As reported here, the House Armed Services Committee recently forwarded the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2013 (HR4310) to the full House for a vote. The bill added back many of the cuts proposed by the White House, and ignored the DoD’s request to increase TRICARE Fees for military retirees. (Read the original post)
While most expect it to pass in the House, it is also assumed that the Senate will not pass the current version. And, of course the President would surely veto it if it happened to make it through the Senate. On Wednesday the Office of Management and Budget that confirmed that the President would veto the bill. The OMB statement states, “If the cumulative effects of the bill impede the ability of the Administration to execute the new defense strategy and to properly direct scarce resources, the President’s senior advisors would recommend to the President that he veto the bill.”
The OMB’s ”Statement of Administration Policy” responded to the House bill, declaring the administration’s “disappointment” with the House for not supporting their budget recommendations. The report highlights specific sections of the HR 4310 that differ from their plan, such as limits to the reduction in forces, BRAC, missile defense, and limitations on reduction of nuclear forces, to name a few.
One of the areas we have been watching closely on the Military Advantage is the proposal to hike TRICARE fees. The statement makes it clear that the WH is committed to using the fee increases to make TRICARE sustainable.
The following is an excerpt from the OMB statement:
“TRICARE Fees and Co-Payments: The Administration agrees that retirees deserve a quality health care benefit. For this very reason, the Administration strongly supports its requested TRICARE fee initiatives that seek to control the spiraling health care costs of the Department of Defense (DOD) while keeping retired beneficiaries’ share of these costs well below the levels experienced when the TRICARE program was implemented in the mid-1990s. The projected FY 2013 TRICARE savings of $1.8 billion and $12.9 billion through FY 2017 are essential for DOD to successfully address rising personnel costs. DOD needs these savings to balance and maintain investments for key defense priorities. The Administration is very disappointed that the Committee did not support the proposed TRICARE fee increases and included section 718, which, while supporting some fee increases, caps them at levels below those allowed under current law and below the requested authorization. If section 718 remains in the bill, it would only provide five year savings of $2.6 billion.”
Let your elected official know what you think about this issue.
Ok, But yet Obama increases the healthcare benifits for American Indians, who serve less than .058% in defense of our nation. They get totally free health and dental care for being born into a tribe. Military retirees were promised healthcare if they served 20 plus years. Obama is not going to change the game now. They can never give back our prime youth years, and the payback is full healthcare as promised.
???
The IHS (Indian Health Service) budget is about $4 billion ($1,600/person served) – and has been relatively constant since it was created in 1955, as a follow-on to the BIA's program. Why do we have such a program? Because Congress, under it's Constitutional authority (remember that document that we all swore to defend?) made sovereign treaties with these tribes (they are sovereign nations) and agreed to provide said care. Those treaties are in writing, signed and authorized by Congress.
For comparison, the DoD healthcare budget is around $48 billion.
BTW – you do have healthcare.
Timeline for Military Health Care:
Pre-CHAMPUS
- Space-A treatment at MTFs (free)
CHAMPUS (1967)
- Space-A treatment at MTFs (Free)
- CHAMPUS (no premium, copay and deductible)
TriCare (1994)
- Space-A treatment at MTFs (Free)
- Tricare Standard (no premium, copay and deductible)
- Tricare Extra (similar to standard, some lower rates, as I understand it)
- Tricare Prime (premium, extremely reduced copay in many cases, no deductible).
Some pages of reference: http://www.tricare.mil
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/94xx/doc9405/87doc80.p…
http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/testimo…
No promise of lifetime health care:
http://mrgrg-ms.org/crs1006e-the-issue-of-promise…
The words of Congress (and at least in spirit upheld in the HASC writeup):
NDAA 2012 http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h11…
"Title VII – Health Care Provisions
Subtitle A – Improvements to Health Benefits
Section 701 –
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) career military personnel and their families endure unique and extraordinary demands and make extraordinary sacrifices over the course of a 20-30 year career, and (2) those decades of sacrifice constitute a significant pre-paid premium for health care during a career member's retirement that is over and above what the member pays with money. Limits, beginning with FY2012, the increase in the annual DOD patient enrollment fees to the percentage by which retired pay is increased."
I’m 56 years old, a self employed general contractor in a poor housing market. I’m earning less than half of what I was for the past 4 years because of the economy…..because if the poor national leadership. Political thieves, and the list goes on. I’m too old to be hired by someone with an income we can survive on plus injuries while on active duty limit what I’m capable of doing physically. Even doing my own job is far more difficult because of the injuries. Then the fools in the WH want to raise care costs of millions of disabled vets that already are dealing with a troubled economy and less work. Less work available means less income means less funds to pay health care bills. Very simple math. What’s the solution? Cut back on govt spending, quit giving money to countries who are enemies, stop worrying about “creating” new jobs and get our people back to the jobs we had and then create jobs to support our old jobs. Put simply: get the construction industry going and get apprenticeship programs going again then I think things may turn around or at least start to
Hey WH a$$holes, since none of you actually know what "Service before self" means, get bent. We EARNED our benefits, our retirements because we sacrificed for 20 years or more serving this country in some of the most inhumane, inhospitable locations around the world. We sacrificed the best and brightest years of our lives doing work no one else wants to do. Many of us have been hurt fighting in wars/conflicts with no goals, no real missions, and no real leadership, for far too long, and yet you want these same men and women, who have earned their measly healthcare benefits, who already get screwed with “concurrent receipt” laws, to pay more? To make Tricare sustainable? FU!!!!
Ditto
I third this motion!!
As a wife of a 20 year AF retiree (now a cop) and daughter of WWII veteran, plus a 24 year Federal civil servant-retired: I fourth, fifth and sixth that motion!!
It is just disheartening to observe and incumbent in the WH, having aggressively recruited the GLBT folk, now harking their remarkable contributions, and yet without any particular distinguishing "emblem?" So all others were heretofore inept? Tra La! What sector of this administration is performing? And the same azle greasers of the 2008 campaign now toil to repeat. It isn't about the illegals, folks; take a look around snd see how many among you are with foreign names and foreign genes and having served gallanttry throughout hbistory; in the world crises today, many of those peering across our borders, those praying for opportunity and risking their lives to coyotes and the inept and callous immigration policies, are the true villains of the crises for those who work in the most demanding and low paying jobs .. it is UNIONS that want to eviscerate them .. the bulk of OBAMA supporters along with the GLBT folk . it is a disgrace..
Tell um Adam. Those ****** just don’t get it!!!
Tell um Adam. Those ****** just don’t get it!!!
I just want to say that I think it is a disgrace the way our veterans are being treated.
These people offered their lives to support this country and I don't understand why they are not being treated better.
We have money to give to other countries but cut back on the care of our true Heroes.
The American vet.
I was never able to fight for our country so I did what I thought was the next best thing, namely, support our troops and retired vets in any way possible.
I don't know if it would do any good in voting for Romney, but the way our vets are being treated, I think I am going to give it a try.
Meanwhile, I just want to say thank you and God bless our fighting men and veterans for giving so much to this great nation.
May God bless and keep each and every one of you.
Ditto.
I am sick and tired of self-serving political hacks with absolutely no concept of sacrifice and military life, preaching to me how I don't deserve what I have earned and instead must now pay more to get what I already have in the first place. Here's a concept: don't send the military to fight if you are not prepared to take care of those troops for the rest of their lives. Do not make promises you don't intend to keep. Don't waste billions and billions of our tax dollars on pure crap then expect us to dip into our pockets even more because YOUR mistakes have bled this country dry. When I see each and every one of you WH “workers” and political hacks offering to give up portions of your benefit packages, your cozy offices, your cozy spending allowances, and your salaries, then come talk to us. But not a GD second before that is done. Got it?
I guess I'd better get busy and start me a tribe.
here here right on. I say we elect our officals to take the military's place in combat, and then we as vets take everything we said we would give them away, their stupid, and don't have any brains, so screw them, see how they like it..
Sorry F$%^s in washington will give the illegals anything they want for free. But those of us that have SERVED have to beg to get what we have EARNED with our Blood. The lack of leadership in this Country is appalling. Every politician is a shyster so all we can do is try to vote for the shyster that is going to Scr3w us the least. The least these bottom dwellers could do is buy us a beer when they are are done!!!
Amen to this I agre 100%
We have to get our priorities right, free medical care for illegal aliens, and free medical care to welfare recipicants, lets shaft the military retires again! Our leaders had their fingers crossed when they made the promise of free medical care. _Congress screwed up so someone has to bite the bullet, guess who? Well the retired military is used making sacrifices their good at it, so let them do it. After all Lindsey Graham said our medical care is to generous__Rudyard Kipling_Tommy_“I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,_The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."_The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,_I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:_ O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away"
Banshee hit it right on. We hand out for illegals and welfare. I don't see them volunteering and putting their lives on the line I better stop while ahead.
ret MSGT. 26 years……
Ah .. Lindsey Graham also complained about Social Security benefits for orphans .. he has no "family;" he is also Gay! Choices !! Genes?? Whatever!!
Cont. Kipling Tommy_ But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,_ The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,_ O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play._ _I went into a theatre as sober as could be,_They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me
I cannot believe that ANY of our veterans groups invite "HIM" ~ OR ANY MEMBER OF CONGRESS TO SPEAK AT CONVENTIONS ~ BUT THEY DO!!!!!! THEY ALL HAVE TO GO IN 2012!!!!!
Cut off foriegn aid, cut off benefits to illegal aliens (almost $333 billion a year.) cut off bailouts to countries like Greece where they can retire with full benefits at 55. (But you stupid Americans can't get your SS until perhaps 65) No more free nothing to the scores of great unwash who sit on their a$$es and do nothing, though they are physically able. No Federal funds to California for new bridges, only to give the projects to China (This one is so far off the board its not funny.) No credit cards to anyone who can't prove their ability to repay. Collect the back federal taxes from Congreepeople and the administration freeloaders. Get this country back on course, there isn't much time left.
Total State Department budget – $58 billion (that includes Israel, Egypt, Pakistan, India, the EU countries, maintaining our embassies, etc). BTW – Greece is supported by the EU, NOT the US.
Total budget for illegal aliens – $0 (yes, ZERO – they are NOT eligible for Federal benefits).
The Federal Government does NOT issue credit cards – that's the banks (you know, the ones who drove us into the depression in 2008).
Congress and the Administration are subject to the same tax laws as the rest of us.
Bottom line – your suggestions don't even begin to touch the $1.3 trillion dollar deficit. The top 3 items in the Federal Budget – Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security, DoD. Together they add to about 80% of the Federal Budget. DoD is 55% of the Discretionary budget.
I don't think he was insinuating that illegal aliens were included in the budget, but you can't deny that they are receiving federal funds; just turn on the news or read any paper! It's happening everywhere and something needs to be done about it. I don't know about the credit card thing (but I do agree no less; but, the Federal Government is who bailed out most of those big banks in 2008.
1. no, most of them are NOT receiving federal funds. Those that are are breaking the law, and should be punished accordingly. Regardless, in terms of "cutting the budget" cutting a budget of $0 results in a savings of $0.
2. Most of the money that is supposedly spent on illegal aliens (I say supposedly because most of they high estimates are made by groups with a vested interest in high numbers) are by the states. The reality is that most illegal aliens are here to work and send money home – and if we would accept a higher price for food, we may pay Americans sufficient to do the work.
3. Whether the bank bailout was a good deal or not, that money is spent. It is NOT in the FY13 budget, so arguing about "cutting" spending there is like arguing about cutting spending for R&D on the F-22 – the money is gone. We need to focus on the FUTURE budget.
Continuing to argue about things that are NOT in the budget will not help the case – because the subject is the federal Budget, of which SS, Medicare/Medicaid, and DoD are the top 3 items – and the entire rest of the federal budget could be eliminated and NOT solve the federal deficit.
Right on! Don't forget that congress doesn't pay into the peoples ss system. Pay back all those IOU's.
Congressional Retirement Plan: http://www.factcheck.org/2007/12/congressional-pe…
http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL3…
http://www.senate.gov/CRSReports/crs-publish.cfm?…
Bottom line – ALL Congressmen (regardless if first elected prior to 1984) pay into Social Security.
Chris,
"(But you stupid Americans can't get your SS until perhaps 65)"
Just wanted to add, I just started collecting my Social Security at 62, this year.
"No Federal funds to California for new bridges, only to give the projects to China (This one is so far off the board its not funny.)
Just a note, NO federal funds went to China, that was a bogus email circulating the internet.
Sources:
http://www.npr.org/2011/09/16/140515737/californi…
http://www.factcheck.org/2012/02/did-obama-approv…
Chris, you have it right on the nose. No one fixes their neighbor's house and lets their own fall apart. Get America squared away and quit spending $$ on countries and people who don't like us any way.
I totally agree……..the handouts our government are giving to illegals has got to stop!
I agree wholeheartedly with you. We support everyone but our troops
You are delusional. What aid to Greece? You listen to too much psycotalk radio. Lets get some sources for your rantings! Illegal aliens get no benefits from the fed. They get some limited health care if they go to an emergency room. That's it. However many do pay taxes and pay into social security which they will never collect. I could go on but you can do the research or can you?
Rather that spreading misinformed blather, take a trip to El Paso where thousands of mailboxes are right on the border for Mexicans to pick up their monthly SOCIAL SECURITY benefits, AIDE To Dependent Children, ANNUAL short form Earned Income Credit for someone else's kids in Mexico, Unenployment benefits (subsidized by the fed) Food stamps and other State programs. The taxes they pay might be sales tax and most are paid under the table and then they remit that back to mexico to finance their families to come over and have more anchor jackpot babies. Illegals are a multi-billion problem and whether it comes out of the budget or not, taxpayers are tired of feeding, medicating and educating these dregs to society. I don't own a swimming pool, run a construction site, own a mansion, or need grapes pick and I darned sure mow my own lawn. Stop trying to gloss over the problem! More American civilians died at the hands of Illegals than our troops in the middle east over the last 10 years. Yeah, they are costing us plenty there, loco!
Amen brother…and to the clown (retiree) that keeps posting this crap you are the deluded one:
Total budget for illegal aliens – $0 (yes, ZERO – they are NOT eligible for Federal benefits). you cant possibly be this stoopid that you think the only cost to the American people in regards to illegals is in the budget. simply laughable. get a clue.
and as far as Greece's bailout is concerned if you think the Fed reserve bank is not tossing huge amounts of Obama-bucks in their direction again you are deluded.
Since we're talking cuts in the federal budget, the federal budget is what matters. And a cut to a budget item of $0 is still $0.
Start getting a clue yourself – pretending DoD is not the majority of the discretionary budget and that we can balance the budget without cutting DoD (and SS and Medicare – the three together add up to more than is collected in taxes and revenue) is living in the circus.
I guess that makes you the clown.
Illegal aliens are not eligible for Social Security, and any money they pay in is lost. Nor are they eligible for TANF or SNAP (what you call welfare and food stamps).
Feel free to keep spreading falsehoods – but when it comes to the budget, a budget cut of a line item of $0 still is $0.
If you want to end illegal immigration, start cracking down on the employers (who are US persons) – if they start going to jail, they'll quit hiring. Oh, but be ready for increased food costs.
@retiree "Illegal aliens not eligile for Social Security, and any money they pay is lost." Really! Then why did Senator Jeff Sessions issued a statement on Maj. Leader Reid Blocking consent On Bill To Close Illegal Immigrant Tax Credit Loophole S.577
http://www.sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?F…
and http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:S.577….
Because he wants to grandstand? The "loophole" was identified by the GAO, reported to Treasury, and the IRS rules rewritten to ensure SSN needed, not ITIN.
One of the requirement for a someone to receive child tax credit is: "Was a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national, or a U.S. resi-
dent alien."
That direct from IRS Pub 972.
This is the best reply I have seen. I agree with what it says.
If you are a retiree and you vote for Obama you might as well shoot yourself in the foot, at least that way you only hurt yourself and not the rest of us.
get a grip JJM! Do u really think Romney will do better? You're kidding yourself! You'll be lucky to have any benefits then. Nothing is perfect but what 20 yrs. retirees have is pretty good. Meds that are cheaper than anyone else has; docs we can find within the network; tricare for Life that most docs take with Medicare. Be very careful what you wish for – you might be surprised how much you will pay for it!
You live in a world other than this one….Obama hates the military, the US and will screw us when ever he can…Any retirie that voted for him is getting exactly what they voted for…A ROYAL SCREWING!!!
Looks like you have been listening to too much of that right wing garbage.
I bet none of those congressmen had to put back meds when the bill was too high at the local pharmacy. The local meds were at 200.00 and we put back quite a few. Our retirement check just does not cover what is needed. Yes we use Express Scripts, but sometimes that just isnt enough. I never thought it would be this way. We cant even get a doctor to accept our Prime Insurance. This country is getting worse. I am ashamed at our congress.
I think we should all work as congressman and congresswomen. Then we can all live here free too.
Don't know where you get that belief – in addition to paying for their retirement and healthcare, they all have to maintain residence in their home state/district as well as have a place to live in DC area – and they pay for those privileges.
Why should the White House or Congress worry about the retired military. They serve one term and get free medical and a retirement for the rest of their livies. No copay No Fee to jion just Free medical, Yet we must serve Twenty years to retire and then spend part of our retirement for medical or wait in line at a VA center for our medical care. We need to revamp our hole govermental system and go back to they only get health care and paid a salary while they are in office. When they finish one or two terms in office they go back to the job they had before politics, and they must go on Socail Security and medicare when they retire. Which they have raped and used to pay for every thing but our retirements.
Congressional Health Care: http://www.senate.gov/CRSReports/crs-publish.cfm?…
http://www.costello.house.gov/issues_MythsFactsHe…
They pay a minimum of $200 every two weeks (most pay much more) while they''re in office, and then don't have any medical until they collect retirement (age 50 if they have 20 years in, otherwise age 62). Once they turn 65, they also go on Medicare.
Congressional Retirement Plan: http://www.factcheck.org/2007/12/congressional-pe…
http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL3…
http://www.senate.gov/CRSReports/crs-publish.cfm?…
Proposed changes to Retirement (affects Congress) http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.38…
Length of time to earn 80%
CSRS: 32 years
FERS: 66 years
Average Retirement:
CSRS: $69,420
FERS: $38,460
Also, if you read the documents, you'll see that ALL Congressmen (as well as members of the Executive Branch) pay into Social Security.
Your argument would be better if it was based on reality.
The problem is that the veterans in this country are as divided as the politicians. I see many of the veteran groups not standing firm but actually giving in to the politicians. The bottom line is you get what you vote for. Even McCain has turned his backs on the vets!! Where we made our mistake on medical care is it was never in writing. But, then again the Indian Treaties were in writing and the politicians didn't honor those. Basically we are screwed and the politicians really don't care.
When I was retired in the late 70's we were given a booklet published for the retired military personel. It was written in the booklet that we would get FREE MEDICAL the rest of our lives, but congress changed that. Just like when they took money out of social security to pay for the Vietnam War under LBJ, we were told that the money would be payed back. Congress can say it today and change it like the change their shorts.
I don't understand this. When I entered the military I was told I would have health care for the rest of my life should I retire. I served 22 years and retired, pay for my health care, pay a co pay for injuries sustained while on active duty. The Army caused these injuries, and I have to pay an annual fee, pay for my own meds, more aches and pains that the average 48 year old. The Congress, the senate, and the President get health care for the rest of their lives after one term. Not to mention I see people not in the military, never have served, go to the Doctor for a drippy nose. And then we have, and I use the term people from other countries come here and get health care. Can say illegal’s as I don't want to offend humans, and say humans rather than people as that my offend people. Screw us again Pres, yes you wanted change you idiots that voted for him, that’s all you'll have is change in your pockets
1. Please file a VA claim. The VA is the organization charged with caring for injuries occurring on Active Duty.
2. As has been posted many times, Congress and the Executive Branch are under FEHBP – they do NOT get lifetime free healthcare after 1 term. In fact, they NEVER get free healthcare, lifetime or not. Minimum $200 every 2 weeks, most likely more.
http://www.senate.gov/CRSReports/crs-publish.cfm?…
http://www.costello.house.gov/issues_MythsFactsHe…
3. Illegal aliens are not eligible for federal benefits. Emergency rooms (the most expensive means of providing health care) are required (federal law) to provide service to all, regardless of ability to pay.
I'm glad the House turned down the proposed Tricare fees and tiering, but to bash folks for doing what they have NOT done is silly. Please keep your criticisms to what they HAVE done, or what they HAVE NOT done that they SHOULD HAVE DONE. You're more likely to have an effect on their decisions that way.
NDAA 2012 http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h11…
"Title VII – Health Care Provisions
Subtitle A – Improvements to Health Benefits
Section 701 –
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) career military personnel and their families endure unique and extraordinary demands and make extraordinary sacrifices over the course of a 20-30 year career, and (2) those decades of sacrifice constitute a significant pre-paid premium for health care during a career member's retirement that is over and above what the member pays with money. Limits, beginning with FY2012, the increase in the annual DOD patient enrollment fees to the percentage by which retired pay is increased."
I am in the same boat as Art. I am in the VA system, yet all I get from the them is harassment about where my percentage of disability should be. I have been fighting with them since I was medically retired from the A.F.. I don't see a single provider at the VAMC; mostly because there is over a two month wait to see them, but also because 90% of the medications I take are non-formulary at the VA, so I am forced to go through express-scripts (Tricare) and pay for them out of pocket.
It is my understanding that these Tricare fee hikes are aimed at "working age" retirees, but what if that retiree is unable to work? Doesn't sound to me as if they have addressed that issue, rather they have just bundled us in with the rest of those that have done 20 and got out. I am 27 yrs. old, and ANY increase in ANY expense at this point is like another crack in already thin ice. I was lucky enough to be found disabled by the Social Security Administration and now qualify for Medicare, so I am hoping that when these Tricare fee hikes take place, another branch of the government will kick in and soak up the rest of the cost.
