Once again the Veteran is asked to shoulder the burden of the country. This time it’s the war on Government negligence and mismanagement. Agreements were made; contracts were signed, and promise most certainly always broken. Politicians jump at the opportunity of a good photo op with a wounded soldier, retired veterans group. Now again the topic of raising the health care cost for the retired veteran and his family is on the table. Seems like it comes up every other day. I served my country honorably for twenty-one years. In 1984 when I signed up, I was told health care would be provided at no cost for me and my family. Years later; a new medical program was introduced to all branches of the military called TriCare. We were told then that this program was the best thing since sliced bread. It would save millions even billions. The writing was on the wall even back then. Those who put this plan into motion, were high ranking officials Senators, Congressmen, and could afford health care on their own or have a better government program then the rest of the country. With today’s technology retirees are able to talk to each other more and more and to a larger audience about what affects them the most. In my eyes that topic is TriCare and how it affects me and my family. Today I saw on the news President Bush visiting a wounded soldier lying in a hospital bed, smiling for the cameras, and shaking hands. Little does that solider know; in the future when he retires the President will no-longer be at his bedside visiting him in the hospital, thanking him for his service and he will more than likely have to pay the hospital bill himself. This is what retirees see as the future of TriCare. I don’t see politicians visiting hospitals, talking to the elderly veteran and thanking them for their service. As I reflect back, I never have and probably never will…
Both INADMIAC and Route101 say it best. Not much else to say. These Goverment officals are always taking and expecting the retirees to pay pay. Folks We all gave for the country never once did I say "sure but no increases in tricare or decreases in medical care". But now the great goverment is saying this to us. This PhD lady is totally off track, but then again who would challenger her, she has the presidents ear, and has spent her life in a nice big SAFE office, and now says we need to pay, LADY WE DID, did you?
It's a Shame on the status of our American Government when as usual it can't carry out the promises of yesteryear, "When You retire you will have free Medical Care the rest of your life" Sad!
I TOTALLY AGREE with all those that replied! WE RETIREE'S payed with our BLOOD, SWEAT, and TEAR'S, and once again, BROKEN PROMISES by our elected officials!!!!!!!! I'll bet their(Congress and Senator's)health care WILL NOT BE RAISED!!!!!!!!
I retired in 1975 and was told prior to that while I was still in that me and my family would have medical for the rest of our lives well I have to pay a $57.50 every 3 months for my wife to have trycare prime because she is 10yrs my younger so she want be stuck with her doctors at a certain hospital. After you have served your country. This country could care less about a retiree after the fact, they only change things that are going to help themselves not the ones that have served. every time a promas comes out of a politicans mouth is a plane lie. They told me back then that I would have coverage for me and my family for the rest of life. Look at the SBP package 55% of your base pay back then and then they changed it after I got out and had signed up for it to include your Social Security. They don't look at the whole picture, when they change things they include every retiree from WW1 to now They keep telling me that Freedom isn't cheap well I guess knot, once you have done your duty thats it.
Although I have no heartburn paying a little more(equal to the cost of living), I FEEL that DOD ULTIMATELY wants to raise the fee so high, that it WILL BE EQUAL to what CIVILIAN'S ARE PAYING through their health plan! IF WE GIVE THEM(GOVERNMENT) an inch, they will take a mile!!!!!! This is just MY OPINION!!!
Once again some economists, and generals who make 10 times what an enlisted E-7 makes. Says stick it to the lower grade retires again I didn't read about any enlisted retires on the hand picked Tri-Care board. The one who I think her name is Gail Welensky is really off the wall, in wanting to charge $10s a month for Tri-Care for life. She admits it would not do any good, but she said she didn't want the civilians to think we are getting any thing for nothing. How does she think 8 ½ years in South East Asia sound I call that paying for Tri-Care in advance. When I enlisted the Air Force promised my spouse and I free medical care for life if I stay in for 20 years. If the US government thinks it is paying to much for Tri-Care, How much does it feel it costs for free medical care, and for welfare for illegal aliens, it is a lot more than Tri-Care cost
Even though I fully understand that the military was promised free health care - you need to understand that the civilian health care is out of control. I was on my employer's for years until it became way too much for way too little. Two years ago I went back on Tricare Prime. I found the military system 400% improved - costs are minimum and I'm not having to shell out copays left and right. As bad as you think it is - it's far worse out there. The problem is that TriCare pays providers so little they are dropping us. Something has to give.
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Originally posted by 9628268: Although I have no heartburn paying a little more(equal to the cost of living), I FEEL that DOD ULTIMATELY wants to raise the fee so high, that it WILL BE EQUAL to what CIVILIAN'S ARE PAYING through their health plan! IF WE GIVE THEM(GOVERNMENT) an inch, they will take a mile!!!!!! This is just MY OPINION!!!
While I understand that TRICARE fees must raise it must be done fairly. First to save TRICARE money/benefits they should cut off ALL former spouses out of the system. They have no business retaining benefits they did not work for. Second, we should not have to pay TRICARE fee increases based on Gross retainer pay when in fact we do not receive all that money because a former spouse gets her 50%, (USFSPA)so we will probably be paying increased rates bases on money (tier system) that we don't even get.
If you are using the "benefits they did not earn" argument then TriCare should only be for Active Duty and Retirees not depedants. Can't have your infant receiving benefits they didn't earn.
You have no idea what many former spouses have been through so do not judge.
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Originally posted by slmjoyner: While I understand that TRICARE fees must raise it must be done fairly. First to save TRICARE money/benefits they should cut off ALL former spouses out of the system. They have no business retaining benefits they did not work for. Second, we should not have to pay TRICARE fee increases based on Gross retainer pay when in fact we do not receive all that money because a former spouse gets her 50%, (USFSPA)so we will probably be paying increased rates bases on money (tier system) that we don't even get.
Another way of screwing the military nothing new I cant wat to see the pay raise they give us in Jan bet you its 2% WOW yall all really takin care of us there our homeless vets still out there 18yr old Kids with missing limbs laying in there own urine in the hospital and probaly collected a check arounf #30,000 yr with a wife supporting him and a couple kids while most of the US is prob agaisnt the war and now where about to have a black muslim and you ask mw how the hell would I know IM THAT 18 yr old kid SEMPER FI NOTHIN NEW
