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Military retirees could face drastically increased costs for TRICARE over the next few years.
In the last 10 years, health care costs for the Department of Defense have increased dramatically, climbing from $19 billion in 2001 to almost $53 billion in 2011. Part of the problem is that while the cost of medical care has more than doubled in the last 15 years, TRICARE fees and deductibles have only increased by 20 to 30 percent.
In an effort to bring spending under control, Defense Department officials have created a plan to increase the cost of coverage to a level more comparable with medical inflation.
The first part of the plan is to increase enrollment fees and deductibles for non-active duty personnel. Among the changes:
The other cost increase is the co-pay for prescription drugs.
The program is being structured to incentivize patients to fill prescriptions through either mail order or a military pharmacy. It will also encourage patients to use generic drugs over brand name. Right now, a one-month supply of a brand name prescription filled at a retail pharmacy costs $12. Starting in October, it will more than double to $26, while the generic brand will remain at $5. By 2017, the brand name will cost $34, while the generic will cost $9. Prescriptions filled at military treatment facilities will continue to be free of charge.
For retirees who do not have the opportunity to fill prescriptions at a Defense Department pharmacy, mail order remains a cost-effective option. In 2013, a three-month brand name prescription through mail order will cost $26, while the generic brand will remain free until 2017.
Even with the proposed fee hikes, DoD officials are assuring that TRICARE will continue to provide coverage at well below the cost of most civilian health plans. It is also important to note that these changes do not affect survivors of military members who died on active duty or members who have been medically retired.
Additional information can be found in the 2013 Defense Budget Request, sections 5-2 to 5-4, found here.
Photo courtesy of Images_of_Money
77 Comments
Thanks for the cuts, DID YOU CUT YOURS CONGRESSMAN
Here we go again with the anti-military O’Bama & his Democrat agenda to “Screw the military, active or retired, as much as they can. I’m really SICK of this guy and his trampling of the country and the constitution.
I could not agree more. This Pres has got to go.
The Democrats hate our military ….They are always putting them in danger with their apologies or cutting there benefits …….Obama needs to voted out and we need a true leader ….Someone that has love in their heart for our boys that risk their lives everyday for us…….Sorry boys you do not deserve this…..
B.S. I’m a democrat and a retired NCO and I don’t hate the military. I can tell you that Republicians are who hate the military – they made up a war to try and kill me (and almost did it) as well as my brother Soldiers – paying me a little more to send me to an unjust war for 3 tours does not equal leadership, just stupidity.
I have no sympathy for you a Democrat along with the North and certain South Vietnamese were responsible for my Older Brothers death.
Little Willy, Democrats always look at the military to cut back. Clinton closed major bases just because the state did not vote for him. Like Charleston, SC. Now Obama want to close more bases. They keep closing bases we will have nothing to defend our self. Why not give federal employees a 40% cut in pay to help reduce the cost. While military get hit congress get raises and federal employees.
What ridiculous dribble. I’m glad you don’t hate the military as a retiree, but that does nothing to add any sense to your comment that Republicans hate the military. Whether Obama and his band of Merry Men hate the military or not is subjective, and we’ll all have to form our opinions one way or the other based upon the actions this administration has taken. Based upon the list of cuts after cuts, and the constant ploy of “asking” the military to “continue to sacrifice” because it’s such a noble cause, something we’re just expected to accept because we’re always expected to “support the greater good.” I’m sick and tired of all the BS rhetoric of this clown and his political appointees. As far as my opinion is concerned, I firmly believe Obama DOES hate the military. At the very least, he has a complete lack of respect and disdain for the people that comprise the military. I believe he looks at the DoD as nothing more than a tool. I don’t believe he really cares about the people; he just thinks about “the services” that he can move around the chess board as he sees fit, cutting the crap out of the budgets, and imposing additional costs and hardships on the active and retired members. If it was about being fair, he wouldn’t be making current and former military members his favorite punching bags and he could at least try to suggest equitable cuts across the board rather than use us to subsidize the free ride he gives to others. Don’t think that’s the case? Then you probably need to read a little more to learn what a sweet deal groups that support Obama are getting. Check out all he’s doing for special interest groups like unions, undocumented aliens (who miraculously get around the rules and still solidly vote Democrat), left-wing media, the Hollywood Elite, and the list goes on. Of course, that would mean doing something more than forming your opinions solely on the 5th grade level dribble you’ll get from the major, left-leaning media.
