When I enlisted in the Air Force in 1959 I was told that if I was to retire with 20 or more years that myself and wife would receive free medical and dental care for the rest of our lifes. Was anyone else told this and if so have you not asked what happen to that promise. Please let your senator and congressmam no you would like to know what happen to it. When you turn 65 you will have to pay for your medecare an at this time it is $93.50 a person.



I just wonder how much congress persons and senaters pay for there health care ,an when they retire how much do they pay. when they turn 65 are they required to take medicare too.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: bigda5,

Yes that has already been beaten down by the Federal courts. There was NO Written Promise of FREE medical care. It sucks but that was the ruling. A group of Veterans from Penn. sued the Federal Gov. over it and that was the result, at least up to now.

I remember being promised, by my recruiter… “Three Hots and a cot”! Oh, and he said medical was included. However, even before I retired, Tricare was charging retired Soldiers and families money to be seen! AND…retirees’ are at the bottom of the waiting list to be seen at the hospital. Who knows how long it takes to get seen off post?

You can thank good old slick willie for taking away our health benefits. Now you pay and pay and pay.

well there is currently a bill in the house regarding this issue:
Ask Your Member of Congress to Support H.R. 1256
H.R. 1256 would increase the federal government's share of health benefit premiums for its employees and retirees

Representatives Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and Frank Wolf (R-VA) recently introduced H.R. 1256, a bipartisan bill to increase the federal government’s share of health benefit premiums for its employees and retirees from the current average of 72 percent to an average of 80 percent.

Just wanted to let ya'll know this is out there.

Having seen what my coworkers pay for the health care they get....my $115 a quarter for my whole family seems like one huge bargain...

And Moncrief Hospital (Fort Jackson, SC) does a great job...much better than any Navy Medical I saw, even while on active duty.

When I got SSD, I refused Medicare because I had Tricare and was paying for that. That refusal led Tricare to drop me till I got part B. So now I'm paying 93 something a month for Medicare and the 114 quarter for Tricare. Stupid government.

quote:

Originally posted by foreverfrost:
When I got SSD, I refused Medicare because I had Tricare and was paying for that. That refusal led Tricare to drop me till I got part B. So now I'm paying 93 something a month for Medicare and the 114 quarter for Tricare. Stupid government.

Yes, you are required to enroll in Part "B" of Medicare in order to have Tricare. The "Premiums" you have deducted from your SSDI or SS are then credited to Tricare. It seems unfair in a way, but it isn't (opinion). Because a normal retiree or otherwise Tricare enrollee are required to pay monthly premiums, therefore, it would be unfair (opinion) for you to have medical insurance for free or at a lower cost than for anyone else.
Wishing you the best and Godspeed.
Eres Tu!
Freddy

P/S Eh..seems I leave something out.

A person on medicare who does not have Tricare must pay a premium for Part B, so in short it's a Vis a Vis.
Eres Tu!
Freddy

QUOTE: Because a normal retiree or otherwise Tricare enrollee are required to pay monthly premiums, therefore, it would be unfair (opinion) for you to have medical insurance for free or at a lower cost than for anyone else."

Who pays monthly -- it's not required, if you choose TC Standard, you only have co-pays and only when you use the system ... if you choose another kind (Prime) then you have fees, but that is a choice you make.

I'd like anyone out there to find a private system that is less costly for this kind of coverage ... in the real world, Tricare is great coverage ... or you can chose VA too, if a veteran, and high priority VA if you are a DAV ...

Although I'd choose Tricare over the VA for specialty care, and use VA for x-rays, meds, other tests ... so if I have something that really needs a look, I'd rather choose my doctor than get the luck of the draw on any given day at the VA.

Don't you have a Doctor assigned to you at the VA that is your PCP? I always have. I can call for an appointment with her anytime I want to, and I have never been shuffled from one doctor to another..So, I have my SHRINk..that never changes and he works with my PCP that also never changes, barring retirement or going to private practice of course, but even that has not happened to me,..yet.

If there is shuffling of patients going around, I'm not aware of it..exception: walk ins to ER, I suppose.
Eres Tu!
Freddy

Current retirees that joined up in the fifties with a promise of "Free Health care for husband and wife" are now paying about $2200 per year for that "free" health care VS new retirees who joined up later or now with no promise, pay way less for Tricare Prime. Maybe the next batch of future enlistees will get a better deal from the draft dodging liars in Washington

I served eight years AF, overseas and brief thingy in SEA, and then more years completely in the private sector – then due to power grabs by union and company; I hired on with the Fed. The eight years were added to FERS, after a small amount for difference in SSI and CSRS, I retired with 20 years credit. The FERS is not all that much, but combined with SSI and a couple other pensions I make out good. At least I could retire 8 years earlier than usual (70).

