RE: http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,146137,00.html

BOHICA!!!!!!

Healthcare is one of the benefits we count on after retirement. While the Veterans Administration offers the best service, tricare is important for spouses.

While we military retirees are indeed blessed with this care, there are many non-veterans who are really hurting financially because of medical expenses.

I am of the opinion that mecical care is a necessity which all citizens should have equal access to. It is past the time that the United States Government should have implemented a system of universal healthcare.

I met a Dr. from a local hospital that complained that her administration bosses(Accountants that tell Dr's how to do their jobs)chew her out for spending too much time with her patients. But she says she won't stop doing her job the way she see's fit because her patients get better faster because she spends more time with them.
I thought retirees had all their bills and their wives bills paid by tricare. In 1969 we were told if we stayed in service and retired we would get free healthcare for the rest of our lives. Something smells here.

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In 1969 we were told if we stayed in service and retired we would get free healthcare for the rest of our lives. Something smells here.

At that time, we were also informed that upon retirement, we and our eligable dependants would also be receiving full dental care. But the dental portion disappeared only to be replaced later by Delta for Retirees.

Today's politicians and government bureaucrats (largely Dr. David Chu of DOD) have little or no regard for the promises and gaurantees made by yesterday's politicians and bureaucrats.

Over the last 40 yrs. I have seen our benifits Deteriorate. From full free health care for life for retirees to tricare paid for out of your pocket. A VA systems that is overburden with months if not years of waiting. All the while the service we give has become more and more demanding. Wounded Soliders being dump by the Army into an unprepared civilian system with little knowledge of the trauma they have experienced. A system where one benifit is off set by the other. (Concurrent receipt). And then reduced when you hit your retirement age.
Don't Cry and moan here. Join any one of the organizations that fight for our rights. The VFW, MOAA, and many others. Be proactive write you representitives, make you opion count!

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Originally posted by M_Wood51:

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In 1969 we were told if we stayed in service and retired we would get free healthcare for the rest of our lives. Something smells here.

At that time, we were also informed that upon retirement, we and our eligable dependants would also be receiving full dental care. But the dental portion disappeared only to be replaced later by Delta for Retirees.

Today's politicians and government bureaucrats (largely Dr. David Chu of DOD) have little or no regard for the promises and gaurantees made by yesterday's politicians and bureaucrats.

Yeah, I remember being told that lie in 1985. Hell, it's gotten so that I can't trust anyone in an elected office...

And don't forget the Legion. It's messed up a city like San Francisco has powerful local politicians that have almost banned the Blue Angels from performing there because they are anti-war. One doesn't need to be a pro-war hawk to realize that kind of thinking messes up anything pro veteran and is taken as victory to terrorists.

I get a kick out of all the rationalization by posters concerning health care.

As a 1964 U.S. Army length of service military retiree who served in combat during and over three major engagements, and then BETRAYED by the nation I served and gave the best years of my life along with 432,000 cohorts regarding how retired pay would be paid in the future. We have see our ingrate successor retirees drawing from 1/3 - 1/2 more than we do or did - most are now dead - I say "It's hoped that the deceit and facts or this nation you adore catches up with you soon." Oh yes.

edicare did not even exist when I retired. I knew that "under the law" I had "earned" life-long health care for me and my eligible dependents. Taking advantage of the limited CHAMPUS and moving my family and business in 1969 I get caught again in the '70s when this same deceitful, thankless and unforgiving nation notified me that on attaining age 65 when no longer subject to recall to active duty and wanting health care, "Go to Social Security and apply for Medicare part B" along with the draft-dodger, highly paid civilian, and now the 'INGRATE' highly paid successor military retiree. So my wife of over 59 years who served with General Patton's Third Army Field Hospital as a captain nurse in France, Germany and Austria; and, I, have now made over 200 such Medicare part B payments,each, plus the current BC/BS supplemental insurance.