Little Willy you obviously were not in during the 70s under Carter. we were a hollow army of underpaid soldiers! It was not until Reagan took office did we get any meaningful pay raises!
It’s not President Obama it’s reality and congress and the DoD…President Obama did not sit around thinking of ways to screw the military – it’s congress and DoD that put these measures together to try and get a handle on costs – did you not read the article? 19 billion to 53 billion in 10 years! I’m a retiree and hate the cost hike, but it’s still a good deal considering. Before you go bashing the President follow the trail first. I can assure you all of the current Republician candidates will enact these changes as well.
OK, how much has the cost of Medicaid and Welfare increased and what kind of cuts did these recipients experience on their EARNED benefits???
Who does the Secretary of Defense report to, last time I looked he was selected by the President. They may well do that but do not say Obama is not involved in this.
We have to help pay for Obama care
No this guy is anti military. He is a liberal. Then why has he increased the totally free American Indian medical and dental plans by 32 % since he took office? Total combat percentage of combat vets last 11 years of war is .058%. So this minority group is born into a tribe get free shit but does not defend the Republic. Nice. Plus Obama is a Muslim by birth(daddy) and is a black radical.
Thanks a lot congress – have you ever had to live on a FIXED income – do ANY of you GET IT AT ALL?
LOL< Are you kidding, The first thing congress does each year us give themselves a raise.
The proposals are coming from POTUS and SecDef. Congress is really the last hope here. The budget is going to have to be voted on and passed by Congress, so don’t start bashing them right away! Work with your verterans groups (American Legion, VFW, DAV…) and WRITE YOUR FLIPPIN’ REPRESENTATIVE AND SENATORS!!!! Let them know that if they support these proposals in the budget, and the resultant negative impact on us, you’ll support the negative impact on their career….VOTE THEIR SORRY BUTTS OUT!!!! Dick Lugar has been a career politician from Indiana forever. He screwed the military once and I’ve never supported him since.
My husband served 30 years in the Marines, did 4 tours in Viet Nam, 4 purple Hearts, Bronze Star, and this is the way we get a “Thank You”? This is the way to repay all of our vets? Why can’t our Congressmen/women and Senators pay for theirs? They make a ton of money.
Until the people rise up and force the government to do what is right, they will keep doing what is wrong.
I agree with you, all of them should be on the same plnas as veterans at the maximum and on Medicare and Obamacare as the best option. Then watcch the rollbacks begin.
Does anybody know why, if Tricare needs more money, they pay part of the medicare-approved amount to medicare providers??
Because of the way Tricare and Medicare are structured. Anything that Medicare doesn’t cover Tricare is billed for.
But, when Tri-Care becomes Tri-Care For Life it only covers a portion of what Medicare covers. If it is not covered by Medicare it is not covered by TCFL. Many doctors are no longer accepting Medicare as an insurance coverage, and by default, are not accepting TCFL either. I recently made a trip to my dentist for a check up and the xrays of my teeth also caught, what seemed to be blockages in the arteries in my neck. I contacted my primary doctor and she explained that medicare does not cover the testing necessary to confirm the arterial blockages unless I have had a stroke. Also my TCFL would not cover it either. When I went on medicare I lost all medical treatment benifits from the military medical facilities so I must now wait until I have a stroke before I can be properly diagnosed. I like many spent over 20 years in the military and was promised medical treatment for life, without cost, after retirement. I retired 24 years ago and immediately saw that promise taken back. They just didn’t expect us old soldiers to live more than 5 years after retirement, but things have changed and we are now living longer.
BS goto a Cardiovascular surgon and tell him that your dentist told you that you have blockage of the veins. He will do a sonagram on your neck and take whatever action he feels he needs to do and it will be covered by Medicare and tcfl. I’ve had it done and am on an annual sonagram check. I don’t mess with the VA I have my own primary care along with a bunch of other doctors. I have spent the last 18 months having stage 2 bladder cancer treated at University of Texas Southwest Medical Center(Cancer Center). I couldn’t have asked for better care. Not once have I had to make a co-pay. By the way my retirement was from the USAF in 1966
Does anyone besides me find it unusual that obama wants to charge retired and active duty military for health care, BUT HE INTENDS TO PAY FULLY FOR HEALTH CARE TO COVER ILLEGALS? To me, that’s obscene. In the first place, Tricare for Life is an answer to the promise by congress to pay for health care for the rest of our lives. Our health care and our families. For the rest of our lives. It was promised to us at every reenlistment discussion we had. Now is not the time to back down from that promise. I hear no talk about charging congress for their healthcare. Why is that? They surely are not in any way more entitled to it than the military. While they sit on their duffs in the plush corridors of congress, in the safety that we have provided all of their lifetimes, they are now thinking that we should have to pay for something we have been promised?
