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I joined the USMC in 1969 and was told by the recruiter, as everyother prospective recruit was told, that if you complete at least 20 years of service honorably, you were guaranteed free medical care for you and your spouse for the rest of your lives.

Then came TRI-CARE and the charge for medical services (annual fee) and a co-pay.

We have been lied to by the government that we served faithfully for many years. Myself completing 26.5 years, and am still waiting for the free medical services. I am told by the Naval Hospital at Camp Lejeune, NC that I cannot utilize that facility as a retiree.

Something needs to be done to enforce what we were guaranteed.

Contact your Congressman and put the pressure on to pass H.R. 816 that will protect against TriCare fee increases. All 4 of my Congressman in Kansas have signed on as co-sponsors of the bill. To date, 94 have signed on with Dems holding the edge. Their are preformated letters to send to the President and Congress. The silent majority never wins.

In 2004, when Defense leaders said the Administration was making them take
TRICARE "out of hide" at the expense of other Defense programs, the Armed
Services Committees acted to change the law to shift that deposit from the Defense budget to the U.S. Treasury budget. The clear intent was that TFL expenses weren't to come at the expense of other readiness needs.Congress passed that provision as part of the FY2005 Defense Authorization Act (Public Law 108-375).

But the Office of Management and Budget has since conspired with the budget
committees to flout the clear letter of the law and continue to charge the
funding against the defense budget.That's why the Administration has wrongly forced the Joint Chiefs of Staff to choose between retiree health funding and weapons programs. It's a false and inappropriate choice. If the Administration obeyed the law, the debate wouldn't be necessary.

Solution - Contact your contress critter and have them stand up to the law they passed concerning the funding of TRICARE.

We veterans are now labeled as possible terrorists because of our training, by the head of homeland security. Now we the possible terrorists are to pay more for health care. Yes I heard the HLS chief/ head DS say this on the Today show hosted by Mat Lauer(sp). The US Gov. is on a crash course with reality, they have the best of everything and the Veterans get the used side of the toilet paper, after the upper crust has used it. I guess they are saying Feed Them Cake.
God Bless the Fire Eaters
Semper Fi

Well, all I really know is that for 16-18 years of my 20 year career, I was told everytime I came up for re-enlistment, the first thing out of their mouths was if I stayed in til retirement, I would get free medical care for life for myself and my family. Course now, all you ever here is that should not have been promised..... sorry we had our fingers crossed when we said that. Now we have the head "spook" as Sec of Def.. wow, he was drafted and spent 2 years in the AF... Bet he has one heck of a medical plan from the CIA. Lets make him shoulder an increase!

Well, so what's new under the Sun. This is the same government whose IRS thought they should tax servicemen for the benefit of free transportation (not excluding trips to a War). Someone caught that idea before it got in to 1040 instruction books. Stay braced, this idea, higher fees, will not go away. But it will be a Republican Admin that actually does it. This one will just tax your benefit sooner rather than later.

"He gets a "very different story from every soldier, sailor, Marine and airman that I talk to" and from military spouses, Gates said. Common complaints range from delays in getting appointments to routine bureaucratic hassles to difficulties getting referred to medical specialists."

Everyone knows the wonderful care we Vets get. Raise the RATES?!?!? What will we get for our money? More non-certified doctors, no appointments, personal info stolen, discrimination, wrong medication, and another rate hike for OUR FREE MEDICAL CARE WE WERE PROMISED!

lets see the IRS refunded $7B last year to illegal aliens for tax s they were't entitled to receive. Coupled with free heathcare to illegals where else are they going to get the $$ except from disabled vets

The same report was done during the Bush administartion back in 2008.