I hope all of you whiners start paying your fair share of any perceived health care. wdgray@shawneelink.net

TOTAL frucking bowlshiite

What can we expect from an administration that has shown its "true colors" regarding the Active Duty, Reserve and Guard members and ALL Veterans by FIGHTING AGAINST any and all benefits, BELOW cost of living pay raises or MEDICAL/DENTAL benefits since DAY #1. If you don't believe this, then simply go back and read all the times that the DOD has fought AGAINST these issues. The last time I checked, this was the agency we /are were or had "worked" for. The best thing any of us can do is WRITE, WRITE, WRITE our Congressional representatives until they get tired of hearing from us. If ALL Veterans, plus the Active, Reserves and Guard actually JOINED forces to do this, we would have an emense VOTING block that finally no-one would simply take for granted as they do now.

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Originally posted by WillardDGray:
I get a kick out of all the rationalization by posters concerning health care.

As a 1964 U.S. Army length of service military retiree who served in combat during and over three major engagements, and then BETRAYED by the nation I served and gave the best years of my life along with 432,000 cohorts regarding how retired pay would be paid in the future. We have see our ingrate successor retirees drawing from 1/3 - 1/2 more than we do or did - most are now dead - I say "It's hoped that the deceit and facts or this nation you adore catches up with you soon." Oh yes.

edicare did not even exist when I retired. I knew that "under the law" I had "earned" life-long health care for me and my eligible dependents. Taking advantage of the limited CHAMPUS and moving my family and business in 1969 I get caught again in the '70s when this same deceitful, thankless and unforgiving nation notified me that on attaining age 65 when no longer subject to recall to active duty and wanting health care, "Go to Social Security and apply for Medicare part B" along with the draft-dodger, highly paid civilian, and now the 'INGRATE' highly paid successor military retiree. So my wife of over 59 years who served with General Patton's Third Army Field Hospital as a captain nurse in France, Germany and Austria; and, I, have now made over 200 such Medicare part B payments,each, plus the current BC/BS supplemental insurance.

I hope all of you whiners start paying your fair share of any perceived health care. wdgray@shawneelink.net

Sgt Major: Why in the world are your paying BC/BS supplemental insurance? Tricare for Life (TFL) is free for us over 65 - there are no deductibles and if you get to a stage where Medicare doesn't pay because it exceeds the payments, TFL kicks in - the worst you could pay for anything in one year is $3K for both you and your wife. Except for my Medicare payment, I pay nothing for healthcare - don't use the VA as I have excellent care for the both of us and don't have to use trainees - I've had open heart surgery, bladder cancer, stomach operated on, total hip replacement, cataracts with lens implants, feet done - my wife has survived small cell lung cancer with both chemo and chest/brain radiation plus a new total hip. Like you, any retiree in the service prior to 1957 (could be slightly off) was to get free healthcare for life - Supreme Court put the onus on our Legislators, but they have no feelings for us so nothing has been done - we were supposed to have Medicare without making the payments. Hope this information helps you. Keep up the fight.

Tricare is not about medical care it's all about funneling the tax payer dollars into the right pockets. Tricare is about management not medical care. Instead of putting the money allocated for military retiree medical care into medical care services the government has put it into selected pockets as profit. There is no reason why the military can not (could not) manage their own medical care facilities. Military retirees were promised medical care in military treatment facilities, but DoD and the Congress, in their infinite wisdom, closed and is still closing the military treatment facilities and is placing more dependence on the Tricare contractors. If DoD had left the military hospitals open the military retirees would have settled where the medical care is. Then if the facilities are not used close or downsize them. After retirement I settled where I am because the area had a very good military hospital. One other thing I'd like to touch on... one of the big problems military retirees have when working with the Congress is terminology. We continue to confuse our already confused Congress by using the veteran word when talking about military retirees issues such as Tricare. Tricare has nothing to do with the typical veteran that goes to the VA Hospital for medical care. I know the standard argument. Military retirees can go to VA Hospitals as veterans, but that isn't the way it is suppose to be. The military retiree can not take his wife to a VA Hospital unless she is also a military retiree or veteran.

