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“The CBO also suggests an option to raise TRICARE enrollment fees, deductibles or copayments, actions also proposed by the administration last April. For working-age retirees, those under 65, fee hikes should be phased over five years and use a “tiered approach” so that senior-grade retirees would pay higher fees than lower-ranking retirees.

Philpott reports that the CBO says higher enrollment fees not only would raise collections but also discourage retirees and families from relying on military health care versus civilian employer health insurance. Higher deductibles and co-pays would restrain use of medical services too and also lower TRICARE costs.

Here’s a question for the smart boys and girls at the CBO: what are military retirees (and their dependents) supposed to do in five or six years when private insurance no longer exists? Oh that’s right...get in the line for Obamacare, behind the 47-percenters.

The “working age” of 65 is a straw man argument. At 60, retirees lose access to Military Treatment Facilities and at age 65 retirees lose TRICARE and are put on Medicaid/Medicare. Essentially no military retiree living outside of 40 miles from a MTF will be allowed to have TRICARE Prime or be able to afford TRICARE Standard. Studies have definitively shown that compared to civilian counterparts (except for first responders) military retirees face an earlier onset of arthritis and other medical conditions related to everything from combat and stress, firing weapons or just maintaining a required high level of physical fitness even into their 50’s. The truth is that TRICARE Prime is not for me, it is for my family. I have 100% (not everyone gets that) coverage by the VA. They can and should raise the premiums and co-pays. But TRICARE should also offer an HSP t offset increased costs. I pay out over $6K in health insurance premiums to cover dental, and utilize an HSP. The HSP is great, but it is not offered to retirees, I purchase it through my spouses employer.
Call your Congress critter and let them know, any cuts or changes to military benefits need to see a corresponding cut to Fed subsidies to Union retirement plans, Obama cell phones, return to land lines only, free computer programs etc...