It's about time all retirees,under 65, band together to let "every" legislator in Washington (regardless of state) to get off their butts and start earning their salaries and expense accounts, by stopping dead in it's tracks any movement by the DOD, military or govt healthcare subcommittees to raise Tricare fees for military retirees under 65. Not all retirees have full time O-6/O-10 retirement checks to fund fee increases; nor should they have to.
A promise was made to many of us 40 yrs ago for free medical, if we served a certain number of yrs. Now is not the time to start changing the rules of the promise. Okay, going forward for those new military folks now coming on duty, but not anyone who cannot turn back the clock to 40 yrs ago. We trusted our Military and Govt, just to find out that they do not have Honor and Integrity in their past promises, yet have retirement packages far superior to ours. This is even more critical to reservists, who get very small retirements in comparison to the active duty. I'm tired of hearing, from Phd committee members, about what civilians (non-military retired) pay for their healthcare coverage as a comparison to what our costs should be. They should not be compared, because they did not put in the required military service to qualify for these benefits. They made different choices. It's like saying, since I put in 40 yrs of service, then I should get the same retirement as a Congressman or Senator, but I don't.
Let's focus on the real issue; our DOD and legislative leaders are not astute enough to come up with a proper funding plan for promises made to us 40 yrs ago. Instead let's take all of their degrees and return them from where they came, because apparently they're conterfeit; since they can't handle a sound budget to keep promises made to every military member 40 yrs ago. They want a lazy man's solution instead of doing what it takes to honor long ago promises made under the banner of the Red, White, and Blue. When hedge-fund mgrs can make $1 Billion (that's with a B) for 2006 income, it's time to re-examine our priorities as a society. No excuses, if DOD and our legislators can't get this right, fire them all and get the right folks in the proper positions. Maybe the largest class-action lawsuit in the history of the US is needed. Take action today and make sure every TV and Radio sation, newspaper, and magazine gets this story and keep it in the news till the right action is taken on behalf of all us retirees.
Let's go Congress and Senate, start proving your Patriotism, and how about you Mr President and Mr Vice President, step up to the plate and take care of all those veterans you both seem to talk so much about in all your press conferences.
Most respectfully, from a Patriot with over 40 yrs of military service.
Here we go again. I am almost to the point of saying to the congress and senate and the president, because you all do not keep your word, you go fight the battles, you go protect the freedom we all enjoy. You talk like you care about us but you wind up shafting us. I remember when we were under the impression that if we stayed in the military for 20 or more years ours and our spouses medical coverage would be FREE for the remainder of our lives. Yup that sure happened, and now this B.S.
Hey Guys, wait until you turn 65 and they kick you out of Tricare Prime and you are forced to sign up for Medicare Part B in order to keep your benefits under Tricare for Life. Also, you lose vision care coverage. They didn't tell you that Part B was more money.