@Art- if you are disabled, file IMMEDIATELY for Social Security Disability Benefits. Get a lawyer that works for free unless you win; the worst that can happen is you go all the way and still lose, but at least you can say that you tried. Also, file for Individual Unemployability through the VA (you'll be paid at the 100% rate as long as you are unable to work a full-time job). Like I said, you only qualify for these if you are actually unable to work.
I'm retired. Have Tricare for Life. I get statements from them that I'm unable to understand. I called and asked for explanation regarding payments they make and for what. They could not give me anyplace I could find the "codes" for services rendered. I asked if they ever read the claims and was informed that no, they did not. They simply paid what was billed by the providers. I've never seen a claim denied or reduced. So … how ya gonna get a "handle" on the so-called "spiraling" costs with no oversight whatsoever? – and no way for the consumer to report suspected fraud?
In Response – I guess it take an idiot to know and idiot – because this is exactly what you sound like buddy. You can't blame the president for all the woes in the world, including health care. Should we, the service members who have 20+ years, be getting the very best health care – you dam right we should, but you got your head in a hold if you believe health care for us will always remain the same, cost wise. If I have to pay slightly more to maintain the overall functionality of the Tri Care program than so be it! We could be doing a lot worse – try paying $1200.00 a month, as I know some of my civilians counterpart are paying for their health care. Bottom line, stop your bitching – and, try to understand all of the moving parts. Semper Fi!
Kevin “D” for ****!
Kevin “D” for little Richard, short for ****.
Kevin “D” stands for Dee Eye See Kay!
Youre the type of idiot that makes it bad for the rest of us. Read the frickin article it says that congress (republicans) wants to include, house (democrats) and the president (democrat) will veto. If you were not blind by skin color you would know who to vote for in the meantime all the rest of you who cannot read and are scared of skin color vote republican watch your benifits go down the drain doesnt affect me im very well off and a twenty year marine later suckers.
Remember who was on guard when the towers fell. He never even saw it coming. Who was on guard when Bin Ladin fell. He never even saw it coming. Think. The other guy got us into an 8 year war over a lie. Thousands of our servicemen were killed and wounded. Now this guy is getting us out of that mess. Look past the skin color and recognize we are much better off now than 4 years ago
Put the entire Congress and WH staff in bunkers in the middle of no-where and start laying heavy artillery on the bunkers for say, a week. Then the bastards can understand why the Vets are pissed. Illegals and politicans getting med benifits for life is unbelieveable. Pack the illegals up and send their butts back to their birth countries. Politicans should get only the same med benifits that the Vets get and only half pay on retirement of four terms in office and no less.
If they can get reelected that many times. I'm sick of these special little jerkass politicans taking care of themselfs, first, then to hell with the VETS and all surviving warriors. I'm armed, so come take mine the hard way, you bottom feeders.
Congressional Retirement Plan: http://www.factcheck.org/2007/12/congressional-pe…
http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL3…
http://www.senate.gov/CRSReports/crs-publish.cfm?…
Proposed changes to Retirement (affects Congress) http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.38…
Length of time to earn 80%
CSRS: 32 years
FERS: 66 years
Average Retirement:
CSRS: $69,420
FERS: $38,460
Congressional Health Care: http://www.senate.gov/CRSReports/crs-publish.cfm?…
http://www.costello.house.gov/issues_MythsFactsHe…
Basically you're proposing INCREASING their retirement and healthcare.
Be careful – they may put us on THEIR system (and you would only get 34% retirement after 20 years, payable at age 50, as well as pay cash for your healthcare, even while on active duty).
Right………increase fees because it is easiest and we can't really do anything about it. The cowards need to take on the entire medical profession that is wrought with greed, overpricing and fraud. But that would require OUR representatives to extend some real effort, wouldn't it. When can we raise fees and eliminate their benefits……..just give us the chance!
Wait until the Afgan conflict winds down to caretaker status (needless expenditures for a unknown cause). Congress, the White House, and the silly servants will find ways to cut your "benefits" even more. My advice to young people considering a career with the U.S. military. "You are free to choose, but you are not free of the consequence of your choice".
FWiley,
Part of the reason we are where we are at now, is because every bill that comes up giving more and more to the Military and Dependents was never voted down. It's like parents never saying 'no' to the fat kid and then when he gets to be 17 and he is obese they wonder how to cut the fat to get the kid back in shape.
As for those first joining the service with a career in mine, I've never known anyone at that age thinking that far ahead.
Agreed. After my military career I went to work for a defense contractor and watched management and the executives spend outrageous sums of money on rental cars and hotel rooms and then direct charge it to a contract (It's no wonder we have cost overruns on many of our defense projects). The DoD silly servants and military personnel were just as bad when they came to visit in the name of Technical Interchange Meetings. It seemed we were visited by the entire office staff. Whatever happened to the Video Teleconferencing? Temperatures would be in the high 20s in DC and we would get a flood of DoD visitors to California for a day and a half meeting. Waste is rampant everywhere that government touches.
THERE WON'T BE ANY CHANGE UNLESS WE OCCUPY THE WHITE HOUSE, THE CAPITOL BUILDING, AND EVERY OBAMA CAMPAIGN LOCATION. NUMBERS SPEAK, BUT PUTTING OFF STEAM IN BLOGS DOES NOTHING BUT MAKE YOU MORE ANGRY.
UNLESS WE OCCUPY THE WHITE HOUSE, THE CAPITOL BUILDING, AND ALL OF OBAMA'S CAMPAIGN LOCATIONS, NOTHING WILL CHANGE. REMEMBER NUMBERS MEAN SOMETHING – SPILLING OUR GUTS ON BLOGS LIKE THIS ONLY MAKE US MORE ANGRY.
VERY WISE OBSERVATION. ME THINKS NEWT GINGRICH WILL BE THE VP ON THE ROMNEY TICKET. THAT GUY COMES OUT SWINGIN' AND THE NETWORK BLABBERS WERE TERRIFIED OF HIM ..
I'd LOVE to see Gingrich on the ticket, and of course it would help Romney with the south as well.
I would ESPECIALLY LOVE to see Gingrich debate Obama and absolutely mop the floor with him!
Stop the beating up on Obama … not a thing he can do about it. Your target should be the Congress.
For those too young to remember, the deal USED to be, serve 20 years and you got military health-care for life. (Reservists had to wait until they were 60, even though they had served their 20 years of satisfactory service. It was a 23-year wait for me.)
Then following the 1994 election, along came Newt Gingrich with his Contract ON America and a Republican Congress, that threw all Medicare eligible retirees off the military health care system and forced them to accept only Medicare approved care AND to pay the deductible out of pocket. If benefits ran out – tough titty. It took numerous breach-of contract lawsuits against the government, including groups like the Retired Officers Association, to get the government's attention. They finally came out with Tricare and Tricare for Life, which IMHO, has worked pretty well – except they seem to exercise no oversight and simply pay the bills of the providers when they come in. Raising Tricare premiums won't do a thing. Unless/unit they begin looking at what they're being billed FOR, the costs will keep on rising.
Tricare is the successor to CHAMPUS – nothing to do with the lawsuits. TriCare and CHAMPUS have NEVER been free.
TriCare's main problem is, as you indicate, it's simply a tie-in to the civilian "Medical Care" system – which is broken. Therefore TriCare is Broken.
Timeline for Military Health Care:
Pre-CHAMPUS
- Space-A treatment at MTFs (free)
CHAMPUS (1967)
- Space-A treatment at MTFs (Free)
- CHAMPUS (no premium, copay and deductible)
TriCare (1994)
- Space-A treatment at MTFs (Free)
- Tricare Standard (no premium, copay and deductible)
- Tricare Extra (similar to standard, some lower rates, as I understand it)
- Tricare Prime (premium, extremely reduced copay in many cases, no deductible).
Some pages of reference: http://www.tricare.mil
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/94xx/doc9405/87doc80.p…
http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/testimo…
You must be living in a bubble to think obama isn't to blame….he said he'd veto if.
There is not a single statement in the article saying that the President will in fact veto the bill. It does say that Senior Administrators will "recommend" that he veto it, if "the cumulative effect" of all of the items in the bill will "impede the ability" to execute defense strategy and "properly direct scarce resources." That says that the senior advisors will make their recommendation based upon the totality of the bill, not Tri-Care alone. Of course, with Congressional gridlock it is unlikely the President will even get a chance to approve or veto the bill, since no bill will even make it to his desk. Accordingly, you all have nothing to worry about.
Retire is correct about the information he gave you about Tricare. My bit of information here is about you complaining about 20 years service. Active duty personnel serve 365 days a year for 20 years. The reservists serve 35 to 40 days a year, unless called to active duty. It use to take 4 years (approximately) in the reserve to equal 1 year in active duty. This is on the point system for retirement pay percentage. I'm going back some 30 years on how it worked then. On active duty you get 2.5% for each year active duty. In the reserves you get 2.5% for each 365 points you get, which is equal to 1 year of active duty. Reservists get double point for each day. If you put in 20 years only as a reservist, you should only be drawing approximately 12.5% pay for you retirement. 30 years ago that is the way it worked. I know I was a recruiter in 1978 to 1982.
I do not believe you were even in the military or you would have a different opinion.
You are so right, I remember when military retirees paid zero for their health care. Times have changed. I retired (my second retirement) from private-sector 18 months ago-a large health care organization in Seattle, their retiring medical coverage costs 1200 a month vs Tricare Prime at 230 a year is a good deal. Next year I move to medicare and Tricare for Life, even if I have to pay enrollment for Tricare for Life – its still better deal than the so-called Medicare Supplements available. Most military retirees don't seem to understand what they truly have. Civilian retirees pay nearly 6000 a year for medicare, Part A/B, Part D and then for a supplement. My biggest complaint with medicare is they tend to pay upfront (no oversight or audit) or care management for long-term patients. And when the pols talk about overhaul-these are areas than need to be examined.
Wrong answer buckoo, it's the Kenyan that wants to raise the cost. The Congress voted against the increase. You are one of those who would go down in flames for this incompetent administration. Obama purposed 3 budgets, all voted down, the last being 99 to 0. this guy needs to go!
Please take your birther conspiracy elsewhere.
That is simply mistaken. They do look at costs; and anyone familiar with the system is aware that no dime is lost! Take Rumsfeld as Sec of Defense .. sending the troops to war as we are .. unprepared or not .. adequate body armor for our troops be damned! Military Treatment Facilities became bureaucratic fiascos managed by .. civilians .. UNIONS .. of The Dept of Defense .. mandated PRIME CARE .. imposed on ACTIVE DUTY .. AND everybody else .. the difference that ACTIVE DUTY were permanently attached to the MTFs .. and for the retirees and surviving spouses of ACTIVE DUTY, the MANDATORY designation of PRIME was a DEADBOLT against access at distance from the same MTF, and ie. specialty as oncology, cardiology, because the fee structure was so inadequate.
You should be looking at the 2.5 Million Federal Civil "Servants?" They are more likely to die on the job than be fired or laid off; 25% earning salaries at $100K and above.
those same feds also haven't had a COL raise in what, 3 years? And are usually compensated less than their military counterparts (I'm married to one, "ranked" higher than me but netting about 33% less pay), who've never been denied a COL raise in modern times. I thought it was one team, one fight?
Actually, we Federal Civil Servants have not had a COLA in two years but, there are congressional members who want to extend that even further. That way, we feel the "pain" that the rest of the country is feeling. Say What? Of course our health insurance continues to climb and with the price of food and fuel sky-rocketing, I am in a lot of pain. Congress is failing to take decisive action to reduce costs by taking the easy way out by declaring that the people of actually make this country function–the Federal Civil "Servants"–have too good a deal pay and benefit-wise. Rather than having their staffers look at PROGRAMS and AGENCIES, congress finds ways to make serving the country as a Civil Servant less appealing and then crows about how much money they have saved taxpayers. Bottom line is, if we are not getting the job done, this country comes to a screeching halt. If the self-serving members of both parties really want to save money, do the difficult and right thing and dig into where the absolutely unnecessary expenses are and end waste.
This is all done so the low lives of the country (criminals, whores and lazy parasites) can get their free stuff.
Obama has looted trillions of dollars to his welfare queens…. like the 33 year black male that is working a minimum wage job and has stuck us tax payers with the bill for supporting his 3o children by 11 different whores!
We earned those benefits in exchange for 20 years, they are not a hand out. They were and are a part of the contract for our service. They should not be negotiable and only people who haven't served seem to think there is nothing wrong with breaking a contract and stealing from the person who has worked for you for over 20 years.
if Obama is for the cuts, then he should be beat up on. Congress has been my tatget, I wrote to each of my elected officials that if they voted for ANY increase in tricare fees, my vote for them in any re-election attempt would be NO !!, and that includes Obama. I urge all of you to do the samw
The It's Obama's flappng lips that said he will veto any billOT raising Tricare premiums
Right on
You are way wrong. clinton and the democrats did that and jacked us Veterans up
dont understand the issue with retirees and benefits after 20 years of service. ALL 20 yr retirees get Tricare at a very cheap rate – about $260 Annually for a couple. The rates for meds are outstanding! Top price is $22 no matter original cost of med. Tricare for Life kicks in if you opt for Part B Medicare at 65. They cover almost all of what medicare doesn't cover. Part B monthly premiums are based on your IRS filings for income. What's the problem? Where could u do better in this country for your health care at this cost? NOWHERE! Quit the carping. If we want to keep it the premiums may have to increase so everyone can benefit. Come on! Stop complaining – there are millions who would be thrilled to have what we have with Tricare!
Then let them serve their 20 years and earn it.
Very Much Agreed!!!!!
Shelia, first you don't even have the right annual cost down. It is actually 480 per year for a couple. Second, it was a benefit that was promised to those that served 20 plus years of service. It is not a welfare program or a free handout. It is a benefit that was earned by those who sacrifice daily and put their lives on the line.
I couldn't agree more. I find those who've never served very quick to judge the health care benefite as an excess in compensation. I don't think any veteran has a problem with anticipated cost increases. the problem with this proposal is the magnitude. They're proposing increases along the lines of 500% in the span of 5 years. It is absurd, and likely a calculated tactic to make what they really want more palletable. I say all you veternas out there should contact your representatives and SCREAM BLOODY MURDER! They are, after all, your representative. I believe many of our elected representatives have forgotten that they work for us. When was the last time you recall their simply doing what is best for the citizens of the country? I think many of the issues are relatively straight forwward when not complicated by thoughts of trading power and influence. It is a sad state of affairs growing worse and worse.
Yes, but they did not spend 20 years in the sometimes helllhole that is the military. We earned our benefit by putting up with assholes who put us through life shortening political and personal policies, and made our very lives a living hell. Yes we earned every penny of the benefit promised to us and unfortunately will not live to collect in full." Everyone" did not go through what we did and have no right to any proceeds. Let them get their own plan. Leave ours alone!
Have those millions you're talking serve their country during peace time and war time? Are those millions putting their life on the line in other parts of the world? Are those millions leaving their families every six months to be deployed? Even the commander-in-LIES didn't serve his country or wear the uniform. I'm grateful for Tricare, but don't be fooled by what obama is up to.
Shelia….know your facts and the increases that the White House actually proposes before you sound off. Do you know what "means tested" means? If it is such a great deal…..then why don't they sign up and do two tours (or more) in a combat zone? Also….know how much it costs a couple before you start throwing around numbers.
That’s JCW!!! I could have sworn my premium was more than $260. Not to count all the co pays, but $12 every time I go to an appointment or take my two children to an appointment adds up too!!! Thanks again!
Thanks JCW!!! I could have sworn my premium was more than $260. Not to count all the co pays, but $12 every time I go to an appointment or take my two children to an appointment adds up too!!! Thanks again!
NO where would you do better??? I was recently picking up a RX, the person in front of me paid $5 for 5 prescriptions. I mentioned they must have a great medical plan. lady said, it's pretty good, it's Medicade. If she was being honest, When people get better "free" government benefits than the military personnel that have earned them – there is a problem in the system.
Sheila, many of us were 'promised' free health care for life when we joined the military. It's obvious that you either joined the military after Tricare was put in place. The Government 'breached a promise' to military and Veterans who were promised free healthcare for life….and now they want to increase the fees for Tricare significantly. I have no problem with raising premiums for those who joined after Tricare was put into place and the law changed, but the fact remains that this Government continues to erode the very benefits which were promised to our 'volunteer' force as an incentive to join the military in the first place. I DO have a problem with this increase as do hundreds of thousands of others. Respect those who served before you, and understand that they have a valid complaint…
Really promised–ok–tell me what document you have that lays out the details of this so called promised free healthcare. Everything I am entitled to from my service and combat time I have documentation that states what it is and how it applies to me. Now–can you really think that something so important as free health care wouldn't have some sort of documentation????
No there is no document. It was implied! If you've been in more than a couple years you would know that too.
http://mrgrg-ms.org/crs1006e-the-issue-of-promise…
by the Constitution (that document we all swore to defend), only Congress can make such a promise. Congress did not. Doesn't matter what anyone told you – you could hear it straight from the President, and it would not matter. If Congress does not authorize the funds, there is no promise, and there was no promise.
Case closed June 2003 with the Supreme Court ruling.
It was also guaranteed that we would be able to get treatment from the VA hospital / medical facility. That is no longer true, they also have "MEANS" testing, I was denied treatment because I have a job that puts me in the middle class "43,000 per yr salary" I make to much and do not have a Purple Heart or service connected disability.
If you entered service before 1,July 1955 try reading your original enlistment contract.Army don't really know who you are and seriously doubt that you are even military I pay part B medicare as well as tricare deductibles for my free insurance thank you now please explain what part of free that is.Medicade patients pay very little or nothing for their benefits and have never served a day in service for them strange no one had any problem making the promise and no one objected either at the time only when it came time to fulfill commitments were the rules changed.Had they given us the real fact at enlistment then I could understand better why everyone is so dead set on doing away with our EARNED benefits not Charity.Get a life please.
Upon Retiremnt from the Navy you were given a booklet of your retiremnt benifits and it was in there. I still have mine.
The military, not congress, promised people in the service during Korea and earlier, that they would have free medical care for life if they stayed in for retirement. The military was still promising that during their recruiting efforts in 1969 – I know – I attended a recruiting class at Randolph AFB, TX and was taught to use that promise as a means of retaining airmen in the Air Force. Actually one SSgt did re-enlist because his family needed considerable medical care and he did not think he could afford it in civilian life. True, the Supreme Court decided against the free medical care for life only because congress had failed to authorize it.
Please remember that the wages received by the military were less than 20% of what civilians received. Example: When I enlisted (to avoid being drafted) in 1954 I was making over $60 a week (after taxes) working in a grocery store (while taking 21 semester hours per semester at Butler Univ). After enlistment, my military pay (before taxes) was about $60 a month. While the draft was in effect, I and many others had initially no choice on military service. We were promised free medical care for life when we reenlisted. That is partially why this present TRICARE cost is so distasteful. It is not so much the amount as it is the principal of betrayal by the services (basically lying) not keeping their promise. We need a new Commander In Chief – this coming election gives us this chance.
When I enlisted in 1964, the recruiting posters stated that if you enlisted and remained in service to retirement that you would receive health care for life. In the 70's the congress decided that we in the military were getting over by retiring after "only" 20 years and decided that we should go on CHAMPUS upon retirement.
Please learn the difference between "healthcare for life" and "free healthcare for life" – only Congress can promise the latter, and they have not.
http://mrgrg-ms.org/crs1006e-the-issue-of-promise…
Then you just hop on the "free" obama care train and see how that works for you…for a cough or a worse medical issue. I bet you will be whining like a you know what here pretty soon if ob BS care doesnt get struck down. BTW what water have you been drinking anyway??
I guess your recordkeeping isn't as detailed as mine. I still have recruiting literature from the 70s that lists free medical AND DENTAL for me and my dependants if I served at least 20 years. So, Dave is right…the Government has committed a breach of promise.
read the latest article. DoD (and the Executive Branch as a whole) could NOT promise free healthcare – only Congress.
Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution:
"No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law"
Case lost when the Supreme Court turned down the appeals court ruling in June 2003. The Conclusion of that ruling:
"We cannot readily imagine more sympathetic plaintiffs than the retired officers of the World War II and Korean War era involved in this case. They served their country for at least 20 years with the understanding that when they retired they and their dependents would receive full free health care for life. The promise of such health care was made in good faith and relied upon. Again, however, because no authority existed to make such promises in the first place, and because Congress has never ratified or acquiesced to this promise, we have no alternative but to uphold the judgment against the retirees' breach-of-contract claim.
Federal judges have a duty to uphold the Constitution and the laws, even if that means making unpleasant or unpopular decisions. Congress, on the other hand, has the power to make law, not simply to interpret and apply it. As our predecessor court said:
Congress has the power and authority under the Constitution to establish a system for the payment of retired pay [for military service members] and to change the system from time to time. . . . We understand and appreciate the dissatisfaction of the plaintiffs with the change in the retirement pay system, as they have rendered long and faithful service to our country in time of peace and war. However, if they are to get any relief, it must come from Congress, as this is not within [a court's] jurisdiction.
Abbott v. United States, 200 Ct. Cl. 384, 390 (1973). Perhaps Congress will consider using its legal power to address the moral claims raised by Schism and Reinlie on their own behalf, and indirectly for other affected retirees.
For the reasons stated above, the district court's grant of summary judgment for the government is
AFFIRMED:"
Oh, and you still have free medical care the only way it was EVER available – space-a in the MTFs
Promised, LOL!!! You gotta be kidding me. No one can gurantee you 100% free health care with no changes in benefits for the rest of your life. People on medicare are going to have to make concessions on something they paid into, why would you think you wouldn't that you have to do the same.
I agree. Our government is known for making promises it has no intention of keeping. No wonder we have lost credibility with our own people let alone the world in general.
My thoughts exactly!
It's not the cost, it is the principle that so many who have done nothing pay nothing and now will not sacrifice a dam red cent. That is the issue. There is right and there is wrong. Billions being siphoned off by the dreagues of American society. I wonder what they will be asked to sacrifice? That is the issue.