This is just another example of the government cheating the military and veterans. TRICARE has been a hot item for the past several years and now they want to just change things regardless of what the people depending on it have to go through. This administration and Congress should be doing something to stop this now. When they come back from vacation this will hit the fan again. I hope it knocks it off the wall. This is wrong and a disgrace to the military and the veteran population.

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Originally posted by 5591120:
Over the last 40 yrs. I have seen our benifits Deteriorate. From full free health care for life for retirees to tricare paid for out of your pocket. A VA systems that is overburden with months if not years of waiting. All the while the service we give has become more and more demanding. Wounded Soliders being dump by the Army into an unprepared civilian system with little knowledge of the trauma they have experienced. A system where one benifit is off set by the other. (Concurrent receipt). And then reduced when you hit your retirement age.
Don't Cry and moan here. Join any one of the organizations that fight for our rights. The VFW, MOAA, and many others. Be proactive write you representitives, make you opion count!

Duh! Hello!, do you have any idea how many letters, calls, telegrams, protests, meetings and lobbiests of the various military organizations have taken place over the last 30 years? And, NADA! The govt doesnt really give a rats *** about us. They just want us [people who are not their kids] to fight for them and their oil company stocks. Then they toss us aside and send some more young americans into the military meat grinder to fight for them. David Chu in the DOD and Dr. Winkler (sp) are killing us, literally. The sooner we die, the less they pay and the more they can stash in their off shore bank accounts. Then, we wonder , "why dont our young people flock down to the recruiter in droves to fight for americas oil needs. Its simple 99% of americas youth are smart enough to realize what is being perputrated on their parents and are NOT willing to have a part of defending americas oil and oil companies only to be crippled for life and tossed into the street by the VA or killed to keep oil profits coming. Dont deny it!!!! Stop thumping your chest in false bravado. Look around you. This is no longer the America you and I grew up in. We dont fight wars in defense of foreign enemies. We fight wars for greed and the resources of other nations. Our children dont believe in or support these noecon politicos acts. Thats just a part of the govt neglect of its veterans and part of the reason that our Tricare and medical coverage are being flushed down the toilet to divert more money to buy "other" things that DOD wants and Dr. CHU's hate for the veterans. Its all a part of our downfall. Its not going to get any better either. NOt as long as bush/cheney/chu/winkler are in charge of our fates. We've been screwed.

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Originally posted by RichardSl:

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Originally posted by WillardDGray:
I get a kick out of all the rationalization by posters concerning health care.

As a 1964 U.S. Army length of service military retiree who served in combat during and over three major engagements, and then BETRAYED by the nation I served and gave the best years of my life along with 432,000 cohorts regarding how retired pay would be paid in the future. We have see our ingrate successor retirees drawing from 1/3 - 1/2 more than we do or did - most are now dead - I say "It's hoped that the deceit and facts or this nation you adore catches up with you soon." Oh yes.

edicare did not even exist when I retired. I knew that "under the law" I had "earned" life-long health care for me and my eligible dependents. Taking advantage of the limited CHAMPUS and moving my family and business in 1969 I get caught again in the '70s when this same deceitful, thankless and unforgiving nation notified me that on attaining age 65 when no longer subject to recall to active duty and wanting health care, "Go to Social Security and apply for Medicare part B" along with the draft-dodger, highly paid civilian, and now the 'INGRATE' highly paid successor military retiree. So my wife of over 59 years who served with General Patton's Third Army Field Hospital as a captain nurse in France, Germany and Austria; and, I, have now made over 200 such Medicare part B payments,each, plus the current BC/BS supplemental insurance.

I hope all of you whiners start paying your fair share of any perceived health care. wdgray@shawneelink.net

Sgt Major: Why in the world are your paying BC/BS supplemental insurance? Tricare for Life (TFL) is free for us over 65 - there are no deductibles and if you get to a stage where Medicare doesn't pay because it exceeds the payments, TFL kicks in - the worst you could pay for anything in one year is $3K for both you and your wife. Except for my Medicare payment, I pay nothing for healthcare - don't use the VA as I have excellent care for the both of us and don't have to use trainees - I've had open heart surgery, bladder cancer, stomach operated on, total hip replacement, cataracts with lens implants, feet done - my wife has survived small cell lung cancer with both chemo and chest/brain radiation plus a new total hip. Like you, any retiree in the service prior to 1957 (could be slightly off) was to get free healthcare for life - Supreme Court put the onus on our Legislators, but they have no feelings for us so nothing has been done - we were supposed to have Medicare without making the payments. Hope this information helps you. Keep up the fight.

