General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCost of erectile medication for active military: $84 million
Cost for trans health for active military : $2.4 to $8.4 million.
Considering the prevalence of transgender servicemembers among the active duty military and the typical health care costs for gender transition-related medical treatment, the Rand study estimated that these treatments would cost the military between $2.4 million and $8.4 million annually.
The study didn't include estimates of these costs for reservists, due to "their highly limited military health care eligibility." It also didn't include estimates for retirees or military family members, because many of those individuals may also have "limited eligibility" for care via military treatment facilities.
"The implication is that even in the most extreme scenario that we were able to identify . . . we expect only a 0.13-percent ($8.4 million out of $6.2 billion) increase in health care spending," Rand's authors concluded.
By contrast, total military spending on erectile dysfunction medicines amounts to $84 million annually, according to an analysis by the Military Times - 10 times the cost of annual transition-related medical care for active duty transgender servicemembers.
The military spends $41.6 million annually on Viagra alone, according to the Military Times analysis - roughly five times the estimated spending on transition-related medical care for transgender troops.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/The-military-spends-five-times-as-much-on-Viagra-11437361.php
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)I also expect very stiff resistance to be erected at any attempts to defund Viagra for the troops.
SharonClark
(10,005 posts)gilbert sullivan
(192 posts)OnDoutside
(19,906 posts)barbtries
(28,702 posts)that many men suffered from erectile dysfunction. guess i've been alone too long lol
Igel
(35,191 posts)it comes out to about 11,000 men. That's about 1.3% of the men in the military on active duty.
Some will be suffering from PTSD or other psychological ailments. Some from physical problems.
Viagra's a tough thing to discuss. Some is just recreational. Improve endurance when there's nothing actually wrong that the guy's not directly responsible for: With age, esp. over 45 or so, a man's refactory period declines significantly, and alcohol can make erections more difficult to achieve and hold (was going to say "make erections harder," but that's the opposite of what was intended).
At the same time, for many, it's bona fide treatment for a psychological or physical ailment. Contrasting things with that does one of two things. It either implicitly asserts that what's being compared is also a disease in need of treatment, or that Viagra is just fun and any physical or psychological problem causing ED is really just fake. Americans can't figure out if sex is a natural biological function with real psychological implications or if it's just for kicks, so we're inconsistent in how we argue what we argue. It allows the expression of ill-will while we deny it, and also facilitates the imputation of ill-will when there is none. In other words, it's toxic for civil discourse.
barbtries
(28,702 posts)seems like an awful lot of money. also i didn't know that you had to take it indefinitely twice a week, i thought you took it when you were going to be sexually active.
lots i don't know.
did the math. over $7k a year per user. will it be a generic soon, i know it's been around quite awhile?
thesquanderer
(11,954 posts)You take it only in advance of sexual activity. The other poster seems to be just assuming that these people are having sexual activity twice a week.
And yes, there's a generic. Knowing the pharm industry and the government, I would not be surprised if they did not permit generics on military bases!
barbtries
(28,702 posts)thanks. it really seems excessive but you know it's for men so.
mrmpa
(4,033 posts)what is the generic? I had read that a generic would be available in November of this year. Didn't know it was available now. Asking for my significant other, he's retired and the cost of Viagra is hard to take.
TexasBushwhacker
(20,043 posts)to keep the generic off the market for a while longer.
thesquanderer
(11,954 posts)I just googled and I don't think it's officially shipping in the U.S. just yet, though there are sites offering it... maybe imported from other countries where the start date was sooner? I thought it was already "official" from an ad I heard on the radio, but I think we're still on the cusp...
Ligyron
(7,592 posts)You're given 4 (four) a month if you ask (whether ya need it or not, nobody checks). Some smart guys say they need the 100mg so they can split it and have 2 a week.
mrmpa
(4,033 posts)and gets some services there. Any idea the cost of it?
Ligyron
(7,592 posts)I get full coverage so all my meds and care are free. I feel so bad when I read here of what others have to go through for health care, (or not) and how much worse it could get.
But I think we'll beat this thing yet and get single payer at some point. Everyone should have what I have damit.
Skittles
(152,964 posts)repukes suck
I thought so. Anything to marginalize LGBTQ even more...
tavernier
(12,322 posts)Weren't there several episodes of MASH that joked about randy old officers?
sarge43
(28,939 posts)Generally speaking (pardon the pun)
The article is important because it gives lie to Trump's "Tremendous costs". Medical treatment for transgenders accounts for a tiny fraction of DOD's budget.
Stuart G
(38,359 posts)and puts my mind in another place..
oops...not gud.....
BigmanPigman
(51,430 posts)They get theirs and fuck everyone else.
I love it that they won't allow women to get birth control but they will always get their "fix". Where do they think babies come from and who pays for these unwanted babies? Oh, the irony. Always an excuse for their selfish behavior.
LisaM
(27,759 posts)linuxman
(2,337 posts)Some current troops need it, and so do many vererans/retirees.
Pretty simple, really.
Leith
(7,802 posts)Why the HELL is the military spending money on Viagra?!
Talk about a waste of taxpayer money! This is definitely one case of forced taxation so some guy somewhere can get a stiffy.
Not when I have to pay for it.
NickB79
(19,111 posts)And a lack of physical intimacy is a significant factor in many failed marriages. Combat stress, both physical and psychological, can exacerbate this.
thesquanderer
(11,954 posts)NotMyFuhrer
(58 posts)There is a GENERIC equivalent to the formula in Viagra, Cialis . . . etc.
It costs 1 / 100 th of the name brands!!
IT IS CALLED . . . Sildenafil Citrate (20mg dosage) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ASK YOUR Doctor!
The government could save millions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Xipe Totec
(43,872 posts)trueblue2007
(17,138 posts)ck4829
(34,974 posts)samir.g
(835 posts)Buns_of_Fire
(17,119 posts)"This is my rifle, this is my gun..."
Tom Rinaldo
(22,911 posts)All that massive tax payer paid for R&R that Trump desperately needs to even minimally function.