Where are those millions you are talking about? Did they stand on the front lines at HOME or ABROAD to EARN these BENEFITS? THIS was a CONTRACT from the US to it's ,men and women in uniform. YOU must bewilling to STAND for NOTHING…AMERICAN WARRIORS deserve what they have EARNED and NEVER be threatened for it to be taken away…THE US should honor it's contracts with the ones who fight to put them in office.
raising the premium would be fine if it were reasonable. This administration want retirees to pay the equivalent of civilian rates which would raise the rates to a couple of thousand a year or more. Also the prescription rates you quote are wrong as they went up in Jan. Civilians in many cases have lower prescription costs. If we cave here all retirees are screwed
There are millions who are too good to serve their Country too, so it seems!
These increases are tantamount to lies. Veterans have sacrificed in order to earn these benefits and now benefits rightfully earned are being taken away. It is a disgrace and the politicians should be ashamed and made to find jobs elsewhere.
I am single and I pay $260 a year so I don't know how you think a married couple pays that,,, most of the meds that I need I can't get from Tricare or the VA and have to drive 3 hours to the nearest military installation to get the meds that I have to take,,, The increase would be near 800% over 3 years but then Obama talks about how he wants to take care of the vets,,, our retirements are equal to most politicians retirements so that amount would be devasting for some,, when many people in this country get free medical care and haven't contributed nothing to its freedom,,,, start with stop paying for illegal immigrants health care on taxpayers dimes,, also eliminate Judicial, Executive and Congressional staffs elite healthcare and make them use the same that we must use and have to pay for it as well or purchase prvt health insurance since their pay is much more than any military personnel,,, if this passes this will be the beginning to the end of our benefits!
Eddie, it's too bad that you are having to drive 3 hours (on your own dime, too, I might add) to get your medications. Do you not know about ExpressScripts? You can have your medications delivered by mail thus saving you a long drive every 90 days.
I agree with your sentiment that illegals have no Constitutional right to anything on the tax-payers' dime. I also agree that the pols should have to use the same healthcare services that the rest of us do. The only problem, Eddie, is that they would have to agree and pass legislation in order to make it happen! And just how successful a venture do you suppose THAT would be?
You want to improve their healthcare? Congress, Judicial, and Executive are under FEHBP, and all pay at least $200 every two weeks for health care. Feel free to advocate us going under their program. Personally, I'd prefer TriCare.
Oh, and illegal aliens are not authorized ANY federal benefits.
Sheila, Maybe if we stop paying for the illegals we wouldnt need to raise rates.
Federal budget for illegal alien support – $0
Feel free to cut it – and save $0.
When was the last time that the Democratically run Senate passed a budget?
That, however, is not the point. The health care facilities have to factor in, as part of their operating costs, the costs associated with providing care for illegals. Do a little research on the hospitals near the southern border of the US.
Guess what – that's still not in the Federal Budget. Oh, and you pay even with private insurance for anyone who does not have health insurance and cannot pay (whether they are illegal aliens or US Citizens who are broke). And some illegal aliens DO pay for their health care.
And a budget of $0 still means a cut save $0.
Federal budget for illegal immigrant support – $Billions from medicaid and other social safety net programs
Feel free to cut it – and save $Billions !!!!!
Please provide a pointer to the Federal Budget for illegal aliens.
Hint – there isn't one. Hint – illegal aliens are NOT eligible for federal benefits. Hint – cutting a budget of $0 save $0.
POTUS Obama;s Aunt Zeituni received housing and welfare benefits for several years after she was ordered deported as an illegal alien. In the last year, she was given political asylum with a green card and she still receives welfare benefits.
Tomorrow she starts her book tour promoting her book on the hardships she has endured.
President Obama had nothing to do with his aunt's status – he didn't even know she was here. TANF is limited to 5 years. The rest is a State issue (believe it or not, not every benefit provided comes from the federal government).
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20017043-5… for one news source
And a cut of a budget of $0 is still a savings of $0.
But of course he didn't know anything!
Hint: It's not listed as a line item under that name, but it's part of the whole, unreasonably huge socialist safety net we've built to keep people poor and in vote peonage to the democrat party. Hint: Illegal aliens are not eligible for a lot of stuff that they get anyway.
Hint – they're breaking the law then.
Hint – the entire non-DoD discretionary budget could be cut (that includes VA), and not balance the budget.
Hint – it's the Democratic party, not the Democrat party.
Not true. There is $0 BUDGETED for illegal alien support. However, there are many agencies who have polcies that specifically state that they CANNOT check or verify immigration status. As a result, benefits DO flow to illegals and will continue to do so until such checks are MANDATED before dispensing benefits.
So you're proposing a cut to a budget of $0 to save money. Great. Big savings there – $0.
I suppose you're one of those who would like to see illegal aliens and homeless dying on the streets.
BTW – if we really want to solve the illegal immigration problem, all we have to do to is start throwing those who hire them in jail. They're here to work, and we like our cheap food and cheap clothing. So we go after the illegal aliens, NOT the people who hire them. That way we feel good that "we're doing something" without ever really solving the problem – and paying for the solution.
From someone who served 24 years in uniform and then 7 years as a contractor, I can tell you I worked 1/3 as hard as a contractor and made better money too! Instead of trying to raise revenue off the backs of retirees who held up their end of the bargain, reduce funds from those bloated defense contractors who are raping the American taxpayer! What's wrong with this picture where we will screw over retirees first? Sheila, how would you like it if you were promised a certain amount of money to do a job and then after you completed it successfully, the person who hired you decides they are going to not pay you the agreed upon price? Our government is no better than Enron was to its employees if they screw over retirees who made all the financial planning for their future based on promises for free health care, only to see it turn into Tricare premiums and pharmacy copays while they were serving on active duty. To now see it turn into HUGE increases in those premiums and copays when we are no longer in a financial position to save more money because it has happened "after the fact" is highly dishonorable of our govt. If our govt is going to drastically cut back on benefits, they need to grandfather the people who already upheld their end of the bargain!
And for such a "wonderful" bargain we have with our Tricare, all those millions of people you say would be thrilled to have it can have it too! Nothing is stopping them…all they have to do is go join up and suffer the moves, hazardous duty, long hours, family disruptions, etc. as well. Then they can get such the wonderful "deal" that we've got. People keep trying to compare the military to civilian jobs…there is NO comparison, trust me!!
Also, it is not $260 annually for a couple…it is $520.
Medicare is "revenue neutral," i.e., what goes out is covered by what comes in. The premium is adjusted periodically to compensate. I still pay as part of my Federal income tax, and I'm 87! Medicare is NOT taxpayer funded and it never was.
Social Security is an INSURANCE program, not an "entitlement" program, as so many ignorant people try to make it out to be, and why so many self-serving politicos like to use it as a bogey-man. If there's a "deficit," it's because the Congress can't keep its sticky hands off its multi-multi-million dollar surplus and want to turn it over to the Wall Street thieves to "manage."
If Tricare is "short," it's because they need better oversight and need to raise premiums, just like any other experienced insurance company.
Direct your anger toward the Congress, that won't let the regulators do their jobs.
And get off the racial harangues. It only shows show uninformed the writer really is.
You're the only one who brought up race Sir! The acknowledgment of racism is racism in itself.
Medicare is SUPPOSED to be revenue neutral – however, due to a refusal to make any adjustments, it is paying out more than it is collecting and is now set to run out of money during the next term of whoever is elected President. Will you support the same measures when it runs out of money?
Military medicine wasn't/isn't all you think it is…serve your 20 years for "FREE" medical care then start paying your premiums out of your retirement BONANZA…all of 1200. A month…are you kidding me??? Military medicine killed my daughter 8 days before her 1st birthday because of lack of staffing in the ER but we weren't allowed to sue the government because my husband was active duty, walk a mile in my shoes then tell me about someone whining about paying 260. per year, which is INCORRECT check your facts before judging military retirees. Also you are welcome that my family sacrificed so you still retain your right to insult and belittle our contribution to your freedom!!!
I'm with you Donna, lost my son after being in a coma for 6.5 years due to the lazy jerks that manned the ER at Cannon AFB. Not only couldn't sue but the whole thing was covered up by the hospital commander, gotta get that star no matter what.
Bless you for your service to our country, and for your altruistic approach to life.
Sheila,
If you haven't walked in our shoes and promised what we were promised, then kiss my @$$. Leave our benefits alone! Obviously you have no clue. Lets take congresses benefits away.
Tim
Really promised–ok–tell me what document you have that lays out the details of this so called promised free healthcare. Everything I am entitled to from my service and combat time I have documentation that states what it is and how it applies to me. Now–can you really think that something so important as free health care wouldn't have some sort of documentation????
Hello? There is documentation, if you paid attention to any of your reenlistment counselings you would know that! Each time you were encouraged to re-up "free medical care" was among the benefits listed. I still have several of these pieces of now worthless paper. When a class action suit was initiated by retired folks the judge ruled against us because "it" was never passed by congress. There are multitudes of people to blame for reneging on the health care issue so I won't even begin to try and point the finger. This I do know, Anyone who votes for Obama in the upcoming election is either uninformed or an idiot!!!
Not uninformed just IDIOTS
and don't forget the misinformed idiots.
I do have my "document"! I have a letter from my recruiter in 1977 on "Official Government" letterhead, thanking me for my visit. In this letter, he listed the things we talked about ie, commissary/BX use (now that's a laugh), higher learning (not only college but on the job training that can be used in the "civilian sector"), free medical to those who serve and "retire after twenty years of honorable service", and also free travel on the military aircraft all over the world. Needless to say, I believed him and joined for my retirement. Thank you very much for the honor to serve so you can "rant" too!
President Obama can go on TV tonight and promise free healthcare for life – but that still won't get it. Only Congress can promise money from the federal government (per the Constitution, that document we all swore to defend), and they have NOT promised or appropriated the money.
http://mrgrg-ms.org/crs1006e-the-issue-of-promise…
And since you were recruited in 1977 (after the start of CHAMPUS), you retired no earlier than 1997 (after the start of TriCare). Did you NEVER, EVER, check the clinics and all the documents about health care after retirement? They are and were all over the clinics. Apparently you a) believed your recruiter, and b) never, ever, once looked at what was being provided to retirees while you were in service.
Oh, and does the letter sya "free health care for life" or "healthcare for life" – I note you didn't quote that.
Tim, the only authority that can take anything away from Congress is… Congress! Now how do you defeat a system like that?
Just for your info I spent twenty plus years in, many of those were in the level of half the wage my contemporaries received. IIn addition I was sent where there was the possibility of harm. After retiring I couldn't use health acre if my employer provided it. TRICARE was a secondary insurance, you complain of what we now receive. Maybe you would like to live in what I did and eat the crap that goes with deployments to hardship areas. Most people have no respect for what service people go through. But they all enjoy the benefits that those people provide. Most retirees and not commissioned but enlisted and I don't think they can live on that retired pay. Unlike civilian counterparts who have a well paid retirement account, but never sacrificed for it.
It is just about the principle. When soldiers signed up twenty years ago they were told that they get pension and free health care after twenty years of being underpaid, spending nights in jungles (or deserts), being away from the family, constantly moving and bringing all those inconveniences to your family and your children. Now the government tells them that it was a lie, because they could not handle the finances of the country properly. At the same time, I do not see politicians putting up proposals to cut their salaries or any benefits for that matter. Let's be fair and cut across the board like Southwest did. Everybody takes a cut!!! I understand why people are upset. They cannot take the twenty years of service back but the country can screw them.
Politicians should be paid according to their achievements or actual work done for that matter. Then we probably would not have any or the ones that would stay would have to apply for food stamps (and be eligible).
Proposed changes to Retirement (affects Congress) http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.38…
Cuts federal retirement from 1% / year accumulation to 0.7%/year and moves Congress from FERS/LE (1.7%/year) to FERS (0.7%/year under this).
DoD is #3 in the federal budget, and 55% of discretionary spending. the major cuts are in DoD because that's where the money is. The CBA was 1/2 from DOD, 1/2 from the rest.
Sheila must be a jerk, because she does not know what she is talking about. I spent 20 years serving my country and now I am treated as a second class person. Retirees pay 480 dollars a year for a couple with it going up to 560 per year I am a Desert Storm veteran and out of the 20 years I was in the service I was deployed about 10 of those years to Oman, Kuwait, Saudi, Jordan etc. I missed a lot of my children growing up and my wife had to take care of everything by herself. If you think service members do not deserve the few perks that we have have you ever saw what congress gets huge retirements after only 1 term in office, lifetime medical and they do not pay anything. By the way my take home pay after taxes is only $1000 per month, not very much after 20 years. I was promised lifetime medical and dental for my wife and I at no charge when I signed up for the military but Uncle Sam will screw the GI in a heartbeat and you have to take it or leave it. I also have to pay for my dental and for my wife. I am also 40 percent disabled. Please quit bitching unless you know what you are talking about
shiela if you think it is so great you should spend 20 years in the military not knowing when you will be sent out at a moments notice just time to tell the kids bye. the ones you should criticise are the deadbeat congress that gets it all after only one term. dave.
I am THRILLED to have the TRICARE benefits that I EARNED by serving my country proudly for 29 years and 8 months. I am also THRILLED that I have to continually fight to protect this benefit, because it is always proposed for the chopping block when the federal government screws up and places the country in financial dire straits. What amazes me is that it's always DOD bureaucrats who want to throw retirees under the bus. What amazes me even more is that we have an administration that talks out the side of its mouth when it comes to its "support" of the men and women in uniform. You can also add many of the "brass" to this list, because most refuse to step up and defend these very benefits. They've tossed their hat into the ring supporting the idea that retirees have to pay their "fair share." I refuse to pay anymore than I am paying right now for my TRICARE benefits and will fight to preserve them. The last thing I will ever do is go along with this attempt to be (indirectly) blamed for the horrendous mismanagement of the federal budget!
Like so many other vets that came in during our country's time of need, I was specifically promised by my recruiter in Philadelphia back in 1964 that if I stayed for a career (20 years) I and family would have free medical care for life. Now as an 80 percent disabled vet, over 65, on Medicare and Tricare for Life, my payments for TFL exceed $165 per month or over 2000 bucks a year and being on a fixed income that totally sucks because at the local base "clinic" not a hospital, about the only services I get are referrals to downtown physicians who many won't accept Tricare or Medicare for payment and the local VA hospital is over 100 miles away over a mountain pass which is frequently closed during winter weather. So this administration is totally screwing everyone, including those on active duty and some day it will affect you and every military veteran. If you ever reach my age I do hope you have to put up with the same issues!
Yes, let's talk about that. I have 29 years, 6 months. And, three wars.
Even when in the military we pay the Medicare tax and Social Security on our pay.
So, they make you tale Medicare part B in order to get TFL as the second provider. Don't get me wrong, it is a pretty good system, but some things still gripe my *ss.
After paying into Medicare, since its inception, we now have to pay a monthly fee of almost $100. ??? TFL then picks up the Medicare co-pay? Not all of it when it comes down to it and the hospital can STILL bill you for the rest.
Although TFL will pay most of prescription costs at the pharmacy (some cost only $9, which is good), a self-administered drug in the hospital is NOT covered. What is that? If you went to the drug store, you'd pay maybe $9. All meds in pill form given to you in the hospital are "self-administred!" Doctor writes the script, the hospital charges full list, the nurse brings it to you with a cup of water, and it is "sel-administred." Instant debt in two days (in my case) of $212.
Pt. 1 of 2
The pharmacies attempt to screw Tricare also. I actually read my Tricare mailings. Check this: I go into the pharmacy, fill a script or a generic that is on their "generic list" for $4. I (mistakenly) said, "Bill Tricare so it counts toward my annual cap." I paid the new $5 co-pay. Athough Tricare didn't pay the full amount, they were billed $64.12. WHAT?
A person with no insurance pays $4 and they have the guts to bill Tricare the full ticket. Where's the justice?
Pt. 2 of 2
Really promised–ok–tell me what document you have that lays out the details of this so called promised free healthcare. Everything I am entitled to from my service and combat time I have documentation that states what it is and how it applies to me. Now–can you really think that something so important as free health care wouldn't have some sort of documentation???? Stop building your thoughts on heresay.
Army you have worn this statement out please come up with something else to say or just keep quiet please and stop wasting space.
He's asking a very valid question – everyone is stating "they were promised" but have ZERO proof of it. I have my enlistment paperwork, and not only no promise, but it states it's the sole contract between the USG and me.
After reading these blogs, I have come to a valid conclusion. There are several OBOTS here (retiree, Army, sheila) who are clouding the issue. They make statements that makes some think they served 20 or more years in the military and have retired, but they are young Obamaites working for him and the Democrat Party. Be ware!
Sorry, but I am retired military, stating the truth, as can be found by the links I post. Too bad you can't use your brain, and follow simple links, or use Google (or for that matter walk into any clinic on any base and read the literature). Unlike some of you, I used my brain, kept my enlistment papers, and paid attention to what was going on while I served my 20+ years. I retired knowing that TriCare was not free – because it had NEVER been free. How did I know? Because it was not free the whole time I was in, nor was CHAMPUS (the predecessor). Not hard to figure if they've never been free, then they aren't free.
Try using the training you got in the military and think, instead of listening to random e-mails, friends, random blogs, etc.
DOD hires shills. they are young college punks with journalism degrees earning gs11 pay.
Try again, you failed the test this time.
take that same logic and apply it to the billionaire who by pass paying taxes. that money would actually do something for the country instead of just arguing about this, so they can not talk about that, so they can keep their money, while our service members lose theirs. is that what you want?
billionaires**
Dont't you get tired of singing the same old tune? It didn't amount to much the first time you sang it. And it still doesn't mean a thing now.
millions of parasites that have been on the dole all their life… parasites.
The problem, I joined and was promised free healthcare… was promised that my pay raises would be the same as a retiree as active duty…. both have been broken…. new retirees get thousands more per year in retirement pay and have to pay no more than the rest of us…..
I am not your typical admin person, but one whom was in a combat role for 16 years of my service time. Spent most of my service away from my family, not getting paid for the 17,000 plus hours of overtime… and retirement pay that is based on pay minus housing, food, clothing, etc…. not the same as all the federal employees, state employees etc…..
Obama gives 100% pay raises to his staff over the last couple years and we get 3% and increase in our cost of a preposed 200%…..Obama spent more tax payer dollars on his 13 year old daughter vacation than any enlisted retiree will get in pay over his or her life!
Another ignorant civilian hack who has zero concept of military sacrifice and the promises made to servcemembers who stuck it out fo 20 years plus. I think Sheila would not last a week at MCRD Parris Island. Yo Marines,you know what they say about civilians and whale shit. Right?
Your first line is the most correct–you dont understand which is evident by your misquato of the cost $20 per couple–that's the single rate couples pay $520–still a bargain I admit until you understand that when many of us enlisted our contracts promised FREE medical care for the rest of our life for 20 years of service. That right FREE that was in our contract, then came TRICARE–promise/contract broken we are charged an annual fee. now every year congress attemps to balance there wastefull spending and overpaid benefits and perks our politicians voted themselves on the backs of our military who have gonme through great sacrifices and laid our life on the line defending a country of what has become corrupt poticians, illegal aliens and welfare class people too lazy to work and think the government needs to provide everything for them. Want sometime get a job and earn it as military have done. Stop messing with the military. If you want to fix problem attitude needs to change from Robin Hood Economics–Take from working class to give to lazy asses. Secure the boarders, deport illegals, cut salaries and perks to politicians, reduce wastefull government spending.
Do you have the contract showing free medical care for life? Many organizations would like one. My contract says NOTHING about it. Here's a hint – despite what your recruiter may have told you, unless you have it in writing from Congress (by the Constitution the ONLY governmental organization that can make said promise), you DON'T have a promise. And you don't, because Congress never authorized it.
http://mrgrg-ms.org/crs1006e-the-issue-of-promise…
You still have free medical care the only way it ever existed – space-available at the MTFs.
Timeline for Military Health Care:
Pre-CHAMPUS
- Space-A treatment at MTFs (free)
CHAMPUS (1967)
- Space-A treatment at MTFs (Free)
- CHAMPUS (no premium, copay and deductible)
TriCare (1994)
- Space-A treatment at MTFs (Free)
- Tricare Standard (no premium, copay and deductible)
- Tricare Extra (similar to standard, some lower rates, as I understand it)
- Tricare Prime (premium, extremely reduced copay in many cases, no deductible).
Some pages of reference: http://www.tricare.mil
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/94xx/doc9405/87doc80.p…
http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/testimo…
I wish more people would understand that. All this heresay on 'free healthcare' just clouds the real truth. PEOPLE–THERE WAS NEVER FREE HEALTH CARE. Every entitlement I have earned (and you have earned) from service and combat time I have some sort of documentation.
Wrong that's what we promised recrutes. Because that's what we were told from our recruiting commands.
Who did NOT have the authority. And despite what people think, case law has, since the 1800's, held that the USG is under law, not equity. It's up to you to check if what the person promising is within their ability to promise. Caveat Emptor to the extreme. It's not whether you like it or not, it's what it is.
http://mrgrg-ms.org/crs1006e-the-issue-of-promise…
retiree, do you really know what Caveat Emptor means? It has no relevance here. We veterans were not buying (purchasing) anything. We were serving our country for a promise to give us and our spouse free medical care forever. Caveat Emptor is latin for "let the buyer be ware."
Yes, and I used it on purpose. Case law since the 1800's is that those who deal with government representatives are required to understand what those representatives are authorized. If they promise something that they are not authorized and you act accordingly, YOU have the problem, not the government. This is in contrast to the standard Law of Agency, which can hold an organization (company) responsible for what it's agents promise.
So the phrase has relevance here – because it does not matter what anyone promised you. Only Congress can promise free healthcare for life. They did not. If someone from the government promised you free healthcare for life, and you acted as if you would get it, the Government is NOT obligated to provide it. You were responsible for knowing they were not authorized.
IOW, so the Bureau of Indian Affairs could make promises they never meant to keep, the government exempts itself from the law it enforces on others and that means we should not feel any anger that they violated their promises. Bad logic, retiree.
Having trouble understanding – the US Courts (to include the Supreme Court) have consistently held that the US Government is NOT responsible for promises made by it's agents that are not authorized by Congress, because only Congress has said authority. Per the Constitution, written in 1789.