One good thing about FERS is the health insurance, while a bit on the expensive side, never the less is serves us greatly. After looking at what we would have to pay out for Medicare-B and D and whatever else, plus the supplement – we find that staying with the regular OEM health plan is quite okay.

One thing I learned early in life is that there is no free lunch; life is not fair, and never believe anything people tell you about a free and fair lunch.

I GOT THE SAME ANWSER. IT WAS NOT PROMISE BY CONGRESS, THE SAME OLD B/S EVERYONE ELSE GOT. ONCE YOU RETIRE, THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT USE. THEY WANT USE TO CRAWL AWAY SOME WHERE AND DIE. WE'RE LIVIUNG LONGER THEN THEY EXPECTED. WHAT WE HAVE DO IS JOIN FORCES AND MAKE COMGRESS DO THE RIGHT THING. WRITE THOSE SUCKERS EVERYDAY IF HAVE TO.WE SERVED OUR TIME."MAKE THEM LIVE UP TO THE PROMISES THEY GAVE US WHEN WE WHERE IN THE MILITARY AND "NO MORE CUTS IN BENEFITS".

We can shout and scream all we want to, but as "mplcs" said way back in August 2007,

Yes that has already been beaten down by the Federal courts. There was NO Written Promise of FREE medical care. It sucks but that was the ruling. A group of Veterans from Penn. sued the Federal Gov. over it and that was the result, at least up to now.

6738122, posting in all caps may imply that you are mad and shouting, but it makes your post hard to read.

OAL

quote:

Originally posted by bigda5:
When I enlisted in the Air Force in 1959 I was told that if I was to retire with 20 or more years that myself and wife would receive free medical and dental care for the rest of our lifes. Was anyone else told this and if so have you not asked what happen to that promise. Please let your senator and congressmam no you would like to know what happen to it. When you turn 65 you will have to pay for your medecare an at this time it is $93.50 a person.



I just wonder how much congress persons and senaters pay for there health care ,an when they retire how much do they pay. when they turn 65 are they required to take medicare too.

Oh it gets better:
It finally happened. About the only real befits a retiree has living near a base it Pharmacy. Oh there is the Commissary and BX. Yea right. Priced WAY too high. I’ll stick to WalMart. But we went to pick up our prescriptions at the JRB/Carswell the other day only to be asked if we had filled out some Third Party Insurance form. When I questioned this, I was told that they are going to try to recoup some of the cost by charging it to my private insurance. I told them that my private insurance is a program at my work and if could effect profitability to my company. This is why I use the base for family prescriptions.

Just another way to slowly and surly take away what we all fought for.

That has been DOD policy for more than six years. I'm surprised that it is just now being implemented at Carswell. We had to fill out those forms at MacDill before I was entitled to Medicare.

quote:

But we went to pick up our prescriptions at the JRB/Carswell the other day only to be asked if we had filled out some Third Party Insurance form. When I questioned this, I was told that they are going to try to recoup some of the cost by charging it to my private insurance. I told them that my private insurance is a program at my work and if could effect profitability to my company. This is why I use the base for family prescriptions.

quote:

Originally posted by coker737:

quote:

Originally posted by bigda5:
When I enlisted in the Air Force in 1959 I was told that if I was to retire with 20 or more years that myself and wife would receive free medical and dental care for the rest of our lifes. Was anyone else told this and if so have you not asked what happen to that promise. Please let your senator and congressmam no you would like to know what happen to it. When you turn 65 you will have to pay for your medecare an at this time it is $93.50 a person.



I just wonder how much congress persons and senaters pay for there health care ,an when they retire how much do they pay. when they turn 65 are they required to take medicare too.

Oh it gets better:
It finally happened. About the only real befits a retiree has living near a base it Pharmacy. Oh there is the Commissary and BX. Yea right. Priced WAY too high. I’ll stick to WalMart. But we went to pick up our prescriptions at the JRB/Carswell the other day only to be asked if we had filled out some Third Party Insurance form. When I questioned this, I was told that they are going to try to recoup some of the cost by charging it to my private insurance. I told them that my private insurance is a program at my work and if could effect profitability to my company. This is why I use the base for family prescriptions.

Just another way to slowly and surly take away what we all fought for.

When I joined at 17 in 1957, the last thing in my list of priorities, was medical care for life after retirement. I don't even remember any discussion of it. Chasing gals was #1.
I am now pleased with Medicare,my private insurance and Tricare for Life. In most cases even my co-pays on one insurance are paid by the other.