I did 22 years In the Army Reserve. I truly understand the BS that is going on with this President. He has got to go. Why are the Illegal’s getting more than our Military ?? Come on people WAKE UP/….
Amen!!!!
It was put into the defense budget to protect it from this kind of nonsense. Veterans are being told they have to pay more while illegals get a free ride… Which of these groups has given themselves COMPLETELY to the country they live in? We (the Veterans) did. We laid everything on the line for something greater than our own self interests.
This is something most politicians do not understand, cannot understand and have no respect for. As far as they’re concerned we’re just another group wanting ‘what’s ours’ The difference is that we gave long before we got.
Obama has no respect for the military. This should not be a surprise to anybody at this point.
Politicians don’t care about anything but themselves. They never have to worry because they have the best retirement and medical programknown to the world. I tyhink it’s about time the people of the US (not just the veterans) stand up and hold them accountable.
All gave some, some gave all…that really has no meaning to you money grubbers does it. within the last couple years before I retired Congress and the Senate gave themselves HUGE pay raises, and set up a retirement system for themselves that would make each and everyone of them millionaires after they retired, now the ones of us who FAITHfully served are getting screwed yet again. Want a good fix? Throw all of them out of office, the judges and start over. This is crap
Think of that the next time you see people in their Red White and Blue, holding their Taxed Enough Already signs. We’ve got to get the government down to where it can be drowned in a bathtub…can’t drown the world’s largest military in a bathtub…
why dont they cancel their lifetime medical and take on tricare to see what its like to experience the cuts
Why is the President getting the blame? Who controls the spending in our government? It’s the House! Get your FACTS straight and stop embarrassing yourselves.
Why did’t Obama veto the legislation then, he vetos or stops everything else at the Senate
This bill is coming from the Obama administration, you need to get your facts straight and stop embarrassing yourself.
Oliver123 has it right…Fernando, you need to get your facts right and stop embarrassing yourself! The proposals are coming from POTUS and SecDef. Congress is really the last hope here. The budget is going to have to be voted on and passed by Congress!
Such a shame to screw the men and women who have served their country honorably while our leaders in D.C. Who could not find one honorable person in the bunch, from the white house on down receive different medical plans then the one the peasants have.
This isn’t coming from congress its coming from President Obama. He wants to raise the cost of our health care, so it becomes unaffordable and then dump us into Obamacare.
Its a shame when our civilian counter parts (DOD Personnel union) are untouched. We Military, Military Families, and Retirees need to band together and fight this, get a hold of your congressman and let them know how mad and disgusted you are with this bill
This stinks! My question is why we got a bill from th VA for surgery done in their facility? My husband spent 24 years in to have to pay for services from the VA?! Aarugh!!!
I agree with you, I spent just over 21 years in the Army. It costs me close to 250 dollars every 90 days for medications I have to take. I love how Obamas supporters say it is not his fault. The Senate would not even consider his Budget. They blame it on House Republicans as usual. Nothing gets done unless both the House, Senate, and the President agree on it. Unless you are over 65 or eligible for Medicare because of a Disability we all pay. If you retired from any Branch of Service what your benefits are depends on your income. My disability rate is to low and I made to much money prior to being rated by Social Security Disability. Where I lived at before, I was unable to take advantage of Tricare. I traveled 280 miles one way to see an Doctor for my service connected disability. I would get 42 dollars travel pay for the trip. I would hate to see what it would cost me now if I still lived there.
Informative, thank you. TRICARE is and always has been another device the government uses to get further and further from their promise to take care of vets and retirees. I still despise my recuiter for the lies…. and though i understand health care costs go up MAYBE they would not be so high if they would let the military prosecute a war and leave congress to screw things up at home…MAYBE we would not have had second world war, Viet Nam, Second Gulf War.. and wounded or killed so many more than need be. The bets and retirees need to become a mjor voting block in this country that gets courted actively. If you cant beat them use the hell out of them
Why no cuts to Federal Employees? Why $850,000,000 to pay for migrant farm workers, which is about 85% illegal immigrants? Why exempt Unions and other from Obama care?
Why? Why not when we can stick it to the military!