Don't care if you like it or not, I swore to uphold that document.
Again, the President could get on TV tonight, promise free healthcare for life, and you still would not get it.
US Constitution, Article I, Section 9:
"No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law"
Retiree,
Please contact me at classmates1000@aol.com.
Retirees of 20 or more yrs of svc were never to pay for any health care for
themselves or their spouses. This benefit was to make up for military moves that cost members out of pocket money each time they were reassigned. That is how it should be better than what we have currently.
Get it? probably not, however, retirees do get it in the end everytime.
Robert D. Evan, Retired, USAF.
Care to provide documentation for your statements? Because I have my enlistment contract – no promise of free health care, it's the sole contract between me and the government.
http://mrgrg-ms.org/crs1006e-the-issue-of-promise…
retiree, you should know (if you served in the military in the 50's and 60's) that all recruiters promised free health care. Even though it was not in writing, a verbal contract was issued by these recruiters. This battle has already been fought and won and that is why we ended up with tricare for life. Now, this Administration because it has spent like drunk sailors (sorry Navy people) wants to take our earned benefits away. You must work for the Democrats or you would be more inclined to understand the veteran's stance on this issue.
http://mrgrg-ms.org/crs1006e-the-issue-of-promise…
The Federal Government is under Law, not Equity. They can only be held to what they are authorized, not what they promise. Only Congress can withdraw money from the Treasury (See the US Constitution, Article I, Section 9 – "No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law"). Since they did NOT authorize it, it did NOT happen. Read the latest article here – the battle was lost June 2003, when the Supreme Court turned down the appeal.
Unlike you, I understand that pounding our head against the wall when the law is against us does not work. Continuing to claim we were "promised" something when we weren't makes us look dumb. Rather than beat a dead horse, we need to focus on the reasons why they should not raise the rates – to include their words from the 2012 NDAA:
Title VII – Health Care Provisions
Subtitle A – Improvements to Health Benefits
Section 701 –
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) career military personnel and their families endure unique and extraordinary demands and make extraordinary sacrifices over the course of a 20-30 year career, and (2) those decades of sacrifice constitute a significant pre-paid premium for health care during a career member's retirement that is over and above what the member pays with money.
BTW – read the article about "Was Free Health Care for Life Promised?" – no, the court cases were LOST. TriCare for Life cam about before the court case came through.
Try to not be insulting, and learn to read the links I've been posting – which explain in clear terms WHY we lost – because the Constitution (that document we all swore to uphold and defend) states clearly that "No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law" (Article I, Section 9). Until Congress appropriates money, NO promise can be made. Given the current economic situation, and the fact that Military Health Care is already $48 billion (the same as the total cost of the State Department, to include embassies and foreign aid), I doubt they will be willing to do a major increase – or do you want more drunken sailor spending?.
Instead of beating our heads against a wall, let's shoot for them supporting expanding the most cost-effective medical care available, the MTFs and the VA system.
Good then you don't mind paying up, right? if in fact you are genuine….which I doubt.
In other words, you can't argue with reality, so you insult. Nice try. Now try going back to school and learn how to put together a fact-based argument. For example, Congress has themselves declared our service a prepayment of our healthcare premium (no, it's not a promise of free lifetime, but it's an acknowledgement we can use):
NDAA 2012 http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h11…
"Title VII – Health Care Provisions
Subtitle A – Improvements to Health Benefits
Section 701 –
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) career military personnel and their families endure unique and extraordinary demands and make extraordinary sacrifices over the course of a 20-30 year career, and (2) those decades of sacrifice constitute a significant pre-paid premium for health care during a career member's retirement that is over and above what the member pays with money. Limits, beginning with FY2012, the increase in the annual DOD patient enrollment fees to the percentage by which retired pay is increased."
I put in 36 years(miss it alot) joined in 1965 retired in 2001. Our country is in a tight spot and once again we are ask to be the first to rise to the occasion and i guess thats just our lot in life and the price of freedom. What burns my butt is the the rich 1% that have never done anything to earn the freedom they so profitably take advantage of and the republican leadership continues to defend these priveledged few and their excemption from paying their fair share. These people were the dope smoking hippies in the 60's and 70's that called us baby killers . Maybe they should be taxed a special taxed call" About time you payed your way" and that money used to pay for our medical. Well thats my say….thanks for listening…nice to be associated with warriors…whorah!!!!………….TOP
I,m sorry but for the most part those people in the streets who were calling us baby killers were Dems. Those people calling for the nation to support our troops were for the most part Republicans.
Amen Sheila! I agree with all the others who believe our current POTUS needs to go away, BUT, we have great benefits and the crying needs to stop. We all did our part for our country and continue to do for our country by being gracious for what we get. I have a lot of friends and family that pay an enormous amount of money for healthcare. $560 per year for my daughter, wife and myself is one third of what my father pays per month. Keep things in perspective when you're complaining. My suggestion, STOP complaining!
Why is Dennis even posting on this site? He clearly did not earn the benefit. Is he working in DOD media? You know they have people who comment on stories to spin for the commies in charge.
Please go to your local library and check out a copy of "Das Kapital" by Karl Marx. Please read it – I'm sure your 3rd grade teacher can help you with the big words (say more than one syllable). After reading it, please post here EXACTLY what proposals of President Obama are Communist.
Well, sheila, I don't know where you get your info, but my meds have cost me more than $22 for some. The deal WAS: 20+ years, bebefits for life. Period. The FedGov reneged, without a doubt. It is to the point that I believe that if our Dear Leader, congress, and the rest of the government are not going to obey and follow the Constitution of ther United States, We, the People, are absolved from any and all responsibilty to obey unconstitutional laws and policies issued by the FedGov. I didn't sacrifice 20 years of my life for illegal aliens, includimg BHO.
If millions want what we have, then why don't they serve 20 years? … Once the cost of Tri-care goes up, what's to stop another increase and perhaps let's get rid of the commissary (oh yeah, that is in the works). Eventually, the only benefit for serviing will be a retirement check that is dimished by health care fees.
We earned those benefits in exchange for 20 years, they are not a hand out. They were and are a part of the contract for our service. They should not be negotiable and only people who haven't served seem to think there is nothing wrong with breaking a contract and stealing from the person who has worked for you for over 20 years.
"Stop complaining – there are millions who would be thrilled to have what we have with Tricare! "
Well then…….let those millions serve in the military for 20 years
The problem here is that was a contract when a person served 20 yrs and
and had to be away from family leaving the spouse to take care everything not know if the spouse would return. So if you haven't done your time and spent you time in a war zone then you have no right to grip. I know what it was like having small children and hardly any money when my husband was gone in the '60's
They could have what we have if they were willing to put their life on the line for 20 years. Move around the world as ordered, not being able to settle down until after you retire. We were promised free healthcare for life if we did 20 years and now we have to pay for it. The government has already broke their contract with the retires once and now you support them doing it again. We earned every benefit that we get and in many cases a lot more. Were you shot at, lived in tents if you were lucky, separated from your family and friends for extended times (anywere from one 1-5 years at your pressent job. Think about what the soldiers have endured so you can proudly attack them and their benefits that was part of the contract!!!
Including reservists, there are about 2 million military positions. Given an adult population of around 150 million in the US (rough figure), that means only about 1-2% can serve total. The vast majority, even if they wanted to serve, could not, because we don't have a large military.
Thank you, I could not agree more. I am retired military and have always thought that raising our deductible would save this country millions. I am not saying raise it to $1000 or something to that level but a 10-20% increase would save this country millions.
Save the country "millions"?
Do you realize how many "millions" it takes to keep this country going for one hour? For 60 minutes each day?
It's around $40,000,000 per HOUR.
Another Obama shill……
Sheila, I agree with you. Our Tricare program is exceptionally generous, and becoming more so relative to the shrinking health care benefits typically offered by private firms. And, many private employees offer no health care programs.
The need to cut benefits cost is driven by national economics. We truly need to reduce our rising rate of government spending.
Sounds great. When is everybody else going to join the sacrifice. This administration supports means testing health benefits for military retirees but refusing to consider doing the same with federal civilian retirees and wealthy Medicare recipients. As soon as they put means testing for those programs in the same bill with military retiree fee hikes, I'll stop complaining – but not until then.
Marvin, you and Sheila do not get it. We veterans who were recruited and promised something if we signed on for a certain number of years are fed up with this Administration for spending us into the largest deficits ever. Then to help them spend even more, they want to cut our earned benifits to waste on illegals like Obama, his Aunt and Uncle. We do not care what private employers pay their people; we signed a contract and fulfilled our end of it. We want the government to fulfill their end. You two obviously never served in the military; so shut your pie hole.
How much is Marvin volunteering to pay, himself? SOCIALISTS expect everybody else to pay!
I am a disabled retiree and though I agree with the statement, it has to be said that the savings would go to those that have not earned those dollars saved. That is the problem, any money saved is going to programs that just aren't worth those dollars.__
Then let those millions put in 20 or more years of military service.
Well those millions should join one of the services, do their twenty years and they too can have the benifits. Or maybe not, if we keep having to pay these increases.
You are another Moron that obviously that never served your Country. If you can't stand behind our military, by all means grab a weapon and stand in front of them!
I was paid dirt for 22 years, with the promise of certain benefits, now when it is time to pay the piper people like you think we should start paying more. It is the creeping benefit monster, This year a little next year a little. None of the public service unions have given up anything and are retiring at 60 to 100 thousand a years. So if we don't fight to stop them we will alway be the ones who they try and balance the budget on.
you are wrong, it is not $260 a couple, it is $460 and expected to go up. Plus, you are also wrong about the prescription cost, it is not $22, it is $25! get your facts straight.
Sir
For a family it is over 500.00 a year not 260, which is still good BUT not the 260 you said
Shelia the problem is not all of us retired as 0-4s up. I as a Retired Divorced E-7 paid $230.00 a year out of my $900. a month after deduction of (Spousal Support) in 1989. My married friends paid $450.00, Yes that's a lot cheaper than blue cross at $150. a month. Now fully retired and 65 i have Tricare for life for free, they are talking of having us pay $200. in 2013 the jumping to $450. in 2014 and who knows what from then on. I just read the NATO conference and Afganistan demands we help support them at 10 BILLION a year for the next 10 years to get back on their feet, get businesses started. We haven't even spent that much to get the USA out of the hole WE are in due to the economy. We give Pakistan billions and they were hiding Ben Laden, surely the Paki INTELLIGENCE people knew he was there two miles from the Army Academy.
Actually, Sheila, according to the TRICARE web page, the fee is $520 for a couple. $260 is for a single person. That said, the rates are good, but not what was promised when we started our career and already paid our premiums in sacrifce to our family, and some in blood. I don't mind an increase in fees, but the principle is that the government changed the terms of the contract AFTER we met our part.
WHAT'S THE PROBLEM??? I'LL TELL YOU.
The PROBLEM is, when the Military were trying to get you to re-enlist over and over again, they promised you that you and your family's health care needs would be taken care of for life if you served at least 20 years before retiring. My husband served his country for 30 years and now in order to qualify for Tri-Care for Life we were each forced to pay for Part B on our Medicare to the tune of over $100.00 per month each. While this is still a great bargain and we are very grateful for this benefit, my Husband spent 30 years pre-paying for this benefit.
As far as there being people that would be thrilled to have Tri-Care, they would have if they had helped this country by enlisting in the Military when they were young like my Husband did.
A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life." That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.
Take care of our Veterans.
When I was retireed from the service there was no Tricare, You just took your Id card and went to a military base and seen a Dr. andyour meds fee. I you used a cilian Dr. Champus paid a part and we had no fees other than your 20 percent of the bill. If you did not see a doctor there were no payouts .
Better check your facts, the annual fee is $415 a year. However, that is not the point, the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen earned that benefit for their 20 or more years of service. Putting service to their country before themselves and family. The benefit was earned, not given.
CPO, USN, Ret.
oh if Owebama gets his way, there WILL be millions that get it…for nothing!
Illegals, welfare leaches and so on….it's not always the amount that vets pay, it's that veterans benefits are ALWAYS up for discussion when DC wants "cut spending" yet they bail out failed companies, pour billions into 3rd world countries that could care less where it comes from, and make false investments in failed green energy projects among many, many other pork projects.
I could write a book on the fraud, waste, and abuse that emanates from our illustrious govt – the point is there is just poor leadership, lack of priorities, and ZERO anticipation concerning spending – but hey, lets just take it out of the military – or social security….
Sheila,
Any increase in fees goes against promises made to countless Soldiers that they would have free health care for life. TRICARE is a benefit they were promised and EARNED, not something they are given. They have reason to be upset when our congressman and senators keep cutting military benefits and have made ZERO proposals to cut their own benefits. Just bringing congressional members’ pensions in line with private pensions would save taxpayers some $100 million a year, Money magazine estimated not too long ago.
For example:
Retirement payout is based on a special formula. Most companies base pensions on the average of an employee’s five highest-paid years, plus 1.5 percent. But lawmakers get the average of their highest three years’ pay – inflating the total by giving more weight to peak years – plus as much as 2.5 percent.
Congressional pension payments rise each year under a cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA. Virtually no companies offer pensions that match a rise in the Consumer Price Index.
Both lawmakers and staffers can retire with a full, guaranteed pension at age 50 after 20 years of service, whereas most American workers must wait until they are 65.
Hold on for 20 years and you can retire with a full pension as early as age 50 and live the rest of your life in relative luxury – at taxpayers’ expense. And that does not include your tax-deferred savings plan, which taxpayers match nearly dollar-for-dollar, or Social Security benefits (like all workers, members of Congress pay into the system on the first $80,400 of their gross income).
Many members who have recently left Congress will draw more than $1 million over their lifetimes. Some are expected to haul in more than $2 million, projects the National Taxpayers Union.
How can you get so much wrong – Congress is under FERS, and the most they can collect is 80%, after 66 years of service. At age 50, assuming they have 20 years in, they collect a grand total of 34% of their top 3 earnings. Their retirement COLA, like all Federal Civil Servants, is the same as ours – based on 3rd quarter CPI-W.
Congressional Retirement Plan: http://www.factcheck.org/2007/12/congressional-pe…
http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL3…
http://www.senate.gov/CRSReports/crs-publish.cfm?…
Proposed changes to Retirement (affects Congress) http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.38…
Length of time to earn 80%
CSRS: 32 years
FERS: 66 years
Average Retirement:
CSRS: $69,420
FERS: $38,460
The first sentence of your remarks speaks volumes—–"don't understand the issue with retirees and benefits after 20 years of service." That's about the only thing you got right. and oh by the way, I bet that there are'nt millions who would be thrilled to pay the price that we did, to earn the bennefits we have.
You are nuts , the top price is $300.00 for two. Top rates for med's is $25.00,medicare is over $90.00 per month. BUT I see you must had been one of those people that sat home with a good life when military men and woman are fighting and giving their life for you . If you think what we get is wrong leave this country.
Bob US Amy Ret.
Know you posted on this site to get people all pissed off at you, so at least get your facts right. The price for a couple is not $260, but $460.
Tell any of those people you know that would be thrilled to have this coverage they can have it as long as they are willing to put in the time. They can call their local recruiter at any time and I am sure they would just love to talk to them. Also, warn them that they may not live to get the coverage or if they do they many not be the same as others their age. My husband retired from the Marine corps with 24 years of service at age 42. He has had both knees operated on (plates and rods keeping one together), had his foot shattered and is now together with rods and screws, had scapnel in his eye, has hearing aids in both ears, and you know what?, he is one of the lucky ones. His parts may be screwed on and need help working, but he does still have them.
As you sit home and tell people that have reason to complain to stop complaining or carping, be greatful that they sucked it up for over 20 years so you had to right to. Myself, when I read stuff like this from people like you, think they just wasted their time.
We (I) have paid for this benefit with a lifetime of service!!!!
Those "millions" should have joined the military, spent 20 or more years moving all over the world, responding to multiple calls of duty in a combat zone, jerking their family around with them and so many more sacrifices–then they too could have this "wonderful' health benefit for so very little.
Agreed that Tricare is a wonderful program and I appreciate it, but it IS NOT WHAT WE WERE PROMISED! And it continues to move further away from the care inducement we were presented. What promises are today's servicemen and women being offered that will also disappear when the time for fulfillment arrives. I can see great retention problems in the future!
Those millions who would be thrilled to have what we have with Tricare did not serve 20 years active duty to get it.
You are absolutely correct. This title is cleverly worded to stir up trouble. We need many many more like you that are using common sense.
Did you serve in the military? If not you have no way of knowing how hard we have earned this benefit
If they retired 40 years ago and are now in there 80's as many are.
They do not have much of a income period to live off of and the hikes do become a problem. Walk a mile in their shoes before you shout!
God Bless
Tricare annual rate is 260 per retiree and 560 per couple not 260
Have you served 20+ years in the military? Have you served in Vietnam, Korea, I have 4&1. Have your children gone to school in 7 different states? Has your spouse had to be mother and father for multiple deployment?. Have you missed birthdays and Christmas during years you were deployed? Have you been wounded or habdicapped, I have and am? Yes Tricare and RXs are very good but I EARNED them. What were you doing from 1964 to 1972 when I was in Vietnam, protecting you so you could run your mouth about how good Veterans have it.
SHEILA YOU ARE STUPID .
Tricare cost for a couple is $520 per year under the age of 65. No dental.If you want that it will cost an additional $1200 per year. Co-pay of $12-20 per visit. Drug cost can go over $22 in some rare cases. There may be millions who would be thrilled to have what we have, but they did not dedicate their life to earn it.
Please get your facts right. It's not $260 annually for a couple. It's $720. I don't know where you got the top price for med is $22. We've paid higher. And as for Medicare, in order to get Tricare for Life after age 65, you are force to sign up with Medicare. If you opt out of Medicare you DON'T get Tricare. All these people that joined the military earlier than about the 1970's, were promised free medical and all the perks of any military bases. This promise of free medical as been broken by the US government (Congress,Senate, & the president). I am ashamed of McCain for turning into a YES person with this president. I no longer support him, just as much as I don't support this president. ALL our military deserve these perks for being on call 24/7 during their tour. Be it 3yrs or 20.
Actually, Tricare Prime is $460 per year for a couple Sheila. And, you don't get to pick a doctor you want only those who are at the bottom of the barrel as far as skill/training/education, etc. You get to pick from a list of mediocre wanna be doctors, like D.O.s, especially here in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Pitiful.
I retired in 1986, and , I qualified for TriCare, but as like everyone else; I had to pay for my coverage which was $230.00 for myself and $230.00 for my dependents; for a total of $460.00 until I qualified for Medicare. Medicines, name brand co-pay was $22.00, but it's now $25.00.
I remember back when we were promised full medical care free for us and our dependents, but in the 70's this promise was dropped and replaced with "on space-available basis" for the member. TriCare came around that time so I had to pay for my medical care and my family's upon retirement. I do agree, TriCare is a great plan and I get great care, plus it is affordable, especially now that Medicare has kicked in and I don't have to pay for my coverage, except occasional meds.
It is shame that you would support the WH, they have broken their promise to all veterans. Shame on you. If you allow them to increase the fees it will not stop there and it will open the door for further cuts to hard earned benefits that all retires have earned.
To answer your question about the millions who would be thrilled to have TRICARE. I have one answer SERVE in the US Military for 20 or more years. Oh but its people like you that sit back at home while we sacrifice so much so you have the freedom to voice your liberal ideas.
I was a military wife for almost 30 years…I do not have the money to pay more for my TriCare. The state pays my Medicare co-payment. I receive food stamps. What happens to people like me if they raise the cost of TriCare and my prescriptions????? No one has mentioned this and I really would like to know the answer.
If there are millions who would love to have our health care why the hell didn't they join the military.
As a military retiree family, I say get your facts straight. After 20 years of serving the country veterans shouldn't have to pay at all for medical care, should get vision coverage and dental, but nooooo. Yes the rates are better for military families than the civilian population but after being paid crappy for 20 years there has to be some perks.
260 annually for single not couple, get it right.
Assuming you are correct about millions being thrilled to have our Tricare benefit, then I ask you "Why didn't they serve their country!"
Thank you for your comment. However, you dumb cunt. If you put your sorry ass on the line for this Country you might have a better understanding
what we have done so you can write your stupid worthless bullshit.
Kiss my Army ass, You stupid obama acting cunt…………
Sheila, $260 per year is only for 1 person on Tricare Prime For Retirees. Which you can only get if you are near a Mil Treatment Facility, for the rest of us, its a $150/$400 deductible plus 20% of the Tricare allowed charges. I average about $3000 per year for health care in Northeast Wisconsin. Copays vary for Rx, especially non-formulary. The President's plan would force us to pay full retail price for non-formulary. I would take the cheaper stuff but have allergies to the generic and formulary versions of my meds.
You must be a dum a– never severed a day in your life, or you wouldn't be saying things like that! How about your loving President and his congressmen and senators, give up there, benefits that they pay nothing for, if the spend four years in office! Tell them to put up theirs, Firsts!!!!! When I joined I and many like me were told FREE MEDICAL, IF WE SPENT TWENTY YEARS IN!!!! NOT THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT !!!!!!!!!!!! MY FELLOW VETERANS IT HAS COME A TIME FOR US TO MAKE OUR POINT UNDERSTOOD, OUR GOVERMENT DON'T GIVE A DA– ABOUT US . YOUR VOTE WILL COUNT! BUT OUR VOICES NEED TO BE HEARD. THE SAME AS OUR BROTHERS DID BEFORE, MARCH ON DC LET THEM HEAR US FACE TO FACE!!
In the First Place you obviously are of an age that doesn't remember the written promises to Retired Service members before Reagan and his cuts to provide tax breaks for the Ultra Rich. Many of us are still around and have the documentation to prove that we were guaranteed FREE Health Care for the remainder of our & our spouses lives if we continued to serve to retirement. This was part of what is now called our compensation for continued service with very low pay. We took it to the Supreme Court and are willing to do it again. Even though we have been "Grandfathered" in the recent past. There are many DISLOYAL AND TREACHEROUS politicians who are threatening to ignore our contracts again. You don't know the full story so crawl back in the hole you crawled out of.
