Veto Threat: Administration Wants to Hike Healthcare Fees for Military

Townhall.com ^ | June 29, 2012 | Leah Barkoukis

[Kaslin]

The audacity of the Obama administration never ceases to amaze. On Friday, they threatened to veto a defense appropriations bill because it, in part, does not include hikes in healthcare fees for members of the military. The House bill  passed 299-120 in May. The official policy statement offers this objection:

TRICARE Fees and Co-Payments.  The Administration is disappointed that the Congress did not incorporate the requested TRICARE fee initiatives into either the appropriation or authorization legislation.  The Administration asks the House to reconsider the TRICARE fee proposals, which are essential for DOD to successfully address rising personnel costs.  The $1.8 billion in savings are part of a carefully balanced FY 2013 Budget request.

The proposed increases in healthcare payments for members of the military members were reported by The Washington Free Beacon in February:

“The Obama administration’s proposed defense budget calls for military families and retirees to pay sharply more for their healthcare, while leaving unionized civilian defense workers’ benefits untouched. The proposal is causing a major rift within the Pentagon, according to U.S. officials. Several congressional aides suggested the move is designed to increase the enrollment in Obamacare’s state-run insurance exchanges.

The disparity in treatment between civilian and uniformed personnel is causing a backlash within the military that could undermine recruitment and retention.

The proposed increases in health care payments by service members, which must be approved by Congress, are part of the Pentagon’s $487 billion cut in spending. It seeks to save $1.8 billion from the Tricare medical system in the fiscal 2013 budget, and $12.9 billion by 2017.”

Of course, it all goes back to propping up ObamaCare…

“Administration officials told Congress that one goal of the increased fees is to force military retirees to reduce their involvement in Tricare and eventually opt out of the program in favor of alternatives established by the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare.”

If the administration had their way:

"Significantly, the plan calls for increases between 30 percent to 78 percent in Tricare annual premiums for the first year. After that, the plan will impose five-year increases ranging from 94 percent to 345 percent—more than 3 times current levels.

According to congressional assessments, a retired Army colonel with a family currently paying $460 a year for health care will pay $2,048.

The new plan hits active duty personnel by increasing co-payments for pharmaceuticals and eliminating incentives for using generic drugs.

The changes are worrying some in the Pentagon who fear it will severely impact efforts to recruit and maintain a high-quality all-volunteer military force. Such benefits have been a key tool for recruiting qualified people and keeping them in uniform."

This just makes it abundantly clear how the administration regards those who serve this country and have already given so much.

[Sudetenland]

I hope they do it. I hope they do everything they choose between now and November. I want them to be so far out there that the results in November 2012 make those of 2010 look like a mild mid-term shift election.

Go for it Democrats. Alienate as many voters as you wish. Undermine the moral of our military . . . that way when you call upon them to turn their guns on their fellow citizens, they will instead point them at you.

[cbvanb]

Have you not grasped by now, that is exactly the goal?

[cherry]

"The average retiree is a 40 year old"

well there is a big problem right there....

but as to Tricare, its the ONE only benefit from govt that we'll probably see...hubby will finally be able to get "it" whatever "it" is, and it makes me angry to see that that little benefit to us is now going to be devastated....

I remind you all, that when I go on the local base, I still see a few bamey car stickers...

its unfathomable....

[BlatherNaut]

“Free Health Care for life” sure is getting more expensive for us retired folks."

And how fittingly symbolic that the first thing the thief-in-chief does on the very day after Robert's betrayal is to mount a vicious assault on military health benefits.

[PeteB570]

And another thing - when Obama pushed Obamacare on people one of the perks was letting kids stay on their parent’s health care plan until 26.

Tricare? Daughter graduated from college last month and will turn 22 in October.

We have been told by letter that she is off my Tricare come her 22nd Birthday

BUT SHE CAN STAY ON UNTIL 26 IF WE PAY A MONTHLY PREMIUM THAT COSTS TWO ARMS AND FOUR LEGS.

[originalbuckeye]

Of course! I worked in the NHS in Britain. I KNOW that Nationalized Healthcare is the goal. I just think those who are on different health care plans, other than insurance, think they will retain their plan as usual. I was just pointing out that with Nationalized Healthcare, EVERYBODY gets the same consideration, meaning no consideration for anyone. Offer up your life for this country? Your Government doesn’ t care. Need extra help with your health when you get older? Too bad.