NO it is not what happen to all our taxpayers money. Obama spent it on the green energy jobs that went bankrupt.
I like the way they say the DOD is “assuring” this and “assuring” that. They must think we are the first three letters of this word! Lately it doesn’t seem like we have any heavy brass going to bat for the retirees or any servicemember for that matter. If we had enough support, we wouldn’t be the ones always getting the cuts…and what about the legislation for the GI Bill transfer for retirees that didn’t know to transfer before seperation. That legislation fell to the wayside just like the promises made to the retirees about healthcare and benefits.
Its amazing that the ones who sit at the table making these decisions are not affected by them, so why should they be concerned about the effects it has on the ones it does.
Oshithead, Barack H. continues to show just how he hates this nation and another step in destroying the military. He is more of a communist than Kim Jung Un
Well as I see it the US government has been screwing the Veterans for years. This is not surprize to me. It does tell me I will need to carry a bigger jar of vaselene. As for the medical care here in Illinois from the VA I have lost my trust in them with the past stories of deaths of veterans that had surgery by poorly qualified doctors. Also I have read and seen on the knews of the poor condition of VA hospitals in Illinois and other areas in the United states as well. Now they need to raise the prices. Well as a Vietnam era Marine Vet I agree that this president needs to put out of office. Finding someone that cares about the people and the veterans that are now dying would be a ,” Dam good trick.” One I don’t think the people will see. Semper Fi
To find some one who cares we need to find a candidate for office that is a veteran and has faced the same hardships as the rest of us veterans. I do not mean the retired Generals and high ranking officers, because they were in many cases unaware of what the “Troops” went trough. I mean we need political leaders at all levels that were enlisted men and women that know how far down hill this crap flows and what it means to actually be in the trenches. We need to find these people and support them.
I have never seen so many cry babies in my life. I spent 20 years was suppose to have health care and dental for life Regan got that all taken away I say thanks for Tricar really cheap heath care even if you have to pay a little more. Where Bush brashing who got us into tow wars and didnn’t have the money to pay for them thats why cost are going up.
I sent this to some combat vets I know from Vietnam and one comment was really sad. Here is the message I got, “Depressing for us old warriors on fixed incomes”. So, many I had met are sick with cancer caused from Agent Orange and the cost of cancer medicine is astonomical in itself. This is how we take care of those who put their lives on the line to proctect each and every one of us for all the freedoms we enjoy. This is a downright SHAME!!!
Seems to me that the Medical Care folks, doctors and hospitals, are the ones to blame for all of the increases, not the Democrats or the President. This article talks about going back 15 years, which is slightly more years than you can blame O’Bama for. If you don’t like O’Bama, don’t vote for him.
Can I sue these assholes for breach of contract? Whom ever is in charge, why are Social Security and Retired Military Medical so quick to go the chopping block??? Oh, the silent majority needs to become ENRAGED!!!!!!!!!!!
This is nothing new. it started quite a while ago. My father-in-law was on the beach at Normandy and survived. It’s true that he didn’t make a career out of the military because he wanted to do other things. I took him to the VA hospital in Montgomery several times over the years and he was treated well. However, when he died I paid for his funeral expenses. Oddly enough, I used mney that I had saved from my “drill” checks from the Alabama National Guard.
Fire Obama and the problem is solved. The guy couldn’t manage his way out of a wet paper bag.
I knew it, I finally get my retirement benefits and they start costing me. Always in the right place at the wrong time. Happened while I was in for 30 years and still happening…..At least they are paying me!
I think it’s terrible we fought for our country and now some pipsqueak of a president has taken away everything that the Military and the Veterans have been told that if we joined the Military we would never have to worry about our medical that it would be FREE FOR LIFE We need to make sure that obama is voted out with NO Benifits
Never fails, cover their ass’s and you get screwed. Whats this country coming too? They say there is no price on FREEDOM. Well, looks like their not looking at the military sacrifieses for their freedom, Wonder just how many of those that dream up these changes have actually put on a uniform and left thier families.
I guess that I have a different take on all of this. No, I do not like to see mt TFC costs increase. But, just because we served in the past does not entitle us to not do our share in fixing the fiscal situation in the United States today. We all, and I mean all of us all and those across all aspects of the political spectrum contributed to the wreck. Now, if we all contribute to the solution, again ALL! as stated above, our great nation will find its way out of the wilderness and back ti fiscal security. If, on the other hand, we all persist in our selfish, entitlement, hedonistic, and blame game ways what we are complaining about now will seem like the good old days. So, stand up, pay the price, and help keep our country the best there is. If you can’t do that, then at least, SHUT UP!
