RE: http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,158426,00.html

Additional erossion of benefits promised to those who are willing to put their lives on the line for the preservation of freedom in this country.

Who is this Dr. Wilensky, to say (Part of one recommendation is a small enrollment fee for TFL, she said. It is not intended to cut program costs but "to foster personal accountability and to be consistent with the task force philosophy that military retiree health care should be very generous but not free.")Free What does she think, one who sits in a nice office and says Should not be free, Lady I think we have paid more than you will ever know. How can anyone say anything like this to a group of Vet's who have given for this. Why dont you sit in your office and think about what we have given and see if that is free. This lady is not just an idiot but one who has to be called DOCTOR IDIOT.;

It should be mandated that all senior federal government policy makers and administrators of veterans entitlement programs and veterans benefits programs should, themselves, be veterans (not peacetime but wartime), and that disabled and military retired veterans should be considered first in all these positions. We cannot let our veterans' vital health benefits be decided and controlled by beaureaucratic functionaries. Our veterans earned their benefits with the highest degree of personal merit and sacrifice which no gov't, private or commercial industry bean-counter could possibly appreciate.

Figures...What's next ? It's a wonder the active doesn't have to buy their own weapons and clothes...us retirees need to die and get out of the way, that way this nation won't have to be reminded of all the broken promises and lies we have been fed all of these years.

I would like to help, I really would..... So if anybody from Congress is reading these boards, I'll start paying my share as soon as you start paying for your medical benefits. Ditto for the fine Dr. Wilensky.... maybe so you get to "feel closer to veterans" to way you want veterans to "feel closer" to their tri-dcare benefits cost, you might want to get your butt in a combat unit and do a few tours in a war zone, then when you come back, (if you do come back)maybe you will understand why veteran's feel the need to be taken care of instead of shouldering another problem caused by overpaid consultants.
Over 30 year's Army service, 100% disabled, and wondering if I could have done more if I didn't have to get out because of a serious medical condition caused by military service, (lost all kidney function, dialysis keeps me alive). Then I have to read that I should be paying more for the few benefits we have remaining.
Dr Wilensky, actually I do feel very close to the cost of tri-care benefits.... I paid dearly to be able to use them, I would rather NOT need them, Thank You very much!

I am appalled that they are looking to increase the cost of this of many of our benifits that was suppose to be "free" that have been whittled away by congress. We have served our country well with many of our breathren's blood spilt on foreign ground as well as many not returning, just so they can sleep well at night safe. Yet they have the gall to raise the cost of our one health safety net. I for one am on a strict budget and can barely afford it now much less the proposed increase the first year and the sharp increase each year afterward. It is a shame that I survived 20 years in the military only to succomb to the possiblility of not being able to survive an illiness without medical insurance due to my losing insurance that i cant afford the premiums to.

Doc Bean Counter,
Military folks were told that their medical was going to be free for their entire life. I know for me it was one of the things I told myself so I could stick it out and endure low pay, long hours, and an unstable work schedule.
I think if you credit all us veterans about a 20% pay raise vetroactive for the 20 plus years most of us served, then put that in a trust fund with a modest 5 or 6 percent return, you can draw on that for helping paying our medical expenses.
I am sorry most of us are living longer and or just made it out alive, where it is drawing on your purse strings. You may feel your making money here for whatever pork project you would like to apply the funds you graft off of our small community.
The sad truth it that you will just have to spend that much more money retains current active duty troops. We will make sure they see how they can expect to be treated after their active service time. Then you and your Evil Catbert HR Mentality folks will be left to fund the ever expanding costs of attracting and retaining volunteers.
Myself I think I will look at spreading the word that service men should get agents like sports stars do, to get their best deal and make individual contracts that have in black and white any benefits promised. Educate them that any talk while negotiating the contracts is called puffing and not enforcable if not in writing. Kind of like the sea tail I was told about medical for life if I supported my country's defense department for life.
If you do have to go forward with this bs, I think it only fair you have congress and senate members benefits changed so that they have to pay for their benefits, or just take their medical away only they leave service. Kind of like will happen to many who can not afford to pay more then they are paying now.

Consense on That! oh yeah and thank you for sharing your ill informed opinion on how we are leaches on the medical budget.

Typical civilian thinking. Who is this female civilian idiot Doctor? She hasn't sacrificed anything the way vets did. Decisions like this should be made by vets of all ranks and experience levels.TFL all ready requires enrollment in Medicare part B which goes up in cost every year. Congress needs to say no too charging vets more while they give theselves a pay raise.

I feel like the rest of you on this board. I know during my 20 57/77 all we ever heard was serve 20 and medical coverage was ours free for life. I don't know who or where this idiot DR Wilensky came from.
I know during my time pay was so patetic we could have qualified for food stamps. I knew many people who lived in substandard base housing because it was a little cheaper.
My question is were are all these flag officers coming down on this. The trouble with the congress there are hardly any veterans that have ever served. Probally within the next 10 years there will be none. Yet the congress can find all kinds of monies for their favorite earmark. Tell all your friends to write.

Mr. Krushinsky said that he is immediately sending out letters to all personnel whose records are being reviewed and those whose records have been reviewed. My question to Mr. Krushinsky is "what does immediately mean to you?"

Now we are lumped into comparisons with our civilian counterparts, yet when we were active duty and asked for comparable wages, we were told that our "benefits for life" made up for the low wages.

I earned those benefits, along with the right to question when our past loyalty is not being honored in return.

I didn't look for a handout, never questioned my orders, and adapted and overcame whatever obstacles were placed in our way.

I will not be reduced to being considered less than self sufficient, or needing more than what we earned.

I am not asking hat in hand. As less than equal to anybody.

I demand what my service earned, as agreed.

Or I demand that the all volunteer force have a clause in every enlistment and comissioning document that clearly discloses that any future politician reserves the right, at any time, to withdraw any benefit, raise the costs to us whenever spending on new debt exceeds spending on old obligations, and reserve the right to use us until we are dead, crippled, or just too old to fight anymore, and then expect us to just fade away, without so much as a by your leave.

The current crop of politicians do not have my personal leave. Speaking only for me.

I refuse to just fade away.

The American people SHOULD take a stand! Who are these miscreants who could stand up? Since I am an American, and you are, they are us! And instead of calling us Americans unwilling to stand up, I will as one. Do we make it "we" stand up? Some read posts like this and figure they'll let "George" do it, since it appears some are sending emails and letters, and they don't have to bother?

Having our voice heard, even if for some it is to oppose my view, and say "we will proudly pay more, thank you sir may I have another," is only a click away, in the military.com links.

Join me, and make it "we."

Huah!

I can now say that I told you so this was going to happen but all you so called suckup told me and replied you don't know what I was talking about in others words have a coke and a smile and shutup. I tried to tell you to read between the lines but no I was still taked about you know who the hell you are so now what's up now fool

Another attempt by the FAT CATs to screw the military. We fulfilled our part of the contract now you fgulfill yours. Just because it gets a little more expensive doesn't give them the right to change the contract. Small increase in the drugs copay HA!!!!! from $3 to $15 dollars????? 500% is not a small increase!!!!!!!!!!! And they want to charge a small enrollment fee just ot prove it isn't free. Beware the slippery slope my friends. Once they pass these ones there will be another bill EVERY YEAR decresing benifits and raising costs. Mark my words!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Write, call email, even visit your congress person and ask strongly to drop this stupid PANEL crap right in the trash where it belongs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tell them to get out of IRAQ where they spend 12 BILLION a MONTH and they would have the money to fund the "FREE" miltary health care we deserve forever.