There are millions who have never served our country for 20 years or more, including our president, that answered the call to duty whether in peace or war. If our president is so quick to promote rate hikes for military retiress, why don't he promote a bill to put an end to presential perks and lifetime pensions once a president leaves office. Why don't our president promote a bill to end lifetime pensions of any senator or congressman unless they have served in such office for a minimum of 20 years. Why don't our president promote a bill to stop sending billions of our dollars a year to certain foregin countries that waste our money and even hate us. The list goes on and on and I'm sure most military retiress, including my self don't mind tightening our belts and absorbing the Tricare rate hikes, as long as our president and other politicians do the same. Don't get me wrong, I'm very thankful and feel blessed to have tricare for my heath insurance needs, but yet, there's a very true statement someone once said, which is…"put up or shut up."
sheila, you must be a recent retiree and are drawing considerably more money than people who retired 25 to 30 years ago. Be more considerate of others before you complain and put people in the same category as you. Perhaps you were not promised free medical care for life by your Recruiter, but we were. The government did not say we would have to pay Medicare Part B and D fees when we re-enlisted; they said "free" medical care for life if you stay for 20 or more years.
Then they should have joined the service and lived through the last 24 years of war in the middle east. The politicians who are happy to say they support the troops need to pony up and actually do it now. The 99% who have not served can surely provide top notch health care for those that carried the sword for them! There was no tax increase to pay for MRAPs or body armor when they were so badly needed, the least the country can do is fund what they promised to the people who bore the burden for them. It is time to honor promises and pay the bills.
Don;t know why people are responding to this. This is a TROLL. Saw this identical lead in post earlier from "disgusted"
Thank you for your Service but you comments are insulting and way off line. You have done drunk the msnbc/democrat water. I hope that you get your head straight before nov before you hose us Veterans. Go ahead and sign onto obama care if you think its so great.
Do you work for Obama?
We are onto Sheila, DOD troll. Go back to Sec Panetta and admit you failed at your task today. Your master Obama will be displeased at you.
Listen dummy!!! When I started in the Navy I got $35 every other weekto buy and clean my uniforms shaving gear smokes ect…
I recently was forced to sign up for Medicare (against my will) cause I don't think I'm owed anything. But I don't see the Govt6 charging me for servive I don't want is just more graft.
Those "millions" need to earn the benefit, but they won't. Those "millions" would want it for free or less than we already pay. Stop badgering those who have earned the benefit and go play and pay for those "millions that would be thrilled".
My husband retired in 1980, with 20 years in the military. Our TriCare Fee at that time was $460 a year for our family, not $260. $260 was for the single military retiree.
Shelia – What about the promises made and not kept to those who kept their promise to be true to the country? Each of us who joined prior to the advent of TRICARE were PROMISED healthcare FREE for us and our family if we stayed for at least 20. Since the 90's, we have had to continually pay for services originally that were free for our service. First, we had to pay for our dependents dental care (Delta Dental) and then for TRICARE. Now, I have no problem paying for my healthcare IF and ONLY IF the Politicians PAY FOR THEIRS ALSO. It would just seem that the President and Senate have decided we would balance the budget on the backs of those who are retired and can ill afford to pay for it.
More BS from the left. Retiree COLA was frozen for two years while welfare benefits increased. The man, along with the majority or leftists, hate the military because it takes money that they would prefer to use in "welfare" programs to garner votes.
.. the money truck is secured for the PUBLIC EMPLOYEE UNIONS and the corrupt bi-partisan machines mutually benefited by the UNION DUES delivered by those payrolls and funding the political action adverse to the public interest, and inclusive of the various scheme where "elected officials" then enact ordinances and legislation to ensure compliance with the UNION agendas in the PRIVATE SECTOR.
Those would be the same federal workers who have had their pay frozen, and still have it frozen, and likely will continue to have their pay frozen for at least 2 years, and under some proposals up to 5 years?
Amazing how they managed that – to get our benefits frozen so they can freeze theirs. Or maybe you are completely ignorant of the facts
Do away with the unions set standerd policy for working conditions and medical coverage.
COLA (federal civilian, military, and Social security) did not increase for 2 years because CPI-W spiked in 3rd quarter 2008 (remember that nice 5.8% COLA in 2009), and the economy tanked. COLA is set by law passed back in the 1970's – neither this administration (nor the Bush II administration, or even Bush I) had / has anything to do with it.
Of course, you object to facts, as they are detrimental to your argument.
Oh, and if you don't like the COLA formula, you're free to give up the 5.8% you got in 2009.
Sure we got 5.8% pay raise, and we also had 4.2% tax hike. They were not giving anything away, They were lining their own pockets to help win elections. This government is bought and paid for by those with money that do not work or have companies that produces jobs. What they need to do is not allow any financial aid from any coorperation.
When we joined in the 60s we were told "if you stay in and retire "we" will provide you and your families free healthcare for life. The folks inDC have proven this was a lie in the past when the put a cost on the healthcare we got (even on the care received by our dependents while we were active)now they want to do more…give me a break. the folks who make the laws, including his highness – the President, get care for life along with hundreds of perks for only a single term in office, So far I have seen none of them go through what the military retiree has to earn it.
Really–you were told
"if you stay in and retire "we" will provide you and your families free healthcare for life
OK–what document did you sign or receive that laid out how your free healthcare would work when you retired? The answer is there isn't any. In other words all this talk of free healthcare is just heresay and things people want to believe. Stop wishing things and stay in reality.
yes that is what the recruiters and from the mouth of officers and senior NCOS WHEN THEY WERE RECRUITING US TO STAY. Now I find integrity and faithfullness was all one sided
24 yrs and the S^&T is hitting the fan but I really can't blame the present administration.
We have known what Congress And the Senate have bin doing for years and we just let it happen.
Year after year they give them self raises and we have stud ideally by just letting tem do it .This Country that we have
given all this to our Lives our blood our Fathers and Brothers and now our Mothers and Sisters who sacrifice there lives to keep America Free.
Freedom is not free Senator,Congress,House of representatives,If we did not fight and died for YOUR RIGHT TO LIVE WHERE WOULD YOU BE TODAY.
We are the veterans of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,not of Russia our some other country We have fought and Died for you ,so that you may do the right thing by us. Well this is your time to show all the veterans of every branch of serves that our Fathers,Mothers,Brothers and Sisters have not shed there blood in vain
It's not that we resent paying some for our health care, it's that the US Government has lied to everyone of us that came in during WWII and after. When I re-enlisted in 1946, I was told we would have FREE health care for me and my family for life period. If the US Government can't lilve u p to it's promises then they shouldn't make them. Yes, what we will have to pay will be very little compared to civilians, but the borken promises are there. Don't blame the Republican's for Medicare. It was Lloyd Benson of Texas that started this crap.
I couldn't agree more. I bring this point up to many and people just don't get it. I also agree that we are in tough times, and of course some adjustments must be made. "Fair share", right? Well, how about those who pay nothing in taxes? How about the administration telling their union buddies that they will have to suck it up because heir sweetheart deals are unsustainable? They feel by raising my Tricare fees they will be doing the job of financial reform. Lets go after the government programs that are a complete waste.
Don't forget That President Johnson put social security in the general funds so that it could be used for any perks that they wanted and none of the IOU's ever got paid back. In 1986 I told then Congressman Lane Evans that if they put it back so that they could not keep stealing it.Social Security would never run out of money. They never maid an attempt to fix the problem. know every veteran that has retired with a disability has had money taken out of his retirement to offset the VA pension but by the time that happens we will all be dead so it sure won't do us any good. I have paid co-pays and for supplement every since i retired so as far as I am concerned I have never had free insurance. Les AD1
I understand the simple math that shows that current spending levels are not sustainable. I've heard the President say "everyone has to give their fair share". As a working age, and working, military retiree, I can afford an increase in my Tricare fees. Due to the simple math of the national debt, I wouldn't even oppose an increase in my fees, under one condition. When those who receive the bulk of the "entitlements" are asked to contribute to cutting spending by taking cuts to their "benefits" (benefits that were earned by nothing more than breathing), I will fully support an equal cut in my benefits – benefits earned through 26 years of service to my country.
REMBER GUYS WE FOUGHT AND SOME DIED
THEY ARE THE LUCKY ONES,WE (WHAT IS LEFT OF US AS A HUMANBEING)HAVE TO TRY OUR BEST TO LIVE OUR LIFES WITH
THE FACT THAT NOT ONLY OUR COMMANDER IN CHEIF,AND THE VERY PEOPLE WE SEND TO THE WHITE HOUSE,AND THE PEOPLE WE FOUGHT AND DIED FOR LIED TO US. WE ARE NOT PART OF THE UNINTED STATES OF ENTITLEMENTS,THATS RESIRVED FOR NON AMERICANS
I will have no problem adjusting to increased TRICARE fees if the administration will place term limits on the House of Representatives and the Senate. They have access to the best medical in the land and very few have ever served in the military.
If you knew how our Federal government works you would know that the Administration can not place term limits on Congress.
Agree congress needs to pay their share and more, hell they dont even work a full week. If obama screws me I will screw him and I've NEVER voted for a republican in my life
I believe that everyone understands a "fair" sacrifice, but raising rates some 400% over five years??? How is this fair to people who have given over 20 years in defense of their country? Yes, Tricare is a very good deal, but the ones who stuck it out that long deserve it. Once again, it's the lay it on the backs of those who have already made the sacrifices mentality, instead of cutting the waste, fraud and abuse. Anyone who wants Tricare, go sign up and serve 20 plus years in the military. If you are not committed to do that, then stop complaining about the good deal for the ones who did. So tired of this wealth redistribution state we are in. What ever happened to paying your own way, if you are able?
I never thought I would be happy too be at the end of my life. I am not very
happy with my country any more
George,
Don't lose the faith. I taught NROTC students my last tour on active duty, and they are just as dedicated, hard working and honorable as previous generations of service men and women. Those in Afghanistan today stand the watch as well as those in the past on the battlefields of Yorktown, Anteitim, Gettysburg, the Rhine, or along the DMZ in Korea.
This is still a great nation, though being poorly led by members of both parties.
It should be clear now who to vote for in 2012 … This administration is definitely anti-military, so lets remember all you active, retired and military veterans the shoddy treatment of this administration
A. W. Smith, RMC, USN (ret.)
Ok, I am surprised at the ignorance here. Let’s start with yes illegals do consume both federal and state dollars. If in doubt go to the local clinics? Check the welfare offices and SSI offices. The loop hole they use to sucker us is known as anchor babies and HIPA. Medical professionals know their treating illegals but cannot report without loosing there license. The US and Canada are the only two countries that still allow you to become a citizen and draw benefits if your born here to parants who are not citizens. Sure some illegals work and send money home, but guess what, where are there tax dollars? Why can’t I work without paying taxes, draw medical benefits for my children for free and get food supplements? Now enought of the dumb stuff. If military retiree medical is so good, why doesn’t our elected officials have to use the same system? Oh maybe it’s not good enough for the so tax dollars are used to provide them better care.
Forgive the typo’s please this was typed on a phone.
Oh stupid narrow-minded conservative a$$holes, watch General Dempsey and Secretary Panetta's testimony on C-SPAN about Tricare, then we'll talk, you damn Fox-Newsers!
Your local community college offers a class on Analytical Writing.. It's a class on how to write an argument.. Perhaps you should take that class before you open your suck. Panetta is a moron, and General Dempsey is a politician in a uniform. The fact of the matter is, those who served 20+ years did so KNOWING they would be taken care of after they retired. Retirement pay for an Enlisted Retiree is not great. Officers get quite a bit more. Congressmen get 100% pay for life even if they only serve 1 term.. How's that fair? Or is it that your bleeding heart is selective on who it turns it's empathy on?
all i can say is ur the dumb ass
your right…. it is estimated that illegal immigrants cost the US between 200 and 300 billion dollars a year…. hmmm… what could we do with all that money?
1. Illegal aliens are NOT eligible for any federal benefits, and few state benefits.
2. those so-called "anchor babies" have another name – US Citizens. Oh, and it's HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996), and has nothing to do with the issue -it deals with protecting your healthcare information.
3. By law, emergency rooms (the most expensive form of medicine) CANNOT turn away patients, regardless of ability to pay.
4. Most of those so-called "estimates" are based on very vague numbers and guestimates. Most realistic estimates recognize the majority of illegal aliens are here to work – that's why your food is so cheap.
5. The reason our elected officials don't use our system for health care is they are under FEHBP, and pay cold, hard cash every 2 weeks for their health benefits. When (and IF) they retire, they have no health care until they start collecting retirement (for which they also paid) – and then they pay again.
The ignorance on this board of facts available via simple internet searches is amazing – do you people even bother to do research before posting your rants? Hopefully you don't use these in letters to Congress – if you do you're hurting our cause.
You might want to check you LES because you paid for health care, as well as your retirement the DOD documents those payments every year for each service member. You might want to check your own facts
You might want to both check your facts and your reading comprehension.
1. I never mentioned DoD military retirement or health care, therefore no such facts were in play in my post.
2. For your information – unlike the Federal Civil Service (which includes the Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branches of the Federal Government, to include Congressmen) pay cash into their retirement and healthcare. In my entire time in active service I never had a deduction from my pay for either. Yes, DoD pays for these services, and includes a yearly statement with "imputed values" – but they do NOT deduct for them. Show me a single active duty LES that has a cash deduction for retirement.
In the DoD budget is $48 billion for military healthcare -that is NOT taken out of pay. In the DoD budget is money for setaside for retirement – that again is NOT deducted from your pay.
Do retirees pay for Tricare Prime? Yes. Guess what – you still pay FAR less than the Federal Civil Service (minimum $200 every two weeks for the cheapest plan), and if you are on Tricare Standard or being seen space-A in the MTFs, there is NO premium.
Fix my own typos – rewrite 2:
2. For your information – unlike the military, the Federal Civil Service (which includes the Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branches of the Federal Government, to include Congressmen) pay cash into their retirement and healthcare. In my entire time in active service I never had a deduction from my pay for either. Yes, DoD pays for these services, and includes a yearly statement with "imputed values" – but they do NOT deduct for them. Show me a single active duty LES that has a cash deduction for retirement.
I am a Democrat that will not vote for this Administration or for anyone that supports this administration. When the DOD stated that their tiered plan was designed to be equitable and I found out that their plan has me at $24,000 in retirement paying the same for my Tricare Prime as a retiree making up $45,178 in retirement I knew that we were in trouble. They don't care! We are a pawn in their budget game. Shame on them.
First, many of us are surviving spouses of military personnel killed on Active Duty and the disrespect shown in disregarding this status is offensive. These issues of TRICARE and other miscellaneous benefits are particularly critical to quality of our lives and our spouse paid dearly for those entitlements on which we rely. Our "compensation" is based upon the pay scales at their date of death, COLA's in no way equalize the disparities in pay over these years of normal career longevity and the quality of those lives in comparison to our lives without our spouses.
That said, as another poster, I have been a very dedicated Democratic activist, seemingly a natural continuation of OUR service to this Nation and with that concern for the social conscience at base of our society and for the humane concerns for the public welfare, health and safety .. seemingly hanging in the balance throughout this administration over the entire gamut. And further, it really angers me to witness the members of The Armed Forces as if a bit of "stage craft" to form a background for the Commander in Chief with so little regard for our personnel and their families. My humble opinion under my Bill of Rights.
As a Vietnam Vet and a 28 year veteran, I wonder why anyone would want to serve his country today and be treated as a second class citizen. Our esteemed national leaders, who never served in the military let alone in combat, have no idea what sacrifices we made yet they want to meddle with our Tricare Insurance. I wonder how much they pay for their medical coverage? Maybe we would have been better off to have been born to an illegal alien and then we would have had a free ride with every benefit imaginable including a college education. Have we really served for a greatful nation that turns its back on us? I feel like Harry Truman leaving the White House without so much as a pension, only a one-way train ticket to Missouri.
Obama … free healthcare for gangbangers, whores, parasites, lazy, illegal immigrants, criminals in prison and terrorist… all on the back of those whom served!
When we walked into the recruiting office…we were promised….give 20 years of your life, and you would receive FREE medical insurance. Now, I am 80 percent disabled as a result of the blank check I wrote for my country…and now they want me to write another check……enough is enough.
These benefits were earned. The government made promises to veterans and need to live up to these promises. It is a disgrace that our country's politicians have even proposed these fee increases. I am disgusted and will make my vote count against those that support these increases.
Well of course the WH is committed. It is all part of the grand scheme to share OUR wealth. God knows how the military retiree is just rolling in the dough! I spent 32 years in uniform trying to stem the tide of Socialism. I fear that I wasted my time.
Just another reason to vote this incompetent out.
I served 27 years in the Navy. Of those 27 years I was away from my family many times with no mail, or email or ANY type of contact for months at time, my calculation of the time I was away from my family was conservatively 15 years, in those deployments include (3) boots on the ground combat zones with people trying to kill me and my fellow Sailors and Marines. TRICARE is NOT a welfare or program, it is an entitlement which is EARNED by those of us who care enough about our country to make these sacrifices, everyone I repeat everyone who serves 20 years or more did so out of patriotism, to maintain our American way of life. It certainly was not for the money, or the air conditioned corner office, or the ________fill in the blank.
hey disgusted, you are the only one that has made a racist comment on here. so you are the pathetice one, the xenophobic and hateful person on here. yes, this administration has not done anything for the active or retired military. he went on vacation on memorail day 2009. did not bother to honor our fallen heroes on that day. if it hadn't been for them he never would have been POTUS. so disgusted, you are way off the beaten path. you are the uneducated one. GOD BLESS THE USA!!!!!
I have several military friends who would like to reply — only if they hadn't been killed in Vietnam – one being my brother, a Air Force Flight Surgeon and others with whom I served —
All of whom would die to protect your right to display your ignorance —
Beware the anger of the legions.
What Sheila does not appear to understand is that for military retirees, it may not be possible to go back to work if they stay past 20 yrs of service, and that most, if not all of the injuries are service caused…and not all have VA access which means: The service broke them, but now wants the service member (retired) to pay for it.
The reason the Flags don't care is that they have primo care, reserved parking, and VIP suites at Bethesda or immediate access any mil medical facility. Ditto for members of Congress…they even have their own parking garage (guarded) at the Nat. Mil. Medical center at Bethesda…same size as the one that everybody else has to share.
RE tiered payments: So when did we start charging civilians differently? So the secretary and her first line supervisor should pay different rates because they make different salaries? Under that logic, Congress should be paying tons more $ than the other folks in the federal health care program, and not have their own clinic on the grounds of Congress…they should be calling for appointments with everyone else.
All in all, this is a BAD deal for folks who have given so much already.
The socialists are the ones wanting money from the government. You know, "nanny state" and all that.
Like yourself, most of us are in favor of getting money from the government when the money is coming to us, and against getting money from the government when the money is going to someone else.
The alternative, taxing the wealthy, is something Republicans refuse to support. Taxes on the wealthy are the lowest they've been in many decades.
If Republicans would stop blocking raising taxes on the wealthy, then DoD wouldn't NEED to mess with Tricare.
On the other hand, someone advocating treason (beheading the president of the United States) probably doesn't get that what YOU are wanting is MORE socialism — with yourself as the beneficiary.
I was a recruiter, and I know what I was taught to promise. Now these dumb ass idiots say they never promised anything? We should never have believed them, even though we were raised to respect our country and its leaders. Boy, those days are gone.
The incoherence of this proposal is absolutely depressing. The total disconnect of the political elite from the citizenry is simply criminal. I am a 31 yr (active and reserve) PDRL retiree with two combat vet sons. They seem to have no benefits available, perhaps schooling, achievement and responsibility should be considered handicaps. My injuries and disease have destroyed my "golden years". Had it not been for great VSOs and VAMC practitioners, I would have no reason to continue – save my family. Now these NCF jerks want to insult us again. anyone voying for Obama and his ilk is promoting suicide on the installment plan.
I’m with you!
shelia, Go to your nearst recruiting office, sign-up. do 24 in the Navy and maybe you will understand why we vets are upset…
Served 20 yrs Retired Navy, Lets all just remenber who is in office that want to keep messing around with us that have and are serving. Get out and VOTE
and kick there _ss out of office. Veterans we can and should have a voice but it takes ALL.
Let's remember who supports the military and who supports the get rich contractors. Would you rather have the other guy who would run the military the same way he ran Bain Capital.
In 1958 Iwaspromised by the Navy recruiter that I would be able to retire after
20 years with free medical care for me and my family for the rest of our lives,
I stayed for 30 years and now I have been watching our benefits erode under
the socialist now in power. In my thirty years in th Navy, it always seem when
the Democrats were in power, the miltary suffered
I hope every military member remembers this skarew job when it comes for their vote in November.
How come there are no "intrepid" journalists/publications seeking to "take the pulse" of The Armed Forces as to National Security; it is very likely that the senior staff of a US Army General, were seeking to bring this focus. Of course, left on a curb somewhere, senior general officers resigned/retired in protest of Vietnam; it a "top secret?" Then Westmoreland .. body counts .. keep it goin! 60,000 lives .. then .. and now … and are those with injuries of Iraq and now Afghanistan so horrific as to suggest death a better option counted somehow .. their families .. ?
It is a sad testimonial when there is any serious discussion about reducing TRICARE benefits or any other benefits we have earned and worked, and sacrificed for. As for the POTUS, we have done our "Fair Share" and more. What those who feel “entitled” with the give me everything free for doing nothing, occupy Wall-Streeters types do not understand that TRICARE and our meager retirement pay was EARNED, by sacrificing, by missing hundreds of school plays, holidays, anniversaries, birthdays, births of our children, graduations, deaths of our loved ones…….again you fill in the blank, fill it in with the word DIED. The benefits we have earned do not come close to compensating us for the sacrifices we have made, you cannot give back time. For those who say “well you chose to serve”, I’ll tell you this, start chipping away at our meager benefits, such as raising TRICARE payments, and those who now choose will start making different choices
I don't understand. Is it Congress who wants to trim our military health care through a reduction in benefits and/or an increase in cost, or is it the President?
