Obama To U.S. Soldiers: 'Pay Up' For Your TRICARE

[Fred_Garvin]

Now he is attacking U.S. Soldiers wallets. I am against this measure. He is suppose to be helping the soldiers, not hindering them. The military is our first line of defense and I don't think that they should have any burdens put upon them by their Commander n Chief, especially their healthcare.


Obama to Soldiers: Pay Up

Threatens to veto bill unless it hikes health care fees for service members
Obama to Soldiers: Pay Up | Washington Free Beacon

: Washington Free Beacon Staff - June 29, 2012 10:22 am

The Obama administration on Friday threatened to veto a defense appropriations bill in part because it does not include higher health care fees for members of the military.

“The Administration is disappointed that the Congress did not incorporate the requested TRICARE fee initiatives into either the appropriation or authorization legislation,” the White House wrote in an official policy statement expressing opposition to the bill, which the House approved in May

 

[The Infidel]

Its all about herding them into the gov't system...


They can keep their existing policies my ass....

 

[Katzndogz]

He's working with his consort. She wants the military on a diet, he's going to make sure they don't make enough money to eat.

 

[RoadVirus]

Apparently Bobo is not afraid of offending the Military voting bloc.

 

[daveman]

Oh, but the military works for him personally. They should be honored that he thought about them.

I am so glad I no longer wear the uniform under his command.

 

[Shogun]

boo fucking hoo.

If you people couldn't drape yourself across the martyr cross of soldiers you'd have nothing to do with your idle hands.

 

[Fred_Garvin]

boo fucking hoo.

If you people couldn't drape yourself across the martyr cross of soldiers you'd have nothing to do with your idle hands.

Do you agree that these patriotic soldiers should have their TRICARE fees increased putting a burden on their income? They have after all taken a oath to protect and possibly sacrifice their lives for your freedom.

 

[ABikerSailor]

The program is aimed at military retirees, in order to wean them off of TRICARE and get them to participate in other programs (also in the bill) so there are more resources for active duty.

 

[Shogun]

boo fucking hoo.

If you people couldn't drape yourself across the martyr cross of soldiers you'd have nothing to do with your idle hands.

Do you agree that these patriotic soldiers should have their TRICARE fees increased putting a burden on their income? They have after all taken a oath to protect and possibly sacrifice their lives for your freedom.

They are a part of the American club as everyone else so, sure. Again, you can spare me the plastic concern of the "for your freedoms" bullshit. If none of us are impervious to making an effort to redirect economic woes then, as it seems, so too will the military have to adjust their relationship with Tricare.

And, before you launch into some stupid fucking tirade about a lack of appreciation for the military, I married a Staff Sargent and it was Tricare, in fact, that covered my recent bout with colon cancer. Guess what, we actual military families will survive beyond your cut and paste preening.



true story.

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

I don't necessarily have an issue with this just yet. One, i don't know what they're already paying so my opinion could change based on that, but I don't automatically have a problem with raising their premiums. Military spending is out of control. It is by far and large our biggest expenditure so the costs need to be reined in. All the rest of us are paying more for our healthcare plans. I don't see why military families should automatically be exempt.

 

[ABikerSailor]

I don't necessarily have an issue with this just yet. One, i don't know what they're already paying so my opinion could change based on that, but I don't automatically have a problem with raising their premiums. Military spending is out of control. It is by far and large our biggest expenditure so the costs need to be reined in. All the rest of us are paying more for our healthcare plans. I don't see why military families should automatically be exempt.

Here's a real link, not some talking points from a right wing site..............

President Obama proposed new TRICARE co-pays and fees, as well as a review of military retirement benefits, in his fiscal 2013 budget unveiled Monday.

The administration provided new details on Defense Department personnel cuts first proposed in January.

The budget includes new TRICARE co-pays, additional increases to TRICARE Prime enrollment fees, initiation of standard and extra annual enrollment fees, and adjustments to deductibles and catastrophic coverage caps.

The budget proposal also modifies pharmacy co-pays to encourage the use of less expensive mail-order and military treatment facility pharmacies, and includes modest annual fees for Medicare-covered beneficiaries older than 65 (TRICARE for Life).

The administration said these changes would save Defense an estimated $12.9 billion in discretionary funding and $4.7 billion in mandatory savings on Medicare-eligible retiree health care over the next five years. It is projected to save the department $12.1 billion over the next 10 years.

Defense implemented TRICARE Prime fee increases for new retiree enrollees beginning in fiscal 2012; under the 2013 proposal, the fees would be phased in based on annual retirement pay.

The TRICARE fee increases mean that military retirees in upper-income tiers would see their health care contributions nearly quadruple over the next five years, Defense Comptroller Robert Hale told reporters Monday. “It’s quite generous compensation compared to private sector plans,” Hale said, adding the department could “revisit” the personnel figures -- which make up $135.1 billion of the fiscal 2013 base budget -- if the economy were to improve.

The proposal includes some good news for military families: It provides $48.7 billion for the Defense Unified Medical Budget to support the Military Health System and $8.5 billion to support the “well-being and psychological health of the military family, ensuring excellence in military children’s education and their development, developing career and educational opportunities for military spouses, and increasing child care,” budget documents said.

The president’s budget proposal provides a 1.7 percent increase to basic military pay in calendar 2013, the full increase authorized by current law

Budget request includes TRICARE cut, military retirement details - Defense - GovExec.com

It looks like this program is aimed mainly at getting retirees to use some other form of health insurance other than TRICARE.

 

[old navy]

The program is aimed at military retirees, in order to wean them off of TRICARE and get them to participate in other programs (also in the bill) so there are more resources for active duty.