Then let’s ALL make the sarafice. Not just the military. I mean everyone on Welfare, Social Security, Unionized public employees, Congress, Illegal Aliens…everyone. We former and current military members are only targets because no one will stand up for us. We are the easiest targets, and always have been. That’s why we are being targeted first, as has always been the case.
I understand all about rising medical costs, as well as rising costs for everything else. I wish my income would rise half as much as everything else seems to be rising. What bothers me most is the broken promise of a meager pension and free medical care for life in exchange for putting in 60 – 80 hours a week in a very low paying job, at times below the poverty level, picking up and moving every couple of years, long seperations from my family, never knowing when my life was going to be on the line. After holding up my end of the bargain for more than 20 years this is how my government holds up its end of the bargain. At least I still have my pension, but I wonder how long that will last.
I believe they have already served and suffered enough for this country!
How is these crooks in office can make all the rules to take away our benefits and we can’t get the SOB’s out of office. We don’t control who gets in, they do with all their money. Why should they have better health benefits than those of use who put our time in service. They’ll say they are serving their country too, that’s Bull Crap they’re serving their wallets. They don’t risk a thing and they get paid un godly money and life time benefits and what do we get? I think military time should be a pre requisite for all politicians especially the president. how many draft dodging or military service dodging politicians do we currently have in office? I can think of one right off the bat. and we’re still not sure if he ‘s a citizen as a matter of fact most of America thinks he’s not. We need to cut the crap from the top down, especially since that’s where it comes from. By the way don’t be surprised to hear that I’ve lost my disability benefits after speaking my mind. He doesn’t like it when we tell the truth.
This is another slap in the face to ALL veterans but especially my wife & myself that where guaranteed these rights upon enlistment. Rather than take our rights Congress & the President should look at giving up their rights for a change. Tired of those that gave & are giving the most get the least in our society
I’m tired of the tirade about Congressional health care benefits, and the like, being more than the rest of us get. The facts are: 1 Congress and the administrations health plans are the same federal plans with costs and co-pays as the rest of all other non-military government employees. 2. Congressional retirement is graduated and cumulative. A one term congressman doesn’t get much of a retirment benefit, if any. That is one reason they work so hard to get re-elected. 3. I have received about a dozen letters from my Congressmen and women that all say the same thing. They are committed to seeing we vets are not forgotten and that our benefitrs will be protected. BUT, BECAUSE they are charged with trying to get a budget passed that will meet the requirements set out to avoid the sequesration bill, they need to be fair to all. Where their words say one thing, there actions are another. These Congressional staffers ignore the fact they should not be treating illegal immigrants like a protected class. Nor should they be counted as a constituent, since the immigrants don’t have a legal leg to stand on. There is a mantra to the affect we don’t want to treat them any way but with open arms, just as immigrants were treated in years past. Unfortunately, they ignore the fact those immigrants came when there were no support or welfare systems in place like today; that citizens rights were not take away or diminished; or that the immigrants knew they had to work their way up the ladder as we did. Those immigratntsd may have suffered many indignities, but they didn’t expect the good lives to be handed to them, nor cry when things got tough. In the past, Congress didn’t cut military benefits just to give benefits to illegal immigrants. America has been turned upside down and shaken to see what Congress and the adminstration can squeeze out and take from we veterans worked so long and hard to achieve, and earn. The President has become the socialist he was suspected of becoming; expanding government, while saying he wants to reduce spending. No where has he called for a commission to recommend what cabinet agencies could be eliminated or consolidated, like some republicans have advocated. When and how are we going to present a united voice to lodge our opinions with the President and Congress.
I am beginning to believe that i’ve done it all wrong by retiring from the military. I should have just gone on welfare like many of my high school mates have done. They have the best health care in the world, without having to risk their lives, or ask their families to sacrifice to support honorable service to one’s country.
Here is how I see it……..I served 23 years, no one forced me to join, or held a gun to my head to reenlist. The Army was good to me and for me. You came blame whomever you wish for all these perceived injustices. Bottom line is times are getting hard……..we have had it to easy for to long in this country. Now it is fixing to bite us all in the ass. Finger pointing isn’t going to solve a thing, whether you are a democrat or republican…..the well is running dry.