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Originally posted by Mgunns:
We veterans are now labeled as possible terrorists because of our training, by the head of homeland security. Now we the possible terrorists are to pay more for health care. Yes I heard the HLS chief/ head DS say this on the Today show hosted by Mat Lauer(sp). The US Gov. is on a crash course with reality, they have the best of everything and the Veterans get the used side of the toilet paper, after the upper crust has used it. I guess they are saying Feed Them Cake.
God Bless the Fire Eaters
Semper Fi

As a retired 27 year AF Vet, what I feel about the medical issue are several things. A) ALL military Retired Vets PRIOR to the late 80's were LIED to BY THE DoD & CONGRESS. THEY ALL know that FREE medical care FOR LIFE for the Vet and his Spouse was "touted" IN WRITING. This is just one of many things in a LONG line of Lies from our Government leaders. B) To have so-called FREE Tri-Care of Life, I and my spouse have to PAY whatever the current rate being charged for Medicare Part B happens to be.
So it "begs the question", exactly how is that FREE? C) SecDef Gates needs a "Wakeup call", because he definitely is NOT awake when it comes to medical issues regarding either the MILITARY (DoD which is his Agency) or the Veterans Affairs (which is not his Agency; but works (is that a word for the VA?)supposedly "hand in glove with the DoD".
Exactly HOW does SecDef Gates figure that more Vets could come back to military medical clinics or hospitals if more money was "poured in"? The Government (ours), namely the DoD (Gates' Agency) has been at the forefront of CLOSING bases and installations for the past 30+ years. This INCLUDES miliatry clinics and/or hospitals that were/are located on those very same facilities.
Now, we, the MEDICARE Aged Vets, will be seeing along with all other Medicare receipents a 25% DECREASE in Medicare payments to doctors/health care professionals supposedly late this year or early in 2010. EVERYTHING I have been told so far, when I ask if Tri-Care for Life will pick up the "slack or difference" IS A RESOUNDING NO!! Thus, I see NO FREE AS PROMISED MEDICAL CARE FOR LIFE; However I do see ALL Vets, starting with the CURRENT Medicare aged Vets simply being "thrown under the Bus" and a basic "Who gives a d***" attitude from our DoD and our government. All of this can be summed up in a horse racing statement "Beat me, Whip me, and put me away wet".

Tricare is a joke, half the time i cant even get a appointment and when i do its about a month down the road. Maybe if the lawmakers had to use it things might change.
Also 21 years dont count for much any more

Jamie you hit the bulls-eye. Veterans and retirees appear to be an after thought of the politicians. In my opinion this attitude of those elected to 'serve' is hampered by their overwhelming avoidance of military or naval service. Congress sets the laws concerning veteran status, yet set a double standard on who is a veteran. About a quarter of the congressmembers claim to be veterans.

When it involves VA benefits there is a strict set of standards that must be met. When a congressman/woman states he, or she is a veteran, the same standards do not apply. Many of these people were two weeks a year, once a month drill reservists/guard members, never on active duty other than training and thus claim to be veterans.

I hope you will review more Sound Off Discussion Boards and help us make everyone aware of the cracks the politicians allow those who served to fall through. http://forums.military.com/eve/forums/a/cfrm/f/7630093311001

Bush published the same report in 2008...Bush and Chu make a wonderful couple..they both wanted to screw us on our tricare benefits in a time of war...

The Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act (H.R. 816), if passed, would provide the following to protection from fee TRICARE fee increases until September 30, 2009'.

1) Prohibit increases in amount of cost sharing requirement under pharmacy benefits program.

2) Prohibit increases in charges for inpatient care.

3) Prohibit increases in premiums under TRICARE coverage for certain members in the Selected Reserve.

4) Beginning in January, 2009, the monthly amount of the premium for TRICARE standard coverage under this section may not be increased above the amount in effect for the month of September 2008.'

The following provisions of H.R. 816 are based upon the following findings of congress:

•The primary offset for enduring the extraordinary sacrifices inherent in a military career is a system of extraordinary retirement benefits, including health care coverage.
•A significant share of the Nation's health care providers refuse to accept new TRICARE patients because TRICARE pays them significantly less than commercial insurance programs.
•The majority of the savings that the DoD associates with the proposed fee increases is expected to come from deterring a large portion of TRICARE beneficiaries from using their earned military health benefits.
•The Department of Defense has other options to constrain the growth of health care spending in ways that do not disadvantage beneficiaries and should pursue any and all such options rather than seeking large fee increases for beneficiaries.

Please send the above message to your Congressman and Senator. Semper Fi

Tricare has such a bad name asmong private physicians, I don't even use it. I am enrolled in Blue Cross Blue Shield.