I am very confused.
The President wanted the Tricare fee increases and had it in his proposed defense budget.
The House of Representatives took those increased fees out of the budget and then passed their budget by vote. It now moves on to the Senate.
Senior aides to the President are recommending that the President veto the bill if it comes to his desk without the Tricare fee increases.
Duh? Wull .. here is an "educated" point of view (MBA) fella! And you take the prize for being representative of precisely the ignorance you attach to others! Thank you for not embarassing your branch of service; none are for idiots!
I put in 39 Yrs, 7 mos, 22 days, been in lots of places, mostly those I did not want to be, 2 tours in Nam, 1 in Iraq, north, south, east and west, with many missions going back into Da Nang carrying supplies and armament in and body bags and injured out. My best tours were in Panama & Germany (Ramstein). and I am 72 yrs old. This clown we have as a president is without a doubt the worse this country has had and I pray we all remember him come election time. I realize we don't have much to vote for, but lets get him the hell out of there.
u r a old fool old man
And you are a disrespectful nobody.
you have no respect for a person that gives you the very freedoms you have everyday of your life. you should be saying "thank you". instead you are showing just how unrespectful your generation has for our military heros. bet you haven't ever been in military and wouldn't because when first bullet was shot at you, you would pee in your britches. enjoy your freedoms or leave our country because you certainly don't belong here.
You sound like an Obama parasite! You whom have done nothing for anyone and demand a $1000 of benefits for every tax dollar you paid. It is amazing that those whom served and had a contract are told its on your back so we can give more to the parasitic welfare queens, whores, gang bangers, my baby's daddy, rapist, murders and every other low life.
If you can not afford to support yourself, then you should not have children! If you can not support yourself, you should have no vote, no food or shelter unless your put in a labor camp and made to work! I have seen the Obama parasites driving 2 $20,000 plus autos, with two kids, not hurt, not working, and in their twenties….. since their unemployment ran out, they are on $3800 per month SSI? Where is $500 billion in savings he promised from stopping fraud…. not…. it has increased by more than $500 billion….parasites looting the treasury…
@ disgusted you are a troll ll if you have ever served in any branch of the armed forces you would not talk about fellow service members and veterans like this. It would be better to keep your mouth shut than to lie about your education or service.
seriously, not a lie. We have tremendous benefits, and that's (part of) why I'm still here. That's part of the reason anyone who's smart is still here. Just because we disagree doesn't make me a liar or a troll. And PS, I'm not the only one. We're out here but we don't like to get messy by getting involved with vitriolic rants.
seems to be working out pretty well for me….our household income is in the top 2%, apparently. Not bad for a DoD civ and a military member.
BTW Disgusted, forgive my typos… you see I lost my vision in the US Air Force.. but I do not sit around and whine like you..can you beat that one.. yet?
It is very clear . It is the White house that is directing and controling this attack on the elderly military retireeboth directly and indirectly. It is not a black or white thing , both blacks and white retirees will suffer under BHO's plan . It is a socialists plan to screw with the retirees as they are the most vulnerable and the least able to change their current situation. He is pandering to the free loaders vote and hopping that the old and retirees won't vote. Everything he is doing is to buy votes . If you don't like it vote against him. BHO is the problem. Vote him out. JMHO
Don't forget to vote in November!!
OBAMA MUST GO IN 2012. That is the answer to all of our problems……
Well we know how much the White House and this President cares about the military. If you look at what he wants to do and that is to cut the military to the point that we don't have a military for one. We served our country for 20 plus years and guess what they don't care all they want to do is take away everything we where that they said we would get if we stayed for 20 years. As far as TriCare goes if you have Tircare Prime you pay $460 a year and if you are single its $230 a year I think. If you are 65 and still working and not getting your social security to keep tricare for life you will have to pay out of your pocket Medicare part B and how do I know this, because I am paying it know. You know that they think that retires get $25,000 or more a year in retired pay. Call your congressmen or senator and voice your objetions.
Here is another one. We who live overseas still are going to pay this medicare part B. And the kicker is we will never be able to use it overseas. And again we are forced to pay it.
ATTN all Veterans: Are you going to complain here or are you going to do something? I started http://WWW.FEDUPVET.COM…..GO THERE AND SIGN UP TO RALLY AT THE US CAPITOL ON 25 AUGUST 2012!!!! WE NEED 10k VETS TO SHOW CONGRESS WE DEMAND WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY EARNED! NO TRICARE INCREASES – PERIOD!
I would find it hard for us to even vote for some one who isn't even born here in America, our commander in chief says he was born in Kenya and raised in Hawaii and Indonesia. Breitbart News has obtained a promotional booklet produced in 1991 by Barack Obama’s then-literary agency, Acton & Dystel, which touts Obama as “born in Kenya and raised in Indonesia and Hawaii.”
The booklet, which was distributed to “business colleagues” in the publishing industry, includes a brief biography of Obama among the biographies of eighty-nine other authors represented by Acton & Dystel.
Folks, we need to get the word out because this is why he can do what he does with all the illegals. His own uncles and aunts are illegal in this country in the Sate of MA.
You must be a Limbaugh grade republican. What a dumb A–!
Ed, If you don't agree with him that's well and fine but stop calling him names.
dave you are so stupid no other comment needed
Be serious! The document that he endorsed saying he was born in Kenya was the fake. It was intended to give him a mystique to help sell books – immigrant makes good. It is also irrelevant to this debate. The key here is a commander in chief who is willing to cut earned military retirement benefits dramatically while refusing to address unearned entitlement benefits in the SAME area – health care spending.
He didn't even endorse it. It was a publication of bios by the publishing firm of authors they published, and the person who put it out admits she never checked with anyone on any of the bios.
President Obama was born in Hawaii (a US state), and is a natural-born Citizen, per the Constitution, above the age of 35, again per the Constitution, who was elected by a majority of the Electors in the Electoral College, per the Constitution, sworn in on the Constitutionally required oath, and is thus legally per the Constitution the President of the United States of America.
Here we go again with Rush. Any one with an intelligence above 25 knows the President was born in Hawaii. By the way, Hawaii is one of the states of the United States of America. Hawaii is not a foreign country. Get a life and some education ….. Rush is an idiot! Those who follow him…. well.
Enough said.
Like to call people names do you?!
You realize President Obama's administration has deported more illegal aliens than previous administrations?
http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whisp…
He missed one. His aunt.
You must have more money than common sense! I kept my part of the bargain DOD should keep theirs. Why dosn't our fearless leader have his beloved Welfare recipicants, and the job stealing illegal aliens take some cuts? They were never promised life time free medical care for spending 20 years on Welfare.
I kept my part of the bargain DOD should keep theirs. Why dosn't our fearless leader have his beloved Welfare recipicants, and the job stealing illegal aliens take some cuts? They were never promised life time free medical care for spending 20 years on Welfare. Why dosn't our fearless leader have his beloved Welfare recipicants, and the job stealing illegal aliens take some cuts? They were never promised life time free medical care for spending 20 years on Welfare.
I fully agree with Banshee 38.
Our current President has been antimilitary even prior to his election to s office; more socialist in his views, and has polarized our nation more than any other leader in American history. Any action on from the White House is our fault due to our inaction to organize and vote him out of office. This corse of action that he has taken indicates that his priorities do not match the needs and objectives of those of us who have served our country, committing our youth to our nation. Now many of us have need to the medical services that we where promised “for life” have been pushed aside so that political programs can be achieved. I would really like to be informed as to the demographics as to the percentage of our society who have served our nation as to the numbers of welfare recipients who have not contributed anything to our society.
I served 22 years active duty and 7 years reserve. I don't mind paying $520 a year for TRICARE because I gave a lot into the military. So I should get a break in paying for health care. Reason I'm saying this is between deployments and working weekends and long hours is a lot not having a 9 to 5 good paying job like so many people and able to spend time a great deal of time with my family and missing all those important times.
But really THINK about this when soldiers spend 20 years of service and pay a little for health insurance as to CONGRESS SPENDING 8 YEARS IN OFFICE AND NOT IN ARMS WAY OF THE ENEMY AND NOT PAYING A PENNY INTO A LOT OF THINGS AND GETTING THE SAME FULL BENEFITS AND EVEN MORE THAN ANY OTHER AMERICAN OR SOLDIER. !!!!
So who really gets the most in America.
The president can only do so much. If you want to really solve the issue look at your elected congressman and women. The best way to solve a problem is at the lowest level.
Read the article again….congress wants to pass the bill (with no Tricare hikes), senate may pass it, President will VETO it!
Harry Reid, head of the Senate, will not let this bill pass and the WH staff will request a veto. Obama has never agreed to compromise on his socialistic views.
How long did you serve in HELL Holes such as Viet Nam?
What a Bunch of Radical Leftist Hillbilly's on this Thread. Bottom Line….Fire Obama and his Incompetent Staff, Next Fire any low life politician that will not demand that the DOD balance their Budget, which they have not been able to do for 22 years.
SGM (Ret)
Why do Retirees always have to make up the difference on Health Care? I've never understood why Active Duty Dependents shouldn't be charged a Co-Pay when they visit any DOD Health Care facility and receive their FREE health care. If they would start charging a Co-Pay for Active Duty Dependents then the Retiree would possibly not always have to make up for the lack of concern of our Reps in Congress and the present Administration.
I can tell you did not serve anyone or anything but yourself. Be glad you aren't speaking German or Japanese as a native language. Attitude like that you better learn where Mecca is.
Imagine what would happen to you if you were in a combat zone and all of the sudden you decided that you didn't want to fight anymore and just took off – unilaterally – even though you had signed a contract for, say, four years. You'd be hunted down and locked up or shot…Now, imagine you were promised by that same government "free" health care for life (if you survived 20 years) if you would just fight any war within your 20 year "contract" – and then they decided, unilaterally, to make you pay for it. Can you see the moral hazard when either party breaks their word?
Re-negotiating for payment of services AFTER the work is done is theft.
Visit Arlington National Cemetary or any military cemetary and say those same words to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Those "uneducated, ignorant, racist, xenophobic, hateful and pathetic people" who are buried therein made it possible for you to be alive in a free and peaceful nation.
Congress seems to desire to take money from social groups like the military, military retirees and senior ctitzens. Why don't they voluntarily submit a pay cut for them selves and set the example?
I don't think you understand at all. I spent 22 years in the Navy. I am one of your uneducated, ignorant service members with a Masters Degree. I put in up to 20 hours a day working to keep you free so you could put in you 8 at the coffee pot. BSing your cohorts. Find out what real men and women know and do for you. You may be educated but your sure are ignorant, racist, xenophobic, hateful and pathetic. One of those people that can't spell because you have spell check.
Part 1:
In World War II, 11.2% of the nation served in four years. In Vietnam, 4.3% served in 12 years. Since 2001, only 0.45% of our population has served in the Global War on Terror. These are unbelievable statistics.
Over time, fewer and fewer people have shouldered more and more of the burden and it is only getting worse. Our troops were sent to war in Iraq by a Congress consisting of 10% veterans with only one person having a child in the military. Taxes did not increase to pay for the war. War bonds were not sold. Gas was not regulated. In fact, the average citizen was asked to sacrifice nothing, and has sacrificed nothing unless they have chosen to out of the goodness of their hearts.
Part 2:
The only people who have sacrificed are the veterans and their families. The volunteers. You stand there, deployment after deployment and fight on. You’ve lost relationships, spent years of your lives in extreme conditions, years apart from kids you’ll never get back, and beaten your body in a way that even professional athletes don’t understand. Your Congress is debating your benefits, your retirement, and your pay, while they ask you to do more.
But the amazing thing about you is that you all know this. You know your country will never pay back what you’ve given up. You know that the populace at large will never truly understand or appreciate what you have done for them. But you do it anyway.
Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few.
Amen!
God Bless you Brother. Well said.
Well said Eric. As a spouse of a retired military man I have often said that I am disgusted to see that Congress, the President, etc do not honor the contract they made to my husband when he enlisted. I understand that Tricare is a burden to the tax system. I am more than willing to pay more for my part of Tricare with a higher deductible and even paying a premium for my part of the insurance. However, I do not believe that my husband should ever have to pay for medical care that was promised to him as being free for his lifetime if he signed on the dotted line.
I joined the Military in 1977 like all of us I was promised free medical care for life in return for 20 years of service. I kept my end of the bargain, and the government did not. Why are we on Obama unless I read this wrong he has promised to veto the bill we should be focusing in on the congressmen and woman who feel that our retirement benefits are too sweet of a deal? This group of elected officials who work a single term and receive full benefits for the remainder of their life. To think we voted them into office Yes congressmen like McCain who signed the bill.
I have read the above comments, and all I can say is most do not know what they are talking about. When Tricare, Tricare advantage, and Tricare for life came out it was to help supplement. I remember getting my scripts free, except they were not free because I had to travel over 90 miles one way to get them, which ment I was paying. I don't mind paying co-pay, however, not what the WH wants use to pay.As an E-6 while active I could not afford to pay my wifes medical bills. So they took it out of my pay. One of the comments I read says why are te illegal immergrents getting welfare and medical coverage. There is only one logical answer. VOTES the Democrates feel if they give to the immagrents they would vote for dems.
Military members and dependents serve their country for 20 plus years to receive Tricare benefits after retirement and now even those are in danger. It seems that the White House looks everwhere else to cut except their own pockets. I bet they got raises last year but the working and retired survive on very little income and the governement wants to dip into what little they do have. One term and your set for life at the White House but give 20 yrs plus and see what you don't get or they take away.
Disgusted what a liar, just by your comments you are neither an American nor former or current member of the military. Obama / Democrats are willing to raise taxes on every American to offer free health care to illegal immigrants and those who choose not to work. Jobs are out there if people really want to work. Just a thought maybe one could join the military. Now instead of honoring a commitment to those who provided their sweet, blood, and sometime their life defending this country we are not going to ask them to give more. Makes sense to me.
Army Strong…read this article…we're not just paying for illegal immigrants we are paying for Americans too!
http://articles.latimes.com/2012/mar/07/nation/la…
apparantly the moderators (censors) deemed that disgusted's post was offensive to all so in order to protect all of our sensibilities they removed the post along with all discussions involved. Way to go Moderators (scum).
I dont need you (or my govt) protecting me from myself.
i think you have been put in a trance by the republicans
I know one thing, you are an A$$H@le idiot, white, black brown, yellow, red, green, whatever. Go put you head back in the sand, or better yet, move your anti-military to some country that loves idiots like you.
get those congressmen and seneters out and put in new ones, but make sure there benefits are first.
I forget to put make sure there benefits are CUT first.
I can't believe some of the left wing trash I'm reading on this blog. Some of you should be ashamed for your comments. The only thing stopping Obama and the Pentagon brown-nosers from QUADRUPLING Tricare Prime Premiums is Congress. Both the GOP and Dems in Congress are not going to allow that to happen. First of all this is an election year and it ain't gonna happen. It's really unfair to ask retirees to shoulder the load in defense cuts. Just think about it we have many recent retirees and soon to be retired NCO's (such as my 2 sons), that have 4 to 5 combat tours in Iraq/Afghanistan that rely on Tricare Prime for their health care as well as that of their families. They have borne a very heavy burden for this nation and to ask them to basically pay for the wars they fought is insane. There may have to reforms to Tricare and small premium increases, but it's time to cut welfare and food stamps and many other giveaways before we consider that.
Right on! The president forgets that military members might serve their country for a secure job, and training, but if they stayed the course it is because they were true patriots. We the people must remember those that served, and paid a great price
I listen to all the crap flow from obama's mouth on how to fix all the problems, yet he has hired how many so called czars of which are useless and just suck up a paycheck. He has been in office for 3 years and has done nothing but put the nation deeper in debt to the chinese for trillions of dollars. Now to get the debt lowered he has put the military retirees medical care on the cut. He is or has done nothing to make the nation better. He is a man with a talented tongue that never really states a thing nor does he care about the nation. He does not wear the flag on hie lapel nor does he stand at attention with his hand over his heart during the national anthem. Get real folks and vote to replace him I for 1 am tired of his way of leadership, it stinks.
YOU SURE FOOLED ME – YOU SAID "HIS STYLE OF LEADERSHIP". I BEEN TELLING HIM TO LEAD FOR OVER THREE YEARS AND HE STILL HAS NOT DONE SO. PLEASE DON'T USE THE TERM "LEADERSHIP" WHEN REFERRING TO TO THE PRESIDENT.
He is a man with a big hat and no cattle.
That's because you do not know what leadership is.
John McCain and Lindsey Graham support increase in Tricare payments and both are Republicans, so who should I vote for?
Ron Paul. He's the only one that will save our military. I gaurantee you he wont stab us retirees in the back.
He may not stab us in the back, but if anyone besides the basic two are on the ballot it can/will split the vote and allow Obama another four years to continue ruining this country. No matter what you think of his opponents position on individual things, ALL votes need to be for one candidate, and AGAINST Obama!
Angela, you bring up a good point. I guess you vote for the lesser of the two evils.:) Then again does it really matter who you vote for anymore? They tend to do what they are going to do without the peoples approval anyways. I just get tired of all the mudslinging. Wish they would just stick to the real problems at hand effecting this great country. Like making jobs and feeding our hungry. Seems all we do is take care of everyone else in the world and to heck with our own people. We need to worry about ourselves and quit being the world's clean-up service.
They're not Republicans, they're RINO's and as such do not speak for conservatives or Tea Party folks for that matter because we think the military is one of those agencies the government should be taken care of as laid out in the constitution.
Thats a good question. When our government, allows the wealthy (without vote) to have a say in our government as to see fit for themselves and those alike. Then their is no government By the People, For the People, Of the People. And as far as I'm concerned as a Retired Infantry 1SG with 26 yrs,
the military ARE all that and more.
HOOHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
None of them. Although you can't possibly have both Graham and McCain on your ballot–it is time for both of them to retire to a beach somewhere or go find honest employment. Once you've been in office that long, regardless of which side of the aisle you sit, you are fully assimilated into the Washington DC way of governing. Here's to Congressional term limits?
Joe, I wish someone would tell that to Obama. Now there's an example of a spoiled brat – going on a rant, threatening, whatever it takes to get what he wants passed in Congress. Even proposing a way that a president can pass a law without Congressional approval. He received a large military vote during the last election. I hope they wake up this time since Obama is all fluff and no substance.
I was one of those military supporters he had in 08. I admit I was duped by obamas promises. I would do anything to get my vote back from that election. I am now supporting the only man I can believe in what he says. I truly believe that Ron Paul is honest about his beliefs and I dont see him flip-flopping as soon as he gets in office. Dont let the MSM fool any of you. Dr Paul is going to surprise a lot of people in Tampa especially Mittens. Obama's worst fear is debating Dr Paul on National TV. He would end up looking like a fool.
Obumba and his minions are out to screw anyone that does not think as stupid as they do. Vote these scumbags out of office.
Medicare is a pay and chase program. Pay the claim, then investigate if it is a valid claim. If it is NOT a valid claim, try and chase the down the money. This is why there is a MULTI BILLION dollar Medicare Fraud bill every year. Oh and the Democrats do not want this FUBAR process to change as it helps their voters.
TRICARE is NOT a pay and chase program. You must have a referral to get any services beyond your PCM.
Why do I not see where the Cong. @ Rep. in Washington are not taking a pay cut amd paying for their health care like the Military are. Shame on them they sit in D.C. on their nice over stuffed chairs and eat high off the hog and think they are intitled to everything for nothing. Spend a couple years in DC and have a retirement for life, but the military are fighting all over the world coming home with limbs lost or in body bags and their families have to fight for every thing that was promised them when they enlisted. This country is on a slippery slope and picking up speed down that slope. Time to change everyone in Washington and see if we can't get this country back to what the founders ment it to be.
This is pretty poorly written article. I would have us believe that a $600B NDAA would turn on less than $2B. The senior advisors at the WH could care less about this small program and are focused squarely on "Big Picture" items. Sorry, just not going to get my panties in a wad over this type of propaganda!
The President does not propose what to cut. The defense secretary and his advisors do. I am sure there are things in the bill that don't make it possible for the President to support it. Every time the republicans propose a bill that sounds good on the surface, it has underlying destruction in it. Then they try to blame it on the President. It is ludicrous. As for him supporting the military, I think you all know, he and Michelle are doing everything they can to give jobs to veterans, and many other benefits. I do not believe tricare should ever be a solution to this problem. Get rid of the contractors, let the military take care of those jobs as much as possible. That would save our military. Go back to real hospitals who perform surgery, OB, and emergency rooms in the military hospitals. All of this costs the military unnecessarily. Take care of the retirees at military hospitals instead of the private sector. All of these things would save money. It's like it's cheaper to cook your own food than to eat out. Take care of our own and expenses will go down alot.
do you honestly think that his people would make a recommendation that he didn't tell them to?
are you that retarded?
Who does the SECDEF work for? The POTUS
I find it amazing that you are going to argue that "I am sure there are things in the bill that don't make it possible for the President to support it" without having any idea what those are. Then you go on to say that he and Michelle are doing everything they can to give jobs to veterans….more politics and not much substance there.
BTW–military hospitals were free to retirees, but much more costly to the taxpayers. You should educate yourself on matters before you post online.
I beg you pardon Tim my stay in a military hospital was not free there are expenses there also.Not large ones but expenses non the less get your facts straight please. I am a retiree maybe that is the difference.As for va hospitals was told as a retiree I am in class 8 which means I have little or no chance of being seen there for medical purposes.Did not retire with disability.
I will agree that the President is supporttive of the military in lip service. If his plan to cut costs in government spending includes increasing the cost of Tricare, put him and the other elected (by mistake) officials on tricare. So I will agree some contactors need to go away, but not contracted civilian medical centers or approved network providers (physicians). You need to get a grip on just how many military retirees would be required to seek medical care at any given military hospital.. If you cut out contracted hospitals in Ohio alone, I am not certain but the only major military hospital within the state is at Wright Patterson AFB. This is near Dayton. Look it up, check it out.. It is not possible to care for all retirees and vets at any one hospital. Even if you included VA hospitals. Tricare is not a freebee. I served almost 29 years, so until our elected officials have served in the US Military, leave our programs alone. America… Love or get the hell OUT
Shirley you should get up off your a– and go through hell like our military have and also died so you could sit home and eat good food and have a good life.You should go live in the country that your friend came from.
