Segel: Democrats Plan Attack On Military Retiree Health Benefits

[Terri]

By Thomas D. Segel
May 18, 2009

While the Obama Administration loudly proclaims that it has a mandate to make health care available to every American, a move is underway by the Democrats, through the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to effectively reduce such care for some of the most vulnerable of military veterans. Legislation has already been prepared that will drastically change and reduce the Tricare for Life benefit plan that assists military retirees over the age of 65.

The Tricare for Life plan was established by law after a decades long fight to make the government live up to its promise to provide earned health care to military retirees and their dependents, who had faithfully served their nation for more than 20 years. Though a battle on this issue traveled all the way to the Supreme Court, it was determined that the Armed Forces of the United States did in fact promise lifetime health care to career service personnel, but did not have the authority to make such promises. Congress was admonished to take corrective action.

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[Der Alte]

There seems to be no thought given to the fact that these particular senior citizens are more medically impaired than the average American of similar age.

When I retired from the Military after 24 years the statistics published by the government gave me 6 years to live. This was based upon age, time in service and the military specialty. Now, 33 years later I beat the odds but have a heart that functions at about half. Guess Obama thinks more of those that elected to not finish high school and have lived off the government dole rather than those that served the nation.

[Centurion LIV]

"'overuse' their health care program."

Sounds like intended "rationing of health care to me."

Der Alte, Thank you for your service sir. You might have served with my father. I retired from the Air Force in 1994. We suspected back then when Hillary Health Care was being hashed out that it would eventually come to this.

I'll have to write letters to my congressmen and senators again although the three of them are not worth the powder it would take to collectively blow them to hell.

I'll let them know what I think of the parasites as well.

Fortitudo et Fides

Dan

[ReneeCA.]

Rationing of health care is already here.

Just look at the Health Care companies who have already rolled over for this Administration and say that they are cutting back on procedures to save costs.

Those of us that are Seniors will be denied many of the procedures we need because of our age and will be the ones to feel the effects of this Administration.

After my knee surgery recently, I was surprised that rehab was not required and they did not take an MRI before surgery because the doctor said he knew already what was wrong! I kid you not!!

[MamaCat]

Der Alte, thank you for your service, and I'm so glad that you have beat the odds! Please keep on keeping on.

My husband is also retired military (US Army) and has just changed to TriCare for life. TriCare has been good to us, though we have been fairly healthy. Husband has/had prostate CA, but treatment seems to have been effective, thank God. Still, I consider these benefits part of the promise we received when he joined. I don't understand how the SCOTUS could say the military had no authority to make that promise because CONGRESS passed the law! Seems like they have the authority to pass all kinds of laws.

We really do have to get the word out about this. We'll bail out California (and then Michigan, Massachusetts and New York) who can't afford all the freebie benefits it is giving to the illegal aliens who have taken over, but we can't keep a promise to our military?

[Dingbat36]

This will surely be the place when the American public will say "ENOUGH". To make any reduction to the medical care of our veterans is unacceptable, unconscionable and a disgusting! These people who have given so much to protect us are the most deserving of whatever treatment may be needed.

This is just another and further attempt by the "universal health care" people to put everyone on a rationed system. I can tell you when the American people will accept such inadequate care.....when every member of the House, the Senate, the President, Vice President and all the Supreme Court Justices are forced to adopt the same health care program. When do you think that will happen? Watch the skies for flying pigs!

[kenmarx]

I retired from the Air Force in 1986 and used Tricare Prime until age 65 when I was required to transfer to Medicare and TriCare for Life. My wife is still using Tricare Prime, although she has to pay out of pocket to visit certain specialists. I can assure you that we have not "overused" (whatever that means) our medical privileges. I don't know any military retiree who takes undue advantage of services offered. We are only asking for what is due to us, no more, no less.

[MeaganM]

My husband retires in December and I told him that something like this would happen once Obama and the Dems took over. He didn't believe me but unfortunately it looks like I was right.

I read the proposal and it also states increasing out-of-pocket costs for active duty (Tricare Prime, Standard) as well to force them to use the military facilities or for their spouses to use their employee's insurance if they have it.

The problem with that is the fact that not all active duty members are stationed near military medical facilities and the spouse's insurance changes constantly with change of duty stations.

This whole thing makes me so furious! We (the military) are feeling more and more unappreciated and neglected with this administration.

They are taking away all of the incentives for joining and soon no one will want to. Why should they join the military and risk their lives when all the incentives such as medical for life, education benefits, etc... are being offered to everyday Americans for free? Of course, my husband and I joined because we love our country but not all members do it for the same reasons.

[utexas]

I don't think there has ever been a so-called POTUS who has been so hostile toward the military as this one, not even Cahtah or Slick Willie.

His and the Dems treatment of the healthcare of retired men and women who have served our country is only a harbinger of what it will be like when the healthcare of everybody in the US is in the hands of the gubment. If it costs too much, no matter how beneficial it is, cut it.

[Ben_Colder]

I retired from the Army in 1975. That was long before Tricare. My wife and I received medical care at Fort Sill, OK hospital and later at Wilford Hall hospital in San Antonio, TX. We paid nothing for medical care. When Tricare came along they only paid eighty percent leaving us with a huge bill. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1998. VA recognized prostate cancer to be Agent Orange connected. My operation was eighty percent covered by Tricare leaving us with thousands of dollars out of pocket. Now they want us to pay more for medical care after being promised free health care for life as part of our retirement benefit.