There's something reallllll wrong with this picture and GATES knows it too. Our current President seeds banks with a trillion dollars plus, we dump hundreds of millions to others that laugh at us when they get their money, Social Security is becoming a boondogle and may well go down the tubes sooner than later. We send our men and women into harms way to wars you and I didn't create, they get injured, legs, arms blown off, blinded, we serve 20 years and for all this, let's let the Govt further jerk us around and increase Tricare to double it's value---ohh and you can't go to a military hospital. Our retirement pay is not enough to live on and with Tricare doubled (if it happens), you'll; need to steal a cup from Starbucks, put pencils in it and sell 'em on a streetcorner to live---yeah, right. Why is it that the GI, not counting their famlies are the ones who seem to get shafted when the Govt starts to think. The children who are now orphans b/c their parent(s) got killed defending another war. I think you all see the picture and UNLESS we as active and retired military people don't stand up for our rights, we're going to be on soup lines, along with our families. There's not one blowhard politician who is going to convince me that we active and retired military need to make yet another sacrifice for our country----please !! We've already done it. WRITE your Congressman, stick with your VFW or we're going to get it when our back is turned. Gee, I haven't been this ticked off since the last time they tried to increase our fees.

Gates needs to move on out if he continues his crap. Leave our benefits INTACT and shut up. I'm sick of people talking about us veterans. Need to worry about AIG and the rest of the crooks the government is helping. Thank you, I've said my fill.

I agree 100%. Flood your Congressman and Senators concering H.R 816 and a deceit pay raise for us retirees. Send it on to our President also. Semper Fi

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Originally posted by JmacOSI:
There's something reallllll wrong with this picture and GATES knows it too. Our current President seeds banks with a trillion dollars plus, we dump hundreds of millions to others that laugh at us when they get their money, Social Security is becoming a boondogle and may well go down the tubes sooner than later. We send our men and women into harms way to wars you and I didn't create, they get injured, legs, arms blown off, blinded, we serve 20 years and for all this, let's let the Govt further jerk us around and increase Tricare to double it's value---ohh and you can't go to a military hospital. Our retirement pay is not enough to live on and with Tricare doubled (if it happens), you'll; need to steal a cup from Starbucks, put pencils in it and sell 'em on a streetcorner to live---yeah, right. Why is it that the GI, not counting their famlies are the ones who seem to get shafted when the Govt starts to think. The children who are now orphans b/c their parent(s) got killed defending another war. I think you all see the picture and UNLESS we as active and retired military people don't stand up for our rights, we're going to be on soup lines, along with our families. There's not one blowhard politician who is going to convince me that we active and retired military need to make yet another sacrifice for our country----please !! We've already done it. WRITE your Congressman, stick with your VFW or we're going to get it when our back is turned. Gee, I haven't been this ticked off since the last time they tried to increase our fees.

Here are a couple of hare-brained ideas: To cut DOD medical costs, allow only ID card holders to use any MTF, but especially Walter Reed and Bethesda. I can just hear this conversations: Senator/Congressman, may I please see your ID card? What, you do not have one? Well, let me check with DEERS to see if you are registered. Sorry, Sir/Ma'am. You are not registered in DEERS. There is nothing I can do for you. Will you please step aside. Oh, you insist on being treated? Let me make one call please: Provost Marshall's office, May I help you? Yes, This is the MTF. I have a belligerant civillian here insisting he/she be treated. Will you send someone over to remove them so that others who are waiting and entitled to care may be treated?

Second idea: Congress self funds from their own pay their own health care plan. If they want to include their families, that comes out of their own pockets. Just to make sure that the plan doesn't go broke, reimbursement rates for doctors, hospitals, services and equipment are those set for TRICARE of MEDICARE, whichever is lowest.

If Sec Gates is serious about the DOD medical budget eating them alive, then start cutting out services to those who have not earned them. Isn't that an efficiency, doing only what you are supposed to do? It may not be much, but every little bit helps.

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All this from Congress, who do not have to sweat Social Security or Tricare, because they are so special! One term in office and they retire for life at full pay and benefits! And they work for us??? Yeah, right!