Which programs are in the law that he wants us to participate in?

There are plenty of resources for active duty. The plan of the POTUS is to divert those assets to his social programs and union and bundler payoffs.

 

[ABikerSailor]

The program is aimed at military retirees, in order to wean them off of TRICARE and get them to participate in other programs (also in the bill) so there are more resources for active duty.

Which programs are in the law that he wants us to participate in?

There are plenty of resources for active duty. The plan of the POTUS is to divert those assets to his social programs and union and bundler payoffs.

You know................they should just go back to the old program of dependents getting their health care at the local military hospital, and only CHAMPUS or TRICARE for things that the military hospital can't do (like specialists), or if you live outside of a 50 mile radius from the base.

I liked the old system. Dependents came in as they needed, and active duty showed up during sick call hours and got priority for being seen.

But.............they did away with that back in the late 80's/early 90's.

 

[rdean]

Come on people. Don't read the bullshit that comes from the right wingnut sites. Instead, do everyone a favor and read what the Service Men and Service Women have to say.

The American Legion Slams Veteran-Unfriendly 'Coburn Proposal' to Cut VA and Military Spending

Benefit Cuts Never Heal | Service Women's Action Network (SWAN)

Sen. Coburn to Vietnam Veterans: No More Agent Orange Claims - Veterans Resources

Harbison also says Obama has suggested that since the military is volunteer, they should pay for their own health care. This is an outrageous fabrication. Before the Internet, we'd have called it a "lie."
Please find a more truthful conservative representative for your op-ed section.
LINDEE LENOX
Silver City

Your View: Letters to the editor (June 28) - Las Cruces Sun-News

 

[ABikerSailor]

Come on people. Don't read the bullshit that comes from the right wingnut sites. Instead, do everyone a favor and read what the Service Men and Service Women have to say.

The American Legion Slams Veteran-Unfriendly 'Coburn Proposal' to Cut VA and Military Spending

Benefit Cuts Never Heal | Service Women's Action Network (SWAN)

Sen. Coburn to Vietnam Veterans: No More Agent Orange Claims - Veterans Resources

Harbison also says Obama has suggested that since the military is volunteer, they should pay for their own health care. This is an outrageous fabrication. Before the Internet, we'd have called it a "lie."
Please find a more truthful conservative representative for your op-ed section.
LINDEE LENOX
Silver City

Your View: Letters to the editor (June 28) - Las Cruces Sun-News

Yeah...............did you notice that it's the retirees who are voicing dissent? That's because it impacts them, not the active duty.

The OP tried to infer that it was going to be military wide, when it's not.

 

[PratchettFan]

Now he is attacking U.S. Soldiers wallets. I am against this measure. He is suppose to be helping the soldiers, not hindering them. The military is our first line of defense and I don't think that they should have any burdens put upon them by their Commander n Chief, especially their healthcare.


Obama to Soldiers: Pay Up

Threatens to veto bill unless it hikes health care fees for service members
Obama to Soldiers: Pay Up | Washington Free Beacon

: Washington Free Beacon Staff - June 29, 2012 10:22 am

The Obama administration on Friday threatened to veto a defense appropriations bill in part because it does not include higher health care fees for members of the military.

“The Administration is disappointed that the Congress did not incorporate the requested TRICARE fee initiatives into either the appropriation or authorization legislation,” the White House wrote in an official policy statement expressing opposition to the bill, which the House approved in May

Did you actually read it, or just the headline? I mean, including the WH position paper which was attached to it. Despite the fact that the congress placed a requirement upon itself to reduce the defense budget, they ignored that (shades of the Contract with America) and increased the budget far beyond what the DOD requested. This little piece you are focusing on is just one item of many, and not the biggest item by any stretch.

This is about the congress going with business as usual as they all insist on pumping in there share of pork.

Seriously, don't just skim the thing and think what you are told. Read it.

 

[old navy]

I don't necessarily have an issue with this just yet. One, i don't know what they're already paying so my opinion could change based on that, but I don't automatically have a problem with raising their premiums. Military spending is out of control. It is by far and large our biggest expenditure so the costs need to be reined in. All the rest of us are paying more for our healthcare plans. I don't see why military families should automatically be exempt.

US Defense Budget: US Federal Budget FY13 Estimated Spending Breakdown - Pie Chart

The link shows anticipated DOD spending for the next few years and as in the past, defense spending is not by far the biggest expenditure. It is though the number one mandate of the constitution, and like most other industries, personnel costs are the largest.

I don't mind a modest increase in my Tricare premiums but what the bikder link does not show is the large increase that Obama wants. I find it interesting (pathetic) that he wants the first people to pay his new tax to be the people who have sacrificed the most.

 

[The Infidel]

Its all about herding them into the gov't system...


They can keep their existing policies my ass....

The program is aimed at military retirees, in order to wean them off of TRICARE and get them to participate in other programs (also in the bill) so there are more resources for active duty.

So it is a herding tactic.... If they dont want to go voluntarily, give em a nudge.





This is exactly what is in store for the rest of us... as they have been saying for a while now.... "LEAN FORWARD"

 

[Article 15]

Oh, but the military works for him personally. They should be honored that he thought about them.

I am so glad I no longer wear the uniform under his command.

That's because you're a partisan loser.

It takes a special kind of hypocrite to be all about having teachers and other gov't workers having to pay more into their healthcare plans and then turn and say something like "I am so glad I no longer wear the uniform under his command" in response to a thread like this.

 

[ABikerSailor]

I thought the military was part of the government, so therefore, healthcare for the military is ALREADY under a government system.