Whoa, did I read that right? INGRATE? Does that mean that I am a ungrateful ignaramous bafoon that spent 24 years of Nam, Cold War, ME time twiddling my thumbs? Mercy! WTF? Mr Gray..someone is sticking it to you, big time. I salute you and your lovely wife for your time and sacrifices. I highly implore you to call your congressman, see your VA rep and get in touch with any military organization you may a member of or know about. Someone or something is working against you. It certainly doesnt sound like anything we have experienced (yet), but we turn 65 next year and have already arranged for Medicare part B and Tricare will be the 20% co payer. It all confuses me to no end, but it seems to me you're getting wagged by the tail of the dog. Gud luck to you. Salute

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Originally posted by AFRet91:

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Originally posted by 5591120:
Over the last 40 yrs. I have seen our benifits Deteriorate. From full free health care for life for retirees to tricare paid for out of your pocket. A VA systems that is overburden with months if not years of waiting. All the while the service we give has become more and more demanding. Wounded Soliders being dump by the Army into an unprepared civilian system with little knowledge of the trauma they have experienced. A system where one benifit is off set by the other. (Concurrent receipt). And then reduced when you hit your retirement age.
Don't Cry and moan here. Join any one of the organizations that fight for our rights. The VFW, MOAA, and many others. Be proactive write you representitives, make you opion count!

Duh! Hello!, do you have any idea how many letters, calls, telegrams, protests, meetings and lobbiests of the various military organizations have taken place over the last 30 years? And, NADA! The govt doesnt really give a rats *** about us. They just want us [people who are not their kids] to fight for them and their oil company stocks. Then they toss us aside and send some more young americans into the military meat grinder to fight for them. David Chu in the DOD and Dr. Winkler (sp) are killing us, literally. The sooner we die, the less they pay and the more they can stash in their off shore bank accounts. Then, we wonder , "why dont our young people flock down to the recruiter in droves to fight for americas oil needs. Its simple 99% of americas youth are smart enough to realize what is being perputrated on their parents and are NOT willing to have a part of defending americas oil and oil companies only to be crippled for life and tossed into the street by the VA or killed to keep oil profits coming. Dont deny it!!!! Stop thumping your chest in false bravado. Look around you. This is no longer the America you and I grew up in. We dont fight wars in defense of foreign enemies. We fight wars for greed and the resources of other nations. Our children dont believe in or support these noecon politicos acts. Thats just a part of the govt neglect of its veterans and part of the reason that our Tricare and medical coverage are being flushed down the toilet to divert more money to buy "other" things that DOD wants and Dr. CHU's hate for the veterans. Its all a part of our downfall. Its not going to get any better either. NOt as long as bush/cheney/chu/winkler are in charge of our fates. We've been screwed.