Bob
That sounds good if you live neer an active military base, but there are NO active military bases in all of Pennsylvania. If I want to go to a "real military hospital" for treatment I have to drive 4 hours to New Jersey. What do I do in an emergency? Fact is most retirees Have to use local facilities, therefore CONTRACTORS. Sure it costs less than $500 for TRICARE PRIME for a family of 4 for a year- that's great but I'm still paying almost 40% of the total cost of any procedure and even more for my dependents and I'm still limited to care facilities within a 50 mile radius of where I live. If I want dental coverage, that costs $90 a month for the family and MOST dentists don't participate in the program and the few that do aren't the best. It's like any of the VA benefits they sound good until you want to use them then you find out how much legal jargan and limitations there are and if you should default or miss a payment God help you -your retirement is garnished and they are coming at you for money plus interest and fees.
Why don't you consider suigning up for NAUS, they offer very good secondary insurance for Tri-Care at a very nominal cost, I have used it for 20 years.
I have offered to drive a 150 miles to a military hospital and was told I live too far away and will not be authorized to use it. They wouldn't even give me a waiver for it. So now I am forced to use a civilian doc…just saying.
I worked in the budget shop at TRICARE for 3 years and we always received guidance from OMB. The Services would not say to the President I have this great idea to save money. If that was so they would of brought it up during the Bush Administration. It came from the top down.
Obama SUcks!!!!!!!!!!!!!
yo momma sucks
Send the President and all of the ones who want our military , past and present, to shoulder their fancy living and benefits, to do tours without their security guys to the front lines in the war. And send McCain, to remind him how to back our soldiers. The Washington elite mind have a change of heart. Shame on them!!
Bottom line with this and everything else about obama is DO AS I SAY NOT AS I DO
Vets are the real 1%…if that stat on CNN was correct, only 1% of Americans are veterans. So, what if rich people pay less taxes, so let congress have their own retirement plan and health insurance.. think about the Roman Empire…yet the US has only been around 200 years not 1000. What made Rome great…its army, its soldiers. What happened when they stopped caring about its army/navy.
Since 1965 our Armed Forces have been called upon for seven wars — Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, the former Yugoslavia, Desert Storm, OIF, and OEF. Tens of thousands have died, and hundreds of thousands of the living have suffered seriously debilitating wounds while wearing the uniform and answering the call. While it may seem reasonable to some readers to go along with the honey-tongued cost arguments and speeches of politicians who never wore the uniform and spend their time apologizing for the greatest and most benevolent country on Earth, remember that they want to use the money they don't have to spend on us for those who have done little for the country and/or aren't even here legally. It is reasonable to expect that a land of Opportunity should also be a land with responsibilities. Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen have fulfilled the responsibility part up front. Before we are called upon to make the benefit we get be self-sustaining, the politicians need to make those who have availed themselves of the opportunities without fulfilling the responsibilities make their benefits be self-sustaining. The administration and Senate are wrong. The House is right. We should not need to make the payments until after the takers have been made to give.
We wouldn't even be talking about cuts to veterans benefits if we could just stop sending all of the obama-bucks we currently do to foreign nations like Israel, Egypt and Jordan (to name but a few). It is shameful that our representatives are so bought and payed for by foreign nations that it is taboo for them to even whisper about cutting foreign aid. AIPAC has got way too much power with our representatives. The dual loyalties that many in congress exhibit has to be adressed. Unfortunately the moment someone brings this up they are immediately dismissed as anti-semitic or racist.
We can afford to keep our promises to our vets and probably even fund a social program or two if we would just cut off the leeches around the world.
Israel doesnt need our money. Their economy is doing better than ours and their military is amongst the best in the world. They can take care of themselves.
Maybe we should remind the anal orffice in the oval office, that the payment for Tricare is in the missing limbs and body bags. Let's put the office holders in DC on Tricare and see how fast even the small amount we pay for Tricare would go down to Nothing
The only way to stop these W.H. shenanigans is to vote Obama out. With many elected officials never having been in the military they are having a field day eroding what few benefits we have left. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is the opposite of those who have not served in the military because he is a Reserve U.S. Air Force Colonel. He is looking forward to Tricare For Life. He was born on 9 July 1955 so he has a while to go.
Sentor Graham is doing his best to get our Tricare for Life enrollment fees and prescription costs increased significantly. He can well afford it with his full colonel retirement, Senate retirement, and his being an attorney. He says the story given to us during Korea that if we stay in and retire we and our families would be taken care of medically and for free for life is as myth. For a man who was not born until long after the Korean War was over, he sure knows a lot.
Here another classic example of those who have all the money they need and will do all they can to keep us "middle class" on the fringe of success but never quite achieving it. Remember, "this Fall, dump all who continually vote into being programs and laws that are anti-military!"
Your respect for your Senator is admirable. There are many like him on both sides of the aisle that are concerned for the welfare of both or military (including NG and Reserves), and our vets. (Check out what Senator Al Franken is trying to get passed for soldiers suffering with PTSD. Pretty remarkable stuff.
However, when Senator Graham retires from the Senate he is entitled to a health plan that the rest of America dreams about. He will not be using TRICARE, when he has a plan that takes care of him for the rest of his life.
another stupid republican
Unfortunately, neither military service nor being a Republican guarantees a proper stance on this issues. John McCain is supporting the administration on these increases – you have to look at each politican's individual stance regardless of party or service records.
The Comrade in the WH forgets who has paid the bill and done their dues. He flies all over on our buck in a Military bird under the care of Military people. Nice family car for vacatiions by his family. He then wants to screw all. Congress gets all for free and we pay for healthcare… Sounds like freedom to me. I think the last time heard like this was Crazy King George…
It is interesting that someone would mention the amount vets pay for this great tricare prime insurance. I have used this wonderful medical facility and it takes at least 1 month to get an appointment and if you are referred to a specialist it will take at least another month to be seen. Interesting how this works. If they wish to increase our rates I might as well get civilian coverage. At least then if I need to see a doctor I will be seen right away.
every thing the veterans do for this country- theirs always the threat of loss of health care,, commissuaries/ exchanges- when ever your a lifer in the military.we were [pomished life time support years back -,only to be takeing away for some technical subject that was not written down in reports,,NOW this cost of healthcare- THE PRESIDENT HAS MENTION HE`LL STAND BY THE VETERANS/ WHEN? JUST AN OPION WHAT IF 1,800,OO0 VETERANS START SAYING ENOUGH IS ENOUGH START RAISING –!3FVG8O80KL
I joined the service right out of high school. Retired after 33 years. Over those 33 years, 44 months of which were spent in Vietnam, adminisrations have viewed the military as a "testing ground" for many of their hairbrained schemes that they could not foist on the civilian population. The civilian population would revolt so the military was forced to march in lock step to attempt to make these schemes work. Our fighting forces have been castrated in that they are no longer warriors, but "nation-builders". Obama doesn't care. FEE INCREASE!!
you are wrong citizen another rep
The Whitehouse is committed to Tricare Increases and Military Budget Cuts so The Troops must be Committed to Replacing the Inhabitants of the Whitehouse.
Agree – and while we're at it, in November 2012 we need to take a mop and broom to the House and Senate. That said, I really don't envision a time when there will be enough honest, down-to-earth patriots in Congress to out-number the self-serving scum-of-the-earth parasites who keep digging our collective national hole deeper and deeper.
4 more years – not with my vote!
The Obama administration requested a $51.6 billion budget for the State Department and USAID for the fiscal year 2013.
I could really give a damn about planned parenthood in Africa right now or the ridiculous amount of my taxes that gets sent to Israel. Wake up people. We cant take care of ourselves and the rest of the world too. Why is it expected that we prop up the rest of the world. Especially when I see no benefit to OUR national security by doing so. We are hurting our interests by neglecting our own people and defense in support of other nations that are certainly not concerned with you and me, in fact it can be argued that many recipient nations actually hate us. It's time congress started looking out for Americans and stop pandering to their special interest masters (AIPAC).
All I can say to your comments is; "Amen". You hit the nail squarely on the head. Way to go , my friend. I am 24 year plus retiree and I do recall that I was promised free health care for the rest of my life. If fees must be imposed let it be on those later generations that join and know what the benefits will be.
We should all be able to agree that we, as a Nation, are in dire fiscal straits. Costs must be constrained if we are ever going to recover from the debt burden we currently have. But why is it that only TRICARE premium increases are on the table? What about increasing the health care costs for all Federal employees? Why is only the military being identified to shoulder the burden? Maybe because they aren't unionized?
Very fair question. The federal gov's employee's, my sister being one of them, has less costs per month for coverage, for complete coverage, than the elderly Navy retiree I take care of. He is 72 and disabled with service of 23 years. You and I need really to worry about what we're in for if we're not wealthy or at minimum military. It seems the government is out for government. Take away from military to give back to defense programs that fail and those who do serve, those who may be injured for what to benefit less by providing some jobs. Is that going to help their agenda? Or are these so called redirected benefits going to pay for more irresposible unnecessary govt programs, overseas spending, buyouts and bailouts for those who don't give a damn about our nation, you know just here for whatever is free. You stupid enough to give it, yeah we take it. Would you call that an unrecognized government union or a misguided fixed agenda but it looks good on paper militia? Our nation needs a complete attitudinal overhaul.
lets take the FREE health care that the boys in congress get. Or at least make them pay like we will have to. Thanks again congress for taking back part of what I was promised. And DO NOT say we were not promised.
I served in Korea with the 7th Inf Division in 52-53, got paid 165 bucks a month incuding combat pay and retired after 35 years as a CSM. Most years in the active reserves. When I started receiving Tricare For Life about 10 years ago it felt like I hit the lottery. It has saved me thousands of dollars in premiums and co-pays. I never felt like Uncle Sam owed me anything for doing my duty. I was fortunate to come home without a scratch (to me that was pay enough). I will gladly co-pay to help keep the program viable so others can share the same benefits. The only thing I would like to see is any vet that lost a limb be excempt from co-pays.
First things first, Pete, or more appropriately, CSM, thank you for your service. Well said and I could'nt agree more.
Pete, I thank God for Men Like you and my Father in Law who Fought hard so that Men and Women like me and my veteran counterparts would have a strong Military to Join! We all deserve what was promised, however I too realize that the system may need a little adjustment. Hopefully there is a compromise to fix the problem long term that will not be a burden on a single Retired servicemember.
I'm a World War 2,Korean & Vietnam Veteran and proudly ,like many others,served this Country,we were promised ,by the Fed. Goverment,after 20 years or more years of service , to be intitled for Medical & Dental care for the rest of our lifes.This promise was never kept. Tricare for Life ,for Veterans over 65,was created ,which only applies when also enrolled in Medicare part B.which we pay for . Leave those Programs alone. You people in the Goverment do nothing but scew up this Country,no respect for the Soldiers fiighting for you while you give Billions of Dollars to other Countries and they are laughing about your stupidity and get rich. How about cutting your own Health care , Retirement and self in voted Pay raises. The Military and their fighting men and women ,have and are, sacrifised their lives so you can sit in your leather chairs and and collect more benefits and monies ,while the rest of us are drawning. LEAVE THE BENEFITS FOR THE MILITARY ALONE!!!!!Otherwise NOBODY in their right mind should VOTE FOR YOU AGAIN!!!!
Billy, I am behind you 100%. Funny how the "powers that be" are always willing to hook themselves up with pay raises at the expense of others. It seems that we just don't care about each other anymore. It's all about self preservation. Who cares about everyone else? Pretty sad isn't it? Thank you for your service Billy. It sure was a different military back then wasn't it? Man things sure do change over time and sometimes it's for the worse believe me.:)
This president praises the military to their faces while he has a knife to stab them in the back. What a hypocrite( I hope that's spelled correctly) .
It is really great to know that I am receiving "handouts" after 23 years of honorable military service. I am thankful for my benefits and I believe I worked very hard to earn them. I pay for my benefits and believe me nothing is "free" anymore. It just seems that the government is always looking for ways to take benefits away from the service member. They want to get rid of the 20 yr retirements and implement force drawdowns after many have served multiple tours in countries where the people could care less if we live or die. Is this how we are going to treat our troops? Use them to do our dirty work and then kick them to the curb afterwards. Keep spending money on overpriced contractors and overpriced equipment but let our troops suffer for your political "buddy" hookups. Makes me sick just thinking about it. Money and greed really does control our priorities now days. Got to "grease the skids" for that next job once my military career fizzles out.:)
Good reply Ron.
Barry Soetoro also wanted the wounded to pay their own medical bills, after all, we're a volunteer force.
All we need is a 5 percent cost of living pay raise to cover the new costs. At least we won't lose on this.
President Obama has never liked the Military and its mission. He believes whatever political happens, happens, and that we don't need a defense. He is like President Clinton and will use the Military if it suits his needs for the time and not that they have to have military plans for a kinds of operations. The State Department is a similar mold with his administration and fluctuates from week to week or event to event. We don't show consistency in policy, if there is a policy. One thing for certain, military people and families are disposable to the President. It is not about saving money but decimating the military.
I agree. That must be why he proposed, fought for, passed and signed the most prolific Veterans Bill since WWII. For a guy that hates us, I just don't understand his executive orders putting veterans at the head of the line for Federal jobs and stopping lenders from foreclosing on active service members houses. Giving DOD everything they have asked for is also so Un-american and anti military. I guess he has to be defeated.
JWB you don't know what you are talking about
As a retired Master Chief who entered the Navy in 1955 I find the whole pc/ reduced benefits issue a recruiting disaster. When I joined the Navy 20 years got you a retirement package that included free dental & medical for you and your family, Navy exchange, Commisary, plus a check. Now the Chiefs clubs are gone along with CPO initations most of the benefits are watered down and the esprit de corps is no longer. Where is the all American blue jacket ? May be rocks and shoals no longer are proper but the need for a better military package is needed Those folks that don't do 20 are out without any vested retirement at all. I wonder what will happen when the economy turns around ?
I no longer support any military careers for those in my extended family who seek my advice.
S.R.
Alright, I posted this in response to an earlier comment, I am posting it again as a general comment on how I feel:
Part 1:
In World War II, 11.2% of the nation served in four years. In Vietnam, 4.3% served in 12 years. Since 2001, only 0.45% of our population has served in the Global War on Terror. These are unbelievable statistics.
Over time, fewer and fewer people have shouldered more and more of the burden and it is only getting worse. Our troops were sent to war in Iraq by a Congress consisting of 10% veterans with only one person having a child in the military. Taxes did not increase to pay for the war. War bonds were not sold. Gas was not regulated. In fact, the average citizen was asked to sacrifice nothing, and has sacrificed nothing unless they have chosen to out of the goodness of their hearts.
The only people who have sacrificed are the veterans and their families. The volunteers.
Part 2:
You stand there, deployment after deployment and fight on. You’ve lost relationships, spent years of your lives in extreme conditions, years apart from kids you’ll never get back, and beaten your body in a way that even professional athletes don’t understand. Your Congress is debating your benefits, your retirement, and your pay, while they ask you to do more.
But the amazing thing about you is that you all know this. You know your country will never pay back what you’ve given up. You know that the populace at large will never truly understand or appreciate what you have done for them. But you do it anyway.
Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few.
Eric, Thank You for that post! You get it!
I dont regret one day of the 20 years of service to our nation as a Marine. All I can ask of our government is that they not take away the desire of our young men and women to pick up the flag and continue the fight for our freedom. Dont take away all the benefits that would attract future warfighters to make the sacrifice to serve our great nation in combat! An all volunteer force is a wonderful thing, lets keep it that way!
We are in the hands of a godless man, who has no love for our Country…because he, most likely, is not an American. God help us.
A vote to re-elect O'bama is a vote against your country, a vote against your own family, your own budget, yourself and the future of all just mentioned.
why are the Federal Employee, Congressional Plans and other plans also NOT being increased by at least the same percentage as being proposed for tricare??
All I have to say is if this President get's elected again this country will suffer he is not telling the american people the truth about taxes, health-care, social security, raise interest rates on college loans. It won't matter who get's elected Washington is not honest with the american people and the storm is coming it's getting worse in america because we have lost our trust not only in our leaders but our Biblical principles which the forefathers carefully looked at.
Why is everyone including the military, the old, the poor and all the people that don't have jobs expected to cut back to save money that our great government blew but I have yet to hear of our government cutting anything. Don't you think that it is time for our Congress do some cutting. They could pay into social security, pay for their own retirement, and the many more freebees that they get for screwing over the people that vote them in. Our government is a joke and the joke is on " we the people".
The president of the UNITED STATES is making many changes but few are good for the country. He promoted change during his run for the president, but the changes he has made are not the ones he ran on.
I received an email the Home Land Security is buying up much ammunition to keep it off the market, I wonder what the purpose of this is (probably to disarm the civilian population, so the government can dictate as Hitler did in the 1930s.)
It appears that the President of the UNITED STATES can do what ever he wants and no one will challenge him. Is our entire government corrupt ??
The Obama Care will have an adverse affect on the elderly and much of the retired military community will fall into the category from Medicare to TFL. In addition if your income is above a certain level your Medicare Premimuns can double and triple depending on your martial status. IF YOU ARE IN THE UNITED STATES ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE PROVIDED WITH FREE MEDICAL CARE JUST AS SOME STATES HAVE APPROVED FREE TUITION FOR COLLEGE FOR ILLEGALS.
WE cant keep them out of the country so give the m what they want and more will follow.
I don't know if you are aware of this or not, but our Congress recently passed, in a stealth like manner, HR 4133 – The United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act which basically provides the terrorist apartheid Israeli regime with a blank check of U.S. tax payer dollars so they could continue to carry out false flag terrorist acts throughout the world with total impunity. Yet, when it comes to enhancing the benefits of our active duty and retired military personnel, who end up fighting the wars Israel drags us into (Iraq, Afghanistan or surely Iran in the not too distant future) they try to cut our benefits or charge us more for using them. Israel receives $3.5 billion U.S. tax payer dollars per year in foreign aid (that’s more than 17 other countries combined) plus they also receive $10 to $12 billion in military aid and hardware, yet Israel holds 40% of the world's wealth. This is absurd and we must make it stop. Please write or call your Senators, Congressman and the White House and demand that they put an end to this crap. We are not the United States of Israel. We are the United States of America for Americans!
Please stop listening to those random e-mails you get. HR4133 a) has only passed the House, not the Senate, and b) is a Sense of Congress bill in support of Israel. A Sense of Congress bill is a feel-good measure that does does not have the force of law, appropriates no money, imposes no law, nothing. All it does is say "we think Israel should be supported."
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr4133
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.41…
Why are you so anti Isreal? They are our strongest ally and really the main one we can depend on.
Get off your propaganda fueled soapbox, Cank. I suppose next you'll be denying the holocaust? It wasn't radical Jews that brought down the WTC, and it hasn't been radical Jewish youth carrying out the majority of terrorist acts worldwide the last forty years. Israelis aren't lobbing rockets and mortars into Gaza and Lebanon and deliberately targeting farms and schools. And I would REALLY like a citation for the charge that Israel "dragged" us into any wars in the Middle East. You're full of absurd crap.
Here's a quarter….go buy yourself a clue. By your statements, it's obviously that you know little about the real world, or are willing to look beyond the media propaganda. It's laughable that you can equate Israel (the ONLY democracy in the Middle East) to a terrorist state. Seriously….look at the REAL terrorist states out there: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan….and yet you opt to rant against a nation of 6 million, smaller than New Jersey, which is surrounded by enemies numerous times its own size. Really???
Not exactly sure how you equate TRICARE solvency and fee hikes with Israel. The reality is that retirees have had it good for a long time, and pay well less for health coverage than ANYONE. I don't begrudge you care at a reasonable cost, as I too hope for the same thing one day (ie when I retire). That said, linking two issues which have NOTHING in common make you look arbitrary and foolish…
Really appreciate my comment being deleted….NOT!
As a retired SFC, U.S.ARMY iam sorry to say that our government including Senator Mc Cain, Grahaham, and President Obama have to be voted out of office. They want us to volunter for military service, give up ones life, then they try to take our benifits away little by little. Wake up all military active and retired. Please vote all these useless congress and senators that vote to cut our benifits no matter how small they seem. The president is not much of a commander in chief. Lets see if he shows up at the tomb of the unknown soldiers, salutes, or he sends the vice president . Seeing is bejeiving.
Of course the White House is committed to reducing benefits military members have earned. Only those of the perpetually dependent welfare class deserve better benefits.
Look, we deserve what we get if we don't get off our backside and VOTE!
Get involved, but VOTE
This may sound crazy but since they want to make healthcare comparable to the civilian side maybe it is time to have a union like the civilian side…just saying. All things being equal.
Changes to Tricare Benefts for active duty and retirees should only apply to future members joining the military services and not those currently serving. The leadership in the WH, Congress, and Senate have long ago lost their credibility for multiple breaches of medical contract and promises made to prior military personnel. Members of WH, Congress, Senate, and all Federal Agencies government personnel should set the example by being the first to have their medical benefits cut or their costs increased for their medical care at twice the rate of any similar benefit reductions fo rmilitary personnel as a routine measure. If the non-military government employees have not done this before then their benefit reductions should be retroactive back to all previous reductions imposed on military personnel over the past 20+ years that they have been cutting military medical benefits illegally.
Don't forget that this is the same jackass president that spent 1.4 million for a Christmas vacation. We probably wouldn't even need an increase if he would stop playing golfing and sending his family on site seeing trips across the globe.
