Posted on 01/08/2010 6:06:56 AM PST by blackandgoldfan
TRICARE, the insurance company through which our military members receive benefits, is slated to increase premiums on the dental plans for 1.9 million members of all branches of our armed forces. The increase is going to take effect on February 1.
From military.com:
The monthly premium for an active duty family member single plan will increase from $12.12 to $12.69 and the monthly family plan premium will increase from $30.29 to $31.72. The National Guard and Reserve monthly sponsor premium will increase from $12.12 to $12.69. The monthly single premium rate for an Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) sponsor plan and the separate IRR single family member plan will increase from $30.29 to $31.72.
One definitely has to ask about the timing of all of this. Legitimate questions have been raised about how Obamacare is going to be paid for, and it appears that this is going to be the start. If ANYONE deserves to have free, outstanding healthcare for life, it is our veterans who served and continue to serve honorably.
(Excerpt) Read more at therightstuffbng.blogspot.com ...
However, once the clintonistas imposed the payment of premiums in order to keep the medical care, they've remained level. I'm not sure that a small increase of dental premiums is anything more than a long delayed inflation adjustment. If it were a lot bigger, and imposed on the medical care itself, then I might think differently.
As for the commentary about COLA, I'm afraid you're mixing two kinds of pay. A cost-of-living-allowance (COLA) is paid to military members in high cost of living areas in order to keep their standard of living equal with their counterparts living elsewhere. These COLAs are recalculated annually using several components of living expenses (average rent cost being a big one). The COLAs go up or down in response to these calculations, they always have.
The second pay is a cost-of-living-increase in pay frequently (not guaranteed) granted annually. It's supposed to be linked with the CPI, but since congress has to specifically authorize it each year, it usually is much lower. Occasionally, they grant a really big increase as a gap-closing measure with average civilian pay, but those are few and far between. This year, as with all other government employees, retirees, and social security recipients, there is no cost of living increase.
Yeah, I know, food and a lot of other things are going up fast, but when so many of our countrymen are out of work, losing their homes, etc., it sure seems selfish and niggardly to complain!
I expect they will go after TRICARE for Life and Retiree TRICARE. I believe the government lost a court battle and a legal precedent was established regarding military retirees health care for life. It is not written in the contracts we sign, but has always been implied, so the courts ruled in favor of the military retiree. That does not mean we will not be moved out of a policy similar to that used by Congress and put in a Federal system to save money.
It is not the young Marine or Sailor that will see dramatic cuts for their families, the cuts will be channeled to senior care. The real danger is to our Korean, Viet Nam War and Gulf War vets. In 2012 it will be 20 years since the liberation of Kuwait, some senior enlisted and officers from that war will be in their early sixties, Korean and Viet Nam vets will be well into the so called Golden years.
Thank you for your great service! It’s something I will never be able to fully express my gratitude for.
Those who have served this country with honor shouldn’t have their benefits touched AT ALL, IMO. It’s the very least this nation could do to thank our troops for their sacrifices. Unfortunately, you’re right about the elderly veterans being in the crosshairs of Obamacare, and it makes me ill to think about it.
The military will see a pay increase, I think around 2.7% across the board. While less than in previous years, many members will see increases in none taxable allowances as well. These help offset costs and increases in expenses.
As you stated military retirees are the ones impacted by no COLA increase. Add to that an across the board increase in federal withholding for military retirees, because of a tax credit given last year (but not to everyone) and not only did we not get a COLA increase, we are getting less.
TRI CARE FOR LIFE This from a google search:
http://economicspolitics.blogspot.com/2009/05/tricare-for-life-is-obama-trying-to.html
This option would help reduce the costs of TFL, as well as costs for Medicare, by introducing minimum out-of pocket requirements for beneficiaries. Under this option, TFL would not cover any of the first $525 of an enrollee’s cost-sharing liabilities for calendar year 2011 and would limit coverage to 50 percent of the next $4,725 in Medicare cost sharing that the beneficiary incurred. (Because all further cost sharing would be covered by TFL, enrollees could not pay more than $2,888 in cost sharing in that year.)
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/99xx/doc9925/12-18-HealthOptions.pdf
November 6, 2009 | Rep Buyer abd Rep McKeon
http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/hcva09/hcva110609-1.htm Link
Bill Would Restrict Veterans’ Health Care Options
Buyer and McKeon Offer Amendments to Protect Veterans and TRICARE Beneficiaries
Washington, D.C. — Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Steve Buyer and House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Howard P. “Buck” McKeon offered three amendments to the Pelosi healthcare bill that would protect America’s Veterans and military TRICARE beneficiaries. The healthcare legislation, which is expected to be voted on in the full House in the coming days limits veteran’s and service member’s health care choices and places veterans and military health care unnecessarily at risk by not clearly excluding military and veterans health care from the requirements of the bill.
“In addition to being fundamentally opposed to a sweeping government takeover of health care, I also strongly object to the bill that was unveiled today because it would limit veterans’ ability to choose a health care provider,” said Rep. Buyer. “The liberty and freedom upon which our nation is founded was paid for through the sacrifices of veterans, and I find it outrageous that the government veterans defended would presume to dictate where and how they obtain health care. This is not the type of government veterans have