Bush to Triple Cost of Military Health Insurance Program

[Rose Siding]

Tell Congress To Reject Administration’s Plan To Triple Our Troops’ Health Care Costs
.....
While it is quick with rhetorical support, the Bush administration has repeatedly refused to take the actions necessary to provide the troops the resources they need. The latest example comes from the Army Times, which reports that the Pentagon is currently working on a proposal to triple the costs of the military health insurance program (Tricare):

"Increases would be substantial — as much as $1,200 more a year by 2009 — with no end in sight because the plan calls for annual rate hikes in 2010 and beyond that would match inflation."

Steve Strobridge, government relations director for the Military Officers Association of America, said it best:

"In the middle of a war, with troops and families vastly overstressed, recruiting already in the toilet, and retention at risk, the Defense Department wants to pay for weapons by cutting manpower and trying to cut career military benefits by $1,000 a year or more? That’s just flat unconscionable."

More soldiers have been taken off the battlefield in Iraq by injuries and illnesses than by enemy fire. An increase in health care costs would be a great burden for these soldiers. Reps. Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer recently wrote to President Bush demanding that he disavow the program.

You can help. Already, more than 22,000 members of the Military Officers Association of America have written Congress opposing the initiative. Contact House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, and tell them what you think about Bush’s proposed policy.

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/27/tricare/

That must be what they're talking about here

[acmejack]

1. That man is one sorry SOB.

That goes for the rest of his republican buddies too.

[babylonsister]

2. There's that compassion seeping out again. Dammittohell! nt

[Proud2BaLiberalMom]

3. As a military wife.....

This sorry SOB DOES NOT SUPPORT OUR TROOPS AND NEVER HAS!!!!!

My husband is National Guard, so he is considered a federal employee.
He is Full-Time Guard.

We don't have access to TriCare. They offer us private insurance.
It went up more than $50 bucks (per month) this year. We now pay $313 per month,
and our co-pays have gone up (up 150% for Dr visits & 100-400% for prescriptions)!!!

It's outragous! He has to go to the dentist 2x per year. Yet, they don't give him
dental insurance! It has to come out of our pocket.

He's been to the Middle East 4 times! Once to Iraq.

The American people really need to know how badly they are treating our military!

It's terrible and that f*cking as*hole * sucks!

IMPEACH.....IMPEACH.....IMPEACH!!!!!
:grr: :grr: :grr:

[RazzleDazzle]

32. I'm really sorry

I'm sure you know that there's probably not a single person here at DU who would want your situation to be like that. I'm sure a majority of Americans would agree with us, too.

[Qanisqineq]

34. I am a military wife, too

My husband is army but he was National Guard for a year and I understand your pain. I cannot believe they do that to full-time guards. They are abusing the guards more than the rest of the military, IMO. I feel for you. For 3 years I was geographically separated from my husband while I was in graduate school and he in the army. I had to pay the bill for doctors Tricare sent me to.

I have dental, but they cover next to nothing. A couple years ago I broke a tooth and needed either a bridge or an implant. The insurance (Concordia? I don't remember now) would not cover any of the implant because it was "cosmetic" EVEN THOUGH THE TOTAL COST OF THE DENTAL IMPLANT WAS CHEAPER THAN A BRIDGE. After doing some research, I decided to go with the implant and pay it myself. I was so pissed.

[Straight Shooter]

4. Will someone please tell the creep to take his hand off the man's head?

Hi, there, Sonny, sorry about your injuries. Sorry your health care plan is going to triple. Don't forget to vote Republican for more of the same. By the way, did you see this little scratch here, heh heh, got into a mighty battle with Barney, heh heh. Not to worry, the vet says I didn't kick him hard enough to cause permanent injury.

[Proud2BaLiberalMom]

5. The poor guy looks scared...

don't you think?

[Straight Shooter]

7. He sure doesn't look happy.

bush is such a freak, getting right into someone's personal space like that. I don't know why it ticks me off as much as it does, but it really angers me to see that patronizing gesture.

[MisterP]

8. Bush: "Heyyiy gotta joak for ya: 'Eeeeeeooo-BOOM!!!'"

[degreesofgray]

6. This is truly sickening

and not at all surprising, because it's now the status quo: preach one thing and do another. Tie a yellow ribbon around my extended middle finger!

[lovuian]

9. Say they have insurance but raise the rates and make them pay

more and cut benefits... its all such a freakin farce...

:argh:

[Deja Q]

10. Our veterans are doing this country an awesome service.

To do this is monsterous.

Those people are risking their lives; so we ALL can cherish our freedoms.

[babylonsister]

11. It will also impact retired military who use Tricare. So they're

basically screwing anyone who ever served, and retired that put in at least 20 years.

[babylonsister]

12. Highly recommend for disgust! nt

[babylonsister]

13. No one gives a crap about this? nt

[Rose Siding]

14. I do, sister

It's a hectic news day- lots of political actions that people are working on. There's so much that hurts and only so much room in the heart.

[babylonsister]

16. I know, lots going on. Pls. nominate for others to see.

:hug:

[Rose Siding]

18. Kicking it

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

19. K & R

[lpbk2713]

15. Lowlife bastard.

He'd really enjoy the hell out of kicking the crutches out from under a crippled person.







Asshole

[babylonsister]

17. K & N.! nt

[Sapphire Blue]

20. Weapons at veterans' expense?

Weapons at veterans' expense?

