up for re-election.

Congressional support for the proposal is uncertain. Lawmakers question whether the plan is the best route, and they have rejected similar efforts in the past. The Pentagon says curtailing health care costs is an urgent matter. ``Our current trend is unsustainable,'' Dr. William Winkenwerder Jr., assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, said.

Critics, including some lawmakers, accuse the administration of seeking to save money by raising fees to steer military retirees toward health plans their current employers sponsor. That would take a burden off the Pentagon's health care system, called TRICARE. ``That's not saving money, that's kind of doing the little shell game,'' said John Class, deputy director of government affairs for health care at the Military Officers Association of America.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5635432,00.html

[fasttense]

1. *&%, I would swear like a sailor but I know kids come to this site.

I can't believe it. We are just getting to a point where we thought we could save some money and now brush is going to raise my co-payments.

Instead of making the riches American pay their fair share of the tax burden, he is going to make it off the backs of the military retirees. This really sucks.

If he had just kept to the balance budget plans that Clinton had we would not have to do this, or if he had given the "haves and haves more" less of a tax break or how about that give away he gave to the oil companies. No he is going to make the military sacrifice more for this country. How about some sacrifice from the those who are making the big bucks?

I can tell you, I didn't make any money while I was in the military and now we military are going to carry the riches top 1% and the oil companies on our backs. I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I pay for the rich to get a tax cut.

[salin]

2. Great last line in your post...

I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I pay for the rich to get a tax cut.

And just what the heck have *they* (the rich 1%) done for us lately?

[oneold1-4u]

11. Save 5 billion a year????

The president knows that his constituents can't do math over $20 so they will only know that he is saving them some BIG money! They don't understand that he has been spending with and saving the rich folks that much every couple of weeks!
Next proposal, for military, will be charging enlistees five dollars a month and draftees only two. Then thousands will sign up for the draft for a three dollar savings!!!!
YUP! You can fool half the people, big time, once you have fooled all of them for a long time!

[jody]

3. Vets wounded in Iraq would pay more because they fought in *'s war. n/t

[liberal N proud]

4. I will have to send this to my career military bothers who support bu$h

They have been so pro repuke because they have been told that the repukes are pro military. I feed them this kind of stuff every chance I get.

[UpInArms]

5. Administration Proposes Higher Health Care Costs for Military Retirees

http://www.wmal.com/listingsEntry.asp?ID=412960&PT=NEWS

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration wants many military retirees to pay more for health care.

Annual health-care costs for the military have doubled to nearly $38 billion in the past five years, nearly one dollar of every 12 dollars the Pentagon spends.

President Bush's proposal includes higher prescription drug co-payments for all beneficiaries of military health care -- except those on active duty -- and higher annual enrollment fees for military retirees under age 65.

The Pentagon projects it could save nearly $15 billion over the next five years if Congress approves Bush's plan.

...more...

[tanyev]

6. Support the troops! Brawk! Support the troops!

[Missy M]

7. The least we can do is provide the best health care for our veterans....

who served the country and put their lives on the line.

[Frustratedlady]

8. Isn't this partly because of *s

Medicare D fiasco? People who were not using their military coverage are now doing so, since the military was negotiating lower prices for medications and they could save money by going through them, rather than signing up for a Medicare D card. Or, am I all wet? I know of quite a few who did that.

[tecelote]

9. You see, that's why the port deal is so important.

America needs the money.

We can't afford to support our veteran benefits so we need to sell more of America.

---

Also note: "except those on active duty" - because we really don't want them to be disillusioned. They are a real value. Once they're no longer listed as active, it doesn't matter. It's all about maximizing profits, uh, er, I mean maximizing productivity.

---

Once again, here is the proof that the neo-cons do not care about the people in the military, only the effectiveness.

---

We all know that this war is about power and profit. How much more proof do we need?

Will Americans understand when 90% of us live on half of what we make today so that 10% can prosper? When we can not breath the air or drink the water? When... it goes on and on.

America, during the last century, used to be a much better place to live and a much better example for the world.

It's hard to believe we could lose so much so fast.

But, we have.

[Lindsay]

10. We haven't lost it.

It's been stolen. (Otherwise, no argument from me.)

[LostinVA]

12. Wonder how my Bush-loving, RW BIL will like this?

Mr. Ex-Military Intelligence.

[Ilsa]

13. My inlaws and best friend are military retirees.

Fortunately my friend is also covered under her husband's health care policy with a large employer. My inlaws have secondary coverage, but they admit, it's a slap in the face.

[Greylyn58]

14. Need to give this info to my folks

They won't be happy about it as Tricare has saved them a bunch of money since its introduction.

Daddy served 30 years in the Marines and Tricare has been a Godsend in helping with their doctor visits and medicine costs.

Damn! Damn! Damn the Shrub and all of his cohorts!!!!!! :argh:

[Captain Hilts]

15. Uncle Sam told my parents they'd NEVER have to buy healthcare.

That was in 1944. I guess he lied.

They don't have a clue how to make these decisions. They don't even understand the language of healthcare insurance.

[SoCalDem]

16. When people used to enlist they were told that if they stayed in

and retired, they AND their spouse would receive medical care , gratis, for as long as they both lived.. What a joke that promise became.

[Captain Hilts]

17. That's exactly right. Dad did 28 years.

They moved the goalposts on that too. They originally said they'd include two years of the Naval Academy and re-negged on that too.

My folks didn't have a clue how to purchase health insurance in the 1980s when the rug got pulled out from under them.