Your smart/big mouth and name calling of the president is the reason this country is in the mess it is in now. STOP!, and that's an order. Now, I do agree Tricare fees should not be raised. Retirees should not have to pay anything for health care. That is what we were promised depending on what year you entered the military. Now for the president's vacations and golfing, do you expect for the president to catch a cab to McDonalds? He has done nothing more than any other president. Apparently you have not had a job requiring you to be ON DUTY 24/7. Loosen up young fellow and try to be smart even if you aren't. Good luck and leave the hate behind you, ok.
you r the jackass
Let us get back to the issue at hand. There is not a single statement in the article saying that the President will in fact veto the bill. It does say that Senior Administrators will "recommend" that he veto it, if "the cumulative effect" of all of the items in the bill will "impede the ability" to execute defense strategy and "properly direct scarce resources." That says that the senior advisors will make their recommendation based upon the totality of the bill, not Tri-Care alone. Of course, with Congressional gridlock it is unlikely the President will even get a chance to approve or veto the bill, since no bill will even make it to his desk. The bottom line is that you all have nothing to worry about unless Congress acts against your interests in the first place.
All I get say is that TRICARE (DoD Healthcare Benefit) has a hell of a program to identify improper payments!
See: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/financial/improper_… pull down the improper payment dataset – WOW – TRICARE has a .24% error rate, while Medicare has over an 8% error rate! Makes you wonder why contractors can still 'slip in' fraudulent claims (see: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/201….
Me thinks this needs a little closer scrutiny …..
This POTUS is just taking up space . He needs to go back to running bake sales in Chicago. He is as clueless as they come. IF the American public vote him back in office then they deserve what they get. I for one will not be voting for "Mr Clueless in the WH. I find it appalling that vets who served 20 years or more have to fight for scraps while the useless gov't Senators and Congressman get so many freebies for life…. plus an outragous pension for only serving 1 term at most.
TRICARE would not be that bad with the fee increases IF it were able to be used everywhere (Like Blue Cross/Blue Shield…). In my area, Western NY, You can only get TRICARE BASIC, and if you're lucky you can find a doctor that would accept it. The only way to get medical is through the VA. TRICARE Basic means Tricare would pay only 50% of the negotiated price and you are responsible to pay the rest. this means if you got to the doctor and need to get a procedure done, the doctor might charge 1500 for it, the negotiated rate may be 1000 so Tricare would cover 500, you then would be responsible for the remaining 1000. Hey, Congress and Senior WH Staff, why don't you just eliminate TRICARE and Increase the VA's Budget and make all vets go to the VA? For those on Welfare, you can set up hospitals in every major city that they would take care of people who are on Welfare or have no medical insurance.
Harry, your information is incorrect. You are responsible only for the amount of the NEGOTIATED rate not covered by Tricare. In your example, you would only owe $500.00. The whole purpose of a negotiated rate is to provide care at a discount for the insurance company as well as the insured. It is illegal for an entity to obtain more than the negotiated rate for services and if you report those who are charging above this amount, they will lose their contract with Tricare.
But then he wouldn't have ANY providers in his area, thank goodness he is in an area with a VA!
Yeah Tricare benefits are good and they are cheap. However, many military retirees were promised lifetime free medical care when they enlisted. That was a common selling point years ago when little problems like Vietnam were still raging. Many of us joined to serve the country, knowing that it promised to take care of us. Then after we retire the government decides to charge us for our medical care. I'll admit that what we pay is small, but the WH wants to increase it by 500%. That's right 5 times higher than it is. I just don't see how we go from "free for life" to a 500% increase and call it fair. I served for over 24 years, and all I see is everything I was promised for serving, slowly being taken away.
The government should get it head out of it a** and remember these were benefit promise us when we join the military. I join the military during the Vietnam era and this was one of the major promises for joining and staying in the Army for 20years. It was not till after I got out of the army did they even start charging retiree’s for tri-care. Two of the major problems they are overlooking is a retiree who retire over 20yrs ago is almost have what they in retired pay today and at the rate they are recommending I am looking at about 1/3 or more of my retired to pay for Tri-Care. The second major issue I have is with all the illegal immigrate and people who have never served a day in the military getting benefits for the government such as MEDICAL, DENTAL, HOUSING & ETC, what about their cutting their benefits, what have they done to support our government. If they are determine too raise Tri-Care fee’s then adjust them to reflect when we came (IE Was Tri-Care even around) and what we were making when we retired. Personnel retiring NOW know they will have to pay for Tri-Care and there pay depending on when you retire is at least double what they make now.
So much for His Obamaness's pledge to support the military and protect our rights in honor of our service. What he and Michele give with the right hand, they steal back with the left. Just another measure of the true contempt with which they view us. We're a necessary evil to them, nothing more.
Once again US Army will safe USA…..LMAO! Don't forget to send DVDs "DO IT YOURSELF scissors and scalpel included". I thought that is why Soldiers were getting broken, burned, going to war, not see theirs kids and spouses for some time, sleep in mud, not eating well, jumping from airplanes and etc. to get those benefits for life! And statistic shows that retiree do not live long because of all those injuries and stress. They already in 90s took away dental benefits for spouses and children. maybe I don't understand something…. but government has money to bailout banks, to raise theirs pay, get sweet congressional benefits, send billions in aid to other countries, not to forget of abusing the benefits. So, it seems veterans who requires medical attention needs to find a good good job to pay medical bills, mortgage and etc…. Veterans needs to sue government for injuries. I think it is gives all rights to do this.
I feel your pain! Most of you think you know the reason for this mess. You have to go back and read the name of the bill and that says it all! You see, you can bark at democrats and Republicans because the elitists want you to bicker at each other and blame ghosts! It is the NEOCONS manipulating us! Go find out who they really are just don't say any thing negative about Izruh! It is they who did this to us and the sooner we realize this the sooner we can do something about it!
nuff said;
Yea, darned neolibs!
The new TRICARE for national guard retirees has changed dramaticly. We did everything that every other soldier did that was asked of them. We deployed to both Iraq and Afganistan. So when i was in the Texas Guard is was paying 185$ a month for Tricare for my family. As soon as i retired from the Texas Gaurd for me to keep my medical benifits it went up to 1100$ a month. Who can afford that. That is the Thanks that we get for seving our country when asked too.
I feel your pain! Most of you think you know the reason for this mess. You have to go back and read the name of the bill and that says it all! You see, you can bark at democrats and Republicans because the elitists want you to bicker at each other and blame ghosts! It is the NEOCONS manipulating us! Go find out who they really are just don't say any thing negative about Izruh! It is they who did this to us and the sooner we realize this the sooner we can do something about it!
Yea, those darned Neolibs!
I have voted by absentee ballot since I first voted while on active duty in 1980. In the past years it has was revealed again and again that boxes of mail in votes were never counted. This was reported from my home state of Florida during the election that GW Bush "stole". I have no doubt that this process of discarding the mail in votes has occurred for years and will continue to occur. The number of ballots cannot be accounted for, and it is easier to toss them in a box and shove them in a closet than count them. Laziness and disinterest more than a sabatoge plan but the results are the same. Is there a way verify that a serviceman's vote will be counted if he is out of state or deployed overseas? I can't think of one. But, you can rest assured that community organizers will rent or buy buses to transport certain voters in to the polls.
Hold the phone over…. Reading a few of these comments and I am sick, you all talk like President Obama is the only person that has screwed things up. What about GWB? Wars not paid for, medicare part D not paid for, if you really check your facts you will see. Everyone is quick to say to much Goverment in our lives, well when a disaster hits who does your State reps call? Who takes care of highways, dams etc? Don't like socialized medicine, what do you think medicare is and tri care ie? If you don't want any Gov in your life send your checks back and maybe we can balance the budget. No one man can fix everything, I voted Rep for years and I would vote for my dog as a write before I vote rep again. Obama was screwed the day he took office, I served 20 years in the Army and the gov has been good to me, so if I have to pay a little more so be it. My girlfriend pays out the butt for her insurance, etc,and I am thankful everyday for what I have. If you check your facts in the right place you will the RYan plan has nothing in it for the Vets. Everything changes, nothing stays the same. Obama was never given a chance. If we put a Rep back in mark my words we will be in another war. And remember these wars were already in place, and we were lied to as to why they started, Rep like war because it makes money, but daddy Bush did not plan for that war to last so long. We need to pull together and demand that congress get off their dead butts and do some work. Peace
John, referring to your williness to pay more in Tricare fees, I concur. However, it appears you may not have noticed how much they want to raise Tricare. The proposal would not have us paying just a little more, but a substantial amount more. Our service to the country deserves a medical beneift plan that is always priced below private sector plans. If we allow these hikes to go as proposed, eventually Tricare will match or exceed available private plans. Which in my opinion is part of the bigger strategy by government. Think about it, the hikes will cover costs better, but even better for the governm,ent would be retirees jumping ship and leaving Tricare all together. We need to be careful as we solve this.
A.Bush did plan for a long war he stated it would tale at least 10 years
B. These bennies were promised to me No Union intervention you do this for twenty and we will do this for you I did 22 plus I held my end 24/7 and many carrier deployments not to mention gitmo ,fallen, and many other places in prep for deployment all and I do mean all away from my family. One year uncle suger thought it ok for me to spend62 days with my family at home . I did all they asked and yes I do expet them to hold up they're end of the bargan .
No, he did not plan for 10 years – and for the first time ever we went to war (2 wars) without paying for it. We borrowed money instead.
No, you were NOT promised – because Congress is the only body that can promise ("No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law" – Article I, Section 9). I thank you for your time in the service, but you needed to understand Law – that only Congress can make commitments to spend US money, per the Constitution.
All I can say is you must be a barroom commando. I earned my retirement and Tricare for life. 5 overseas tours including some low altidude covert mission over comunist counries. I bet you used your tricare instead of paying your own way being as you are so dead set against it. No one ordered you to use it.I'm glad i didn' serve with a whimp like you.
Jim williams USAF retired.
Mr Williams one think I learned in the military by the I went in when I was 17 my mom signed me in. Was to be respectful to all at all times, agree to disagree, no one held a gun to our heads to join the military and I was proud to seve my country, we all signed the same contract saying we would fight and defend if called upon to do so, and in that contract some of us traveled to places some only read about free, and yes sometimes that duty took us from our familes but that is what we signed up for. Which we were paid for in many ways. We in the military are not the only one that but our lives on the line daily. I am proud still that I had the honor to serve, under all conditions. Maybe you should have left the military, because it sounds like you were not happy. I am not against tricare and have worked all my life 2 jobs to provide for myself and family, but nothing in life is free thats how I was raised. But we not only have health, we had free education if we wanted, and many other benefits. All I was saying I do not mine paying a little extra, because I was blessed with so much. If that makes me a whimp so be it. That's what is wrong with our country everyone thinks something is owed to them, you served and went to those places because that was your job, and now you want to complain like someone did you wrong. You still get a paycheck, and thanks to Obama the vets were not touched by the federal freeze, we got a raise this year. We are blessed. Thanks for your input.
Uh John this was the only year under Obama that we got a raise. We were frozen before.
President Obama had nothing to do with the COLA freeze, just as President George W. Bush had nothing to do with the 5.8% in 2009.
COLA (which applies to military retirement, federal civil service retirement, social security) has, since the 1970's, been set by law as the 3rd quarter CPI-W increase. In 2008, 3d quarter CPI-W spiked due to the energy spike (remember those high gas prices), resulting in 2009 5.8%. Since then we had a recession (don't know how you missed it), which included a drop in the cost of housing (remember the bubble). It took until 2011 for the 3rd quarter CPI-W to exceed the 2008 3rd quarter CPI-W.
B.S. WHO TO HELL WAS IN OFFICE DURING THE START AND HUGE ESCALATION OF VIET NAM ????
If you would raelly check the facts yor would you would see that the present Admin have waste more money then any other Pres. Also how about all those expenses on trips for The wife and friends close to 3 Billions $ of taxpayer money. By the way how much time did you spend servicing you country.
Tricare cost $460 per year two thank you
Tricare prime, if you are in the local area of a active duty base with medical facilities, is $460. Tricare standard or extra are far more expensive, and all I can get. If they increase my costs I might as well not have health insurance.
A '59 -'79 USMC 4 tour Nam Retiree 2c: The House of Representatives is responsible for all matters Budget and Monetary in Congress; the Senate can amend, approve or disapprove; sents it back to House, they do the same; passing the Bill, send it to the President, who signs or vetoes. President's can propose a Budget; but, fellow Veterans, it is never his Budget. Its the Houses' Budget or Spending Bill; not the Senates' or the President's. If you want to vote down someone and be negative; be wise enough to know its the 435 in the House.
It seems that the house does not want to raise the premiums to Tricare only the baffoon in the white house
TriCare will just become a minor issue here. If the House wants to make a stand on TriCare, or any other "taking care of the troops" moral stand, they need to get rid of the Pork in that bill. Missle Defense sites on the East Coast? Give me a break!
51% of our countries budget goes to the military, we fight questionable wars, send money to foreign countries, build bombs and weapons, then give and sell them to countries that can turn out to be our enemies. Enough is enough, stop breaking the backs of the low income earners, and cut back on bombs and wars.
If 51% of the budget goes for defense and the defense spending bill is $643 billion, where did the other $15 trillion dollars go? Quick answer, BANKS, BAILOUT, do I need to say more? They have spent more for the rich in a short amount of time to basically bankrupt this country. I agree stop breaking the backs of the middle and lower class people and take all this money that companies are spending on the campaign to start paying back those that broke their back to get them where they are.
Thank you for your service. Hope you get better. Now lets get on to your comments…………Ok so you have been drinking the msnbc/democrat water. Sukz to be you…………. hope you get better. So its ALL again, President Bush fault….are you serious or what????????????????? Check your facts again but fully this time. A vote for obama is a vote not only against Veterans but a vote against America. Get your head out of your forth point of contact before its too late.
$15 trillion is the DEBT. The federal budget is about $3.5 trillion. Of that, 60% goes to Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid, 21% to Defense, the rest to the rest of the Federal spending. DoD is about 55% of the discretionary budget (after Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, and interest on the national debt).
The bank bailout is over – it is NOT in the FY13 budget. So crying about it won't help.
Been watching msnbc have you???? You are so WRONG, clueless and uneducated. It is people like you that are running this country and will do everything you can to run it into the ground and then blame someone else. Get your act together
With all this talk about cutting military benefits. Why doesn't the Commande-In-Chief and those in Congress lead by example and cut their pay and benefits first. Our government has become a 3 ring circus with Obama as the ringmaster
Three cheers to Joey. This is exactly how I feel. All they know is to vote themselves a raise every year and the heck with the rest of the folk.
Veterans have spent years in the service at a much lower wage than anyone not in the service and serving away from loved ones for months at a time for years, I believe that what was promised in retirement should now be taken back by a Congress that has overspent our country's wealth. Let them take a pay cut to balance the budget and not the veterans that have paid in blood at times to pay for our freedom.
I totally agree,also think everyone in congress should serve in the military for one term.i bet their additude would change. ex GI eddie garcia
I put in 20 years (1955-1975 in the Air Force. ! spent off and on 7 years in Vietnam flying in C-130 aircraft, carrying cargo, search @ rescue, airborne command post,evacuated wounded and KIAS. Yes i was told I would have free medical for life after 20 Years of service. Well "Ike" got elected, he took away our medical and gave us social security. Republicans sent us off to war with out enough people to do the job and proper equipment. Now blame Obama for our debt, when actually it it started with the Republicans. They had a surplus and we were getting out of debt, thanks to Clinton.Then 2008 Republicans cut taxes, started 2 wars, Medicare none of it being funded and due to deregulation on Wall Street and Banks , jobs going overseas, rich people putting money foreign investments so as not to pay taxes or at a lower rate. Obama has at least saved the banks auto companies with little help from the Republicans, Democrats have supported Obama. Republicans to me have showed little respect toward the White. I will never vote Republican, all they want to do take away form the working class and give to the rich.
George
Where did all these idiot Democrats come from?
Yes Tricare needs to financiancely stable-but last year 300 millions was turned over to a medical research firm-the money taken/borrowed from the tricare account and the research firm has nothing to do with veterans benefits-the govt borrowed billions from SS and the postal service and never paid it back-now they want us veterans and seniors to take up the slack-I won't mind paying the proposed tricares but only if ,"IF'- the govt owes up to their paying back what they 'BORROWED''??????
I am a Vietnam era retiree with 25 yrs service in the Army. I was raised a poor boy who came up the hard way and was fortunate enough to find enough work to finance my education. Not a dime ever came from the govt in any form. For the life of me, I can't fathom why any sane American would want to tear down people who are weathly and support a President that came with almost no credentials to qualify for this job, and has failed miserably in virtually every facet of leadership. Doesn't salute the flag, spends money like it's growing on trees and out of touch with reality with absolutely no idea how to solve problems. The thing that bothers me most is that many, past and present, have served our country to give this Socialist the opportunity to go abroad and apologize for the USA.
Sounds like you believe in the Bush/Romney fiscal policies and deprivation of human rights. Bush was a drunk and born again idiot and Romney has leadership in corporate america raiding fiscally sound companies and getting rich at it while the companies he raided were left with nothing and a hep of debt.. When that happens people are put out of work resulting in lost homes, bad credit, collecting unemployment and finally going on welfare because the Romneyites stole there pensions. You stated you came up in a poor environment well, continue supporting the politico's who have a corporate agenda and you'll end up being the poor boy you used to be.
so i guess that passing out foodstamps paying off the loans of the people that can't afford to pay for there houses . Giving cash for clunkers all this was a good idea spent a trillion dollars to stimulate the economy .By spend money on solar pannels then letting the companies go bankrupt without paying us a dime back .Obama has spent over 5 trillion dollars in 3 years what do we have to show for that oh i forgot all those shovel ready jobs that weren't so shovel ready the president thought that was a good joke on the American people took 6 months after the oil spilll in the gulf for the president to get involved and all he could do was blame it on everyone else shut down all the drilling made it so thousand of jobs were loss yes Obama has done a great job he also got our debt rating lowered so have to pay more interest on our debt .Now we need to reelected him so he can spend another 10 trillion make this country go bankrupt so go ahead vote obama back into office then when you are in the soup line you won't have anyone else to blame but yourself .Though you will probably be like obama blame it on everyone else .While Obama over in kenya laughing his ass off saying what big fools we were to reelect him .He promised if he hadn't cut the deficit in half in 3 years he would be a one term president .Well instead of cutting the deficit in half he raised it by half
umm, your point is????? Isn't that exactly what fix we're in now with the incumbent moron. lost homes bad credit, no jobs, over 10 million on welfare and in his infinite wisdom obama removed the 'work' requirement so they don't have to do anything but collect that check!!
http://mediamatters.org/blog/201202280007
So much for the apologies, another right-wing myth.
I also assume that you paid cash for your elementary school, paid for the roads you walked/drove on, paid personally for the police who patrolled your hometown, etc.
Remember that the Government is what we have collectively decided to do together. It is US.
And while the President can propose, by law, Congress is the ones who appropriate funds. "No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law"
Let's stay focused on the issue – the federal budget and support for retiree healthcare.
NDAA 2012 http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h11…
"Title VII – Health Care Provisions
Subtitle A – Improvements to Health Benefits
Section 701 –
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) career military personnel and their families endure unique and extraordinary demands and make extraordinary sacrifices over the course of a 20-30 year career, and (2) those decades of sacrifice constitute a significant pre-paid premium for health care during a career member's retirement that is over and above what the member pays with money. Limits, beginning with FY2012, the increase in the annual DOD patient enrollment fees to the percentage by which retired pay is increased."
I'm interested in knowing how you didn't take a dime of government money while on the government's payroll and using government benefits.
Yes, we WERE promised medical bennefits for life if we stayed over 20 years. Do NOT vote for any elected official that allows degradation of our medical bennefits or raises any costs. I thought it would be FREE to those of us that sacrificed our lives for our country and stayed over 20 years. Obviously, someone lied or don't care. I am sick of paying money to help operate Afghanistan and Iraq at the espense of those that served there to protect their As*'s. Our injured who were medically retired are authorized TRICARE. Thry need it since the VA can't take care of therm properly. How can any politician expect our folks that gave their all to have to pay for their own medical expenses. I remember everyone being exposed to asbestos, chemicals with no MSDS, being put in physical positions and strenuous positions that civilian counterparts were not. How absurd to put ANY cost to TRICARE for retired miltary. VOTE NO to any politician that denies our promised bennefits!
http://mrgrg-ms.org/crs1006e-the-issue-of-promise…
US Constitution, Article I, Section 9:
"No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law"
You can believe what you like – but since Congress (the only Government body authorized by the Constitution to make said promise) NEVER made said promise, it never happened.
The President of the US could come on national TV tonight and "promise" free healthcare for life – and it STILL would not mean anything, as he does NOT have that authority. If he doesn't, those who work for him do not. That goes from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs right down to that NCO recruiter.
Rather than harping on a promise that did not happen, and all the politicians know did not happen, focus on what has happened –
NDAA 2012 http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h11…
"Title VII – Health Care Provisions
Subtitle A – Improvements to Health Benefits
Section 701 –
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) career military personnel and their families endure unique and extraordinary demands and make extraordinary sacrifices over the course of a 20-30 year career, and (2) those decades of sacrifice constitute a significant pre-paid premium for health care during a career member's retirement that is over and above what the member pays with money. Limits, beginning with FY2012, the increase in the annual DOD patient enrollment fees to the percentage by which retired pay is increased."
While I agree that costs are going up across the board and spending cuts need to take place I have always questioned the wastefull spending habits of our goverment and DOD in using civilian contractors for duties that in the past was part of military life ie.. KP, Base Security, base facilities maintenance etc..
Everytime I’ve entered a US military base in the last 30 years I see civilians manning the gates, civilians in the chowhall, civilians doing grounds keeping, civilians doing facilities maintenance and so on. When I was a young Navy Seabee we did these functions ourselves, atleast mostly. The last base I was stationed at the civilians out numbered military personnel 5 to 1. Why don’t we look at utilizing our people more effectively when they aren’t deployed and get some of these civilians off the base, maybe then you can take another look at the budget and see if some money freed up to handle keeping the promises made to our Vets.
I enjoyed my career in the service but it wasn’t easy and cost me alot personnally and physically, I expect all promises to be kept.