Amen Walt! - We have tried everything like you said but there is no way that we will succeed. They (Legislators) make it sound like they will take action but put the proposed bill into committee where it dies at the end of their session. Most of the young people only know about conservative and liberal parties - they don't realize that when I was young in the 30s and 40s it was the parties of the rich and the poor. Notice where most of the benefits came from, including Social Security. Someone found out that they could not get elected because of the rich nametag and changed to conservatives and called the party of the poor "liberals". Was Rove around then? Look at how things have changed - I pity those that retire in the future - unions have been killed off and there is no more or only a few company retirements - now you have to put it into an IRA and hope that you'll have enough, which probably wouldn't happen. How do you save when you barely get by. How many of our veterans are sinking and badly in debt. A very recent poll has shown that 18 to 35 year old are flocking to the party of the poor - what suprises me is that most enlisted veterans are extremely conservative - most are like the average American and have very little - how many of them can go out and buy a $300K home, drive a Mercedes, go on many trips and so forth. How many have shabby health care. Most Vets use the VA. I'm still trying to figure out how they were bamboozled. Just look at the CPI - it is based on the 3d quarter of one fiscal year versus the 3d quarter of the previous year - July through September. Now look at how gas prices have tumbled from $3 to $2.65 starting in July - I wonder why???? This is a game that is played and we aren't smart enough to play. What we need to do is kick out all legislators and start with a new group and put term limits on them. Work for the people or your fired. They wouldn't vote for that but each State Governor can start the process of a change. I have been an Independent for God knows how long - I first voted for Eisenhower and have split my vote over the years between whom I thought would be best for our country. I, like you feel that this Administration has been the worst of any - they shout support the military but want to increase our Tricare fees, think a .5 percent increase in pay is too much, don't oversea the VA or military health care system, and that is just the tip of the iceberg. Yet, every day, if someone tells the truth, we are not supporting our President or the Troops - we are traitors - are these real enlisted veterans or just parrots of the Administration. God have mercy on us!

When and if this passes ever one should drive to the nearest base for treatment. I would gladly drive the 140 miles for treatment for my family member. I figure if the bases get over loaded then maybe just maybe they would go back to the 40 mile limit and reinstate TRICARE Prime. It is hard enough to find a doctor that will take TRICARE and now they are going to mess with it.

Why are the veteran's always the first to get the shaft? We fought for the country at low pay witht he promise of medical for ourself and our family and the medical was suppose to be free. Now they are trying to stick it to us again. Only in America.

I stand with you 100% and you are right on time

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Originally posted by AFRet91:

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Originally posted by 5591120:
Over the last 40 yrs. I have seen our benifits Deteriorate. From full free health care for life for retirees to tricare paid for out of your pocket. A VA systems that is overburden with months if not years of waiting. All the while the service we give has become more and more demanding. Wounded Soliders being dump by the Army into an unprepared civilian system with little knowledge of the trauma they have experienced. A system where one benifit is off set by the other. (Concurrent receipt). And then reduced when you hit your retirement age.
Don't Cry and moan here. Join any one of the organizations that fight for our rights. The VFW, MOAA, and many others. Be proactive write you representitives, make you opion count!

Duh! Hello!, do you have any idea how many letters, calls, telegrams, protests, meetings and lobbiests of the various military organizations have taken place over the last 30 years? And, NADA! The govt doesnt really give a rats *** about us. They just want us [people who are not their kids] to fight for them and their oil company stocks. Then they toss us aside and send some more young americans into the military meat grinder to fight for them. David Chu in the DOD and Dr. Winkler (sp) are killing us, literally. The sooner we die, the less they pay and the more they can stash in their off shore bank accounts. Then, we wonder , "why dont our young people flock down to the recruiter in droves to fight for americas oil needs. Its simple 99% of americas youth are smart enough to realize what is being perputrated on their parents and are NOT willing to have a part of defending americas oil and oil companies only to be crippled for life and tossed into the street by the VA or killed to keep oil profits coming. Dont deny it!!!! Stop thumping your chest in false bravado. Look around you. This is no longer the America you and I grew up in. We dont fight wars in defense of foreign enemies. We fight wars for greed and the resources of other nations. Our children dont believe in or support these noecon politicos acts. Thats just a part of the govt neglect of its veterans and part of the reason that our Tricare and medical coverage are being flushed down the toilet to divert more money to buy "other" things that DOD wants and Dr. CHU's hate for the veterans. Its all a part of our downfall. Its not going to get any better either. NOt as long as bush/cheney/chu/winkler are in charge of our fates. We've been screwed.

I want to thank you for that infor it's make me want to got out the legion

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Originally posted by JosephABelleIsle:
And don't forget the Legion. It's messed up a city like San Francisco has powerful local politicians that have almost banned the Blue Angels from performing there because they are anti-war. One doesn't need to be a pro-war hawk to realize that kind of thinking messes up anything pro veteran and is taken as victory to terrorists.

So whats your point? Just quit trying?