The military was just a job to me………I get so sick of hearing people say “I fought for your freedom”………….I have never been a captive, so you didn’t fight for my freedom. Be glad you “got what you got” as far as benefits. Uncle Sam never promised you a rose garden. Unless you were drafted (draft ended mid-70s), you shouldn’t complain.
Actually, Uncle Sam did promise me medical benefits for life. Albeit not a rose garden. You’re right, times are tough. So instead of cutting the benefits of military personnel who have and still do pay into for their families and for themselves if retired like you you and I. How about the benefits of welfare recipients, illegal aliens and medicaid get reduced? The politicians NEVER dare touch these groups’ benefits despite the fact these are unearned benefits and certainly not paid into! When it is time to tighten the belt in this country the first to be effected are Medicare and Military who have worked and paid into their benefit programs. I served 28 years and no one forced me to either, but I was forced into paying for Tricare and Tricare Dental and am still paying for said benefits!
YOU ARE CORRECT ALL THESE SO CALLED FORMER vets SAYING
we shoudnt complain when our promised benefits are eroding away and
these illegals and welfare MF’s who have never contributed a dime or a drop of sweat and especially blood to this country are living high
on the hog while WE VETS WATCH AS OUR PROMISED BENEFITS
ARE GIVEN AWAY TO THOSE WHO WILL NEVER DEFEND THIS COUNTRY
So well stated. My husband was in for 20 and myself 29, grateful for all . Did not yu that are fussing expect sometime u would have to help with the debt of this country also.
I don’t collect retired reserve benfits for another 14 years. It’s scary to think about what it will be like then and beyond.
it appears the burden of care…remains with one’s self !! (as well it should ??) perhaps it is time for veterans to reflect upon dependency…and it’s drain on the society it swore to protect…living a healthy lifestyle is more conducive to well being…it seems for all parties concerned !! years of self abuse cannot be resolved by pharmacy regimen and poor diet !! the choice is individual & personal..surpassing survival by living a full and productive life …or clinging to life by trying to survive !!! Honor & DUTY provides substance to all !!
A sleeping giant has been awoken. There is now a defining issue that clearly separates the Republicans from the democrats. The battle lines have been drawn, Capitalism vs. Socialism: it’s us, the hard working tax-paying, Americans against the Sycophant Hollywood crowd supported by the liberal media and the Welfare receiving, EBT using, lazy, sucking the teat of America dry. Only this time your Hope and Change is Hype and Blame and we won’t be fooled by your phony unemployment figures or your lying liberal press buddies, or your negative attacks, since that’s all you have. YOU WILL BE DEFEATED! ONE AND DONE, NOBAMA 2012!
Back up your rhetoric with a determination to vote the Obama Regime and his minions out of office on November 6th 2012. Tell your friends and family we need their vote to save America!
We (our Government) are broke; even $2,000 per year is a steal. Suck it up and be happy your getting a good deal.
This is not news , the first thing a Democrat does when they getting to office is cut
Defense spending, this includes our medical.If you want this man out VOTE.
This increase really sucks, the veterans that voted for Obama should of saw this coming thanks alot.
I read where they ask why did Obama not throw this out, lets talk about this….it was drafted in 2007, the house was a democratic heavy house, Bush vetoed a bill on Oct 2007 that stopped this….now can we get back to the issue, Obama will not veto this, your smart, if Benghazi does not explain why, then I feel no sympathy for you….if you voted for Obama, well I find it humorous that your feeling the pain of your own stupidity not mine and especially not the good president BUSH
For all of us military personnels that protect and served to this great country and put our lives just to ensure that we will have peace and the security of the entired world, we deserved the benefits and the dedication that we put and most of all why would we pay for some of our medications or for our health care system?? I still remember that every time we raise our hand we know that we are putting our self from the enemy and the inferils, now our few question is why pay for our medical benefits? Didn’t we pay it all before with our sacrifices while we are on active duty? What is next take away our retirement benefits because retirees are the burden and nuisance to our faillling economy, I hope not.
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[...] TRICARE Increasing Coverage Costs for Retired Military: In the last 10 years, health care costs for the Department of Defense have increased dramatically, climbing from $19 billion in 2001 to almost $53 billion in 2011. Part of the problem is that while the cost of medical care has more than doubled in the last 15 years, TRICARE fees and deductibles have only increased by 20 to 30 percent. [...]
[...] DoD intended to increase TRICARE fees to help pay for the rising cost of care, but as of last month, four different subcommittees have [...]