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Return to Article: Bill to limit Tricare fee hikes gains support in Senate

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  Believe it or not...a majority of enlisted folks who are retired, are considered "middle class income". Now you want to impose more spending through the "middle class" of the military retired community. I propose that Congress stop giving themselves payraises for awhile and stop needless spending and you will be able to pick up the tab for older veterans over 65. And, as I recall; you get excellent healthcare as representatives and who pays for that? Not you! The "middle class" folks...that's who!

  Kelly Posted October 7, 2008 9:51 PM
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  Mr. Doane,

  Thank you for commenting. This whole process is getting so complicated I have to think DOD's goal is to make everyone give up and just pay. My father is now 90, with military and civil service retirement. His health has failed to the point he's in assisted living in Denver. He was hospitalized twice last year. Thank goodness he kept his FEHBP coverage into retirement.

  That said, I'm in Virginia. Trying to keep all this straight from long distance with two insurance processes is quite a challenge. This despite having an MBA, being married to a nurse, and 26 years of experience with the medical "system" in this country since we have a handicapped (now adult) daughter.

  There has to be a better way. Shoving more of the costs at military retirees is not an option.

  Allen R. Thuring Posted April 18, 2006 10:15 AM
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  I am retired Navy, February 2003. I think it is despicable that my Pentagon wants to substantially raise TRICARE prime rates. Should I allow my son or daughter to join the military with benefit costs skyrocketing? I certainly will not! What incentive?

  Kyle Fallon

  GovExec.com reader Posted April 16, 2006 6:08 PM
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  It won't be long until the military will be using the same hospitalization system all federal employees are using. At the same time the price will be the same also. Mr. Rumsfeld is trying to get rid of the military health system now is use. He wants to get rid of many other benefits also. Take the retirement system, pretty soon you will have to work 25 years to get a retirement instead of 20. Erode everything slowly over a period time and you will forget how it used to be.

  Shameful turn of events.

  rds Posted April 15, 2006 9:16 AM
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  Kudos to Sens. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., and Chuck Hagel, R-Neb.

  The government has been taking and taking from the veteran' and the veterans' benefits little-by-little year-in and year-out. We are a long, long way from "giving back" to these courageous unselfish individuals, but it would be a decent start to at least to stop taking from our -- America's -- veterans.

  The last thing that a retired military veteran should be doing is making a choice between food or heat and their healthcare.

  Retired military vets should be determining how to graciously turn down countless unsolicited offers of food, shelter, necessities, and sharing of their experience and wisdom.

  Military veterans are our most important natural resource, without which, we would have nothing.

  MJ Heiserman Posted April 14, 2006 3:02 PM
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  I certainly saw this one coming. I'm quite sure there are hundreds of useless funded programs (pork) out there that could be eliminated to pay for the increase in health care. I agree, lets not pass this to all of our retired vets. Here's a gee whiz for you, if the churches were taxed, federal income tax could be completely eliminated.

  Rick

  GovExec.com reader Posted April 14, 2006 10:51 AM
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  First, no way do I trust DOD on this issue. That being said, I wouldn't mind so much paying more (and I was also "told" I would get free lifetime medical) if, and only if, we stop giving away all the money to every developing country that raises its hand. Let Iraq fund its own recovery. A World Bank loan, okay, but not a gift from the United States? Stop all the pork gifts to special interest, (a bridge for an island with a population of 50 in Alaska) and especially stop trying to rebuild that sink hole called New Orleans. That bowl should be filled in and made a barrier island. Make it a park so when it is wiped out next time, all that has to be replaced is a few swing sets and picnic tables. When the gifts/graft/bribes/thefts are stopped and the country needs to sacrifice, then and only then.

  Ted Posted April 14, 2006 8:44 AM
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  I am a military retiree, over 65 years old. I pay almost $100 per month for Medicare Part B, so I can have TRICARE for life. Because I am also in the Federal Employees Health Benefit (FEHB) plan, I am unable to have my prescriptions filled by the TRICARE mail order pharmacy. I have to have them filled at commercial pharmacies, and then submit to TRICARE for reimbursement of the co-payment fees. TRICARE mail order pharmacy can provide 90 days of medications, while commercial pharmacies can only provide a 30-day fill. My co-pay at the commercials is $40 per prescription, or the entire amount if not covered by the FEHB insurance. TRICARE reimbursement, when reimbursed, takes about 3 to 4 weeks. If the prescription is filled even 1 day too soon, TRICARE does not reimburse. For this, I gave 22 years of service?

  Larry R. Doane Posted April 14, 2006 8:34 AM