The TriCare fight
Stars & Stripes’ Tom Philpot reports that “Tricare facing fiscal fight over funding“;
The White House debt cutting plan, delivered to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, confirms what advocates for Tricare beneficiaries had feared: that they are expected to share in the fiscal sacrifices to be asked of millions of Americans drawing federal entitlements.
Military associations sound equally alarmed by the rhetoric in the White House recommendations suggesting that key military benefits are just too generous and must be brought nearer to what civilians receive.
Ya know what? I wrote my two Senators (Rockefeller (WV-D) and Manchin (WV-D) and my Congressman (McKinley (WV-1-R)) in regards to jacking around with veterans’ benefits and I told them I wouldn’t vote for anyone who voted for screwing veterans. I got answers from my senators and nothing from my congressman yet. But neither senator even read my letter – they talked about debt reduction and not a word about veterans’ benefits. So I guess that means I’m screwed.
As I age, my body is going to shit and i need the medical benefits I was promised. I take 16 pills and one injection every day, so far. And I haven’t even been prescribed anything for my latest malady. One of the main reasons I stayed on active duty for a career was to keep the health benefits, since the pension is pretty anemic. And I know I’m not the only one out here.
The White House notes that TFL users now pay only the Medicare Part B premium, $110 a month for most, and pharmacy co-pays. Otherwise they face no out of pocket health costs. By contrast, private sector elderly, in 2009, paid on average $2100 a year for their “Medigap” policy.
The annual TFL fee would save a $6.7 billion over 10 years.
So that’s what my health is now…a way for the government to avoid shutting down the Education Department or the Commerce Department.
The unusual structure adopted in August to reach a final debt deal — with the president and Congress conceding to the joint or “super” committee of 12 lawmakers responsibility to shape a take-it-or-leave-it legislative package by November 23 –- almost certainly handcuffs the influence of lobbyists to derail whatever package of cost curbs the committee’s majority embraces.
“It changes the dynamic considerably,” said a key congressional staff member. “The changes get rolled into a package and all of a sudden it looks like just your fair share. And we shouldn’t take our fair share?”
Fair share? If I was a medicaid patient looking at a reduced benefit, the media and Congress would be crowded around me at the microphones – but I’m a veteran getting screwed because it’s my “fair share”.
But Arnold Punaro, a retired Marine major general, strongly supports initiatives to slow Tricare cost growth as well as retirement reforms for new entrants. He applauds the planned retirement commission, urging that a prominent military leader, like retired Gen. Colin Powell, serve as chairman.
Yeah, that’s what we need – Colin Powell sticking up for us like he did for Bush. Like he did in the last presidential election when he chose race over competence. No thanks. It looks like we already have too many generals turning their backs on the troops ONCE AGAIN in this battle for what we earned once.
Bonus March, anyone?
Category: Veteran Health Care, Veterans Issues
We managed to put quite a few of us on the Streets of Washington for GOE-I. If the call is put out there over this, I wouldn’t be surprised to find a whole lot more folks might show up.
I’ll be there if it happens.
I’ll see your Manchin and Rockefeller and raise you a Stabenow and Levin. I got nothing but dem talking points from those two asshats. Oh, and btw, call congress and tell your Reprsentative to vote for Obama’s “jobs” bill. So, even the Chairman of Senate Armed Services Committee could give a shit less.
Why do we allow these asshole Retired Generals with their fat consulting (lobbying) jobs and their $8,000 a month military retirement checks speak for us? These political jagoffs didn’t care about us when we served under them and they damn sure don’t care now.
We do need march on Washington. All the Veterans need to come together for to bring attention to this. Everyone else does it why can’t we?. As long as we set back and don’t say anything they will continue to do what they want. Most civilians don’t even know our side of it or what the Government is threatening to do to us.
We need to bring all the Veterans Groups together for this.
Just abolish the Department of Energy. Does nothing, money saved pays for all Veterans benefits. Seems like a no brainer to me. Besides , how is that energy independence working out for you?
Don’ ya love the fact that they are going to cut health care benefits to people who EARNED them even while people who didn’t are going to be covered under Obama care.
Something is definitely wrong! We served in the military with the understanding that we would get promised benefits upon our retirement and eligibility. Now it seems that illegal immigrants and others can get totally free care and we are being asked to pay more and more from our meager retirement income for the benefits we were promised. I’m not so sure that our law makers are paying more for their benefits, healthcare and you can bet that they provide themselves with adequate salaries, which they adjust at will.
“The White House notes that TFL users now pay only the Medicare Part B premium, $110 a month for most, and pharmacy co-pays. Otherwise they face no out of pocket health costs. By contrast, private sector elderly, in 2009, paid on average $2100 a year for their “Medigap” policy.”
So Veterans pay $1,320 a year for their insurance.
Non-veteran seniors pay $2,100 a year.
Veterans made up the difference by serving their country for 20 years taking lots pf physical and emotional punishment during that time.
Non-veteran seniors just sorta showed up with their hands out expecting Uncle Sugarbucks to fork over the moola.
One group worked to EARN their benefits and the other group juts EXPECTS their benefits.
“But let me say this — and I know Secretary Shinseki agrees — when our veterans who fought for our country have to fight just to get the benefits that you’ve already earned, that’s unacceptable. So this is going to remain a key priority for us….We’re facing some tough choices as we put our fiscal house in order. But I want to be absolutely clear: We cannot, we must not, we will not, balance the budget on the backs of our veterans….” Barack Hussein Obama II, August 30, 2011 Address at American Legion National Convention.
I guess no one can hold him to that. So much has changed since then…
“In the weeks ahead, Congress will take up the budget at the table of twelve. I want the American Legion and all of America to know that the values of America’s veterans will be present at the table, that America’s veterans will not be shortchanged as we reduce the deficit.” Nancy Pelosi, August 31, 2011; Address at American Legion National Convention
I guess no one can hold her to that. That was so long ago.
I’d like to see a bit of equality in the system. Tricare for retired reservists is $1020/month, but for retirees from the Regulars its’ $460/month, according to all this Tricare literature.
I did not hear Nancy or Barack offer to reduce their medical care or pay more for their premiums or co-pays, or Nancy offer to pay more taxes, after all her husband falls in the millionaire status. Buffet, Nancy, and Barack should set the example and step up and take no deductions on the taxes this year and write a nice big extra amount and we can all watch them depositing it into the debt account, I am sure it would help with the national debt. Have these three served any time in the service??? I bet not:)
It’s time to go after these bastoids. We have been lied to and cheated at every turn because we are not in favor like all of obama’s unions that he dished out trillions of dollars to. Why? because just like the welfare folks, food stamp people, unemployment forever guys and earned income tax credit guys—they just exist. They have done nothing to deserve these generous payments except be alive. Once again, just like when we were on active duty, we are the scapegoat for wars and obama’s over spending. Time for us to go after the REAL enemy—this ungrateful, hypocritical nation. F them!
I don’t get benefits, but, I would show up to support you all. This is horse shit. Every Mother-effing Congress critter who has benefits then should also be given their fair share of cuts, hmmm? God damn Mullen and any other buddy fucker who thinks they can piss all over the sacrifice.