Some veterans groups accuse the Pentagon of preparing to slice into health benefits in an effort to funnel money to weapons.
T. ROBB BROWN / ASSOCIATED PRESS

(excerpt)

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon hopes to reap billions of dollars to pay for ships, aircraft and other weapons by doubling or tripling health insurance premiums paid by military retirees and driving 600,000 of those pensioners out of the military medical system, charges a coalition of veterans’ organizations.

Groups representing more than 1 million military pensioners – those who served at least 20 years – are organizing a telephone and letter-writing campaign to block the idea if it ever surfaces in Congress or to persuade the Bush administration to abandon it.

The retirees say the proposal breaks faith with former service members and their families and risks alienating thousands of active duty troops who may see it as eroding benefits they expect in retirement.

(snip)

The retirees groups say the increases are intended to trim $32 billion from the Pentagon’s health costs by 2015. Most of the projected savings would come from the movement of an estimated 600,000 retirees from Tricare to health insurance plans obtained through civilian employers.

(snip)

“Our members are viewing this as a voting issue,” said James Lokovic, deputy director for the 135,000-member Air Force Sergeants Association. He expects his members will tell their elected officials that “if you don’t work to stop it, you’re not getting my vote – period,” he said.

http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=98244&ran=47396&tref=po

[Hubert Flottz]

21. The Neo-Klepto-Mania continues...

Rob the soldiers to buy fantastic unusable weapons from Poppy Bush's company! Bush never stops looting and plundering for one minute!

[converted_democrat]

22. Sick fuckers.. This is appalling....n/t

[NMDemDist2]

23. i just sent this to my bushbot step mom, congratulating her on turning 65

just in time

she is a veteran and has TriCare from my lifer Dad (now deceased) so although she served she is considered a dependant on his Tricare....

[liberaliraqvet26]

24. This has to stop....

I've personally seen this happen at the VA since returning from Iraq.

http://www.iavapac.org/index.html

[Ilsa]

25. They'll pay mor for equipment, but soldiers' health.

“If DoD is willing to accept 400 percent to 500 percent cost growth in weapons systems, then people are no less important,” he said, noting that the cost of an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer has increased 392 percent since 1985, while the cost of an F-22 Raptor has jumped by 526 percent.

These bastards are figuring retired military must be living the good life and getting too comfortable. Can't have that! Nope, they have to squash them back down into subserviency. Can't have anyone except the CEOs, politicians, and lobbyists actually get ahead.

[Toots]

26. I don't understand

I guess I was in the old Army because all we ever had to do was report to sick bay. We never had "Health Insurance". Our families were provided the same free care as long as it was on base. When did soldiers start paying for their health care?

[Baclava]

38. This is not about active duty military members...

It's mostly a retiree issue.

Most of these retirees who have served over 20 years are either enrolled in Tricare Prime, a managed-care plan that collects an annual fee and co-payments for doctor visits, or they use Tricare Standard, the fee-for-service option, which carries a deductible and patients also pay a hefty cost-share of any services received.

TriCare Prime premiums for a single retiree now cost $230 a year, $450 for families.
They want to double or triple that.

[soup]

27. and the hits just keep coming.

Don't know about you, but I've reached such a point of complete and overwhelming bullshit overload, that I feel like screaming.

and those yellow 'support our troops' ribbons - Everytime I see one, I'd like to point to it and offhandedly ask the vehicle's owner, "Hey, how's that going?"

[CrispyQ]

31. Me too.

Somedays I feel sick when I read the crap they continue to get away with.

And ditto on those yellow ribbons. I'd like to projectile vomit on each & every one.

[Ilsa]

28. Direct link to Army Times article:

http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1494152.php

I hope this works and doesn't require subscription.

[mom cat]

29. This is absolutely criminal! ... Vets and the rest of us need to get

mobilized!

[Hubert Flottz]

30. The stripping of the Vets benefits started under Reagan...

that self proclaimed "friend of the soldier"! I tried to get help from the VA with my meds and they told me to go pick up pop cans and they'd get back to me. That's how they'll help you out, out of their sight and out of their mind! I griped and they called the cops on me. I know I look like big foot, but I think they kind of over reacted! Besides, the draft board once thought I was pretty enough to draft and shaft. If you expect them to do anything for you nowdays and I mean the very things they promised you, that they WOULD DO, during the Vietnam era, you are just SOL! Ask Sam Stone!

[Qanisqineq]

33. Fuck you, asshole

First we have to start paying our electric and gas bill while living in on-post housing in many areas. The shithole I live in, the wind blows the curtains around with the windows closed. Really energy efficient. In addition, the thermostat doesn't work. It has read 68 degrees for nearly 2 years and has not moved.

Now you want us to pay more for Tricare? Well, that would be nice if the fuckers carried ANY of the prescriptions I have but instead I have to go to a regular pharmacy and pay for them. Many at full price.

I am so fed up with the military. My husband is owed more than $3,000 by the army and they keep "losing the paperwork." Too bad we can't charge interest since it has been 10 MONTHS since he first turned in the paperwork.

[earth mom]

35. So the rethugs support sticking it to the troops now?!

I'm curious to know what rank and file rethugs/freepers think of the "compassionate conservatism" of their der leader now?! :grr:

[peanutbrittle]

36. Sent this to Imus..maybe he will address this n/t

[lpbk2713]

37. I would really like to see an itemized total

of all the medical care Cheneyburton has benefited from on the taxpayers tab.



He is filthy rich from the no-bid contracts his outfit has received from the Federal government and can easily afford to pay and yet he gets the best of medical care for free while GI's and their families are refused even the most basic care. These BushCo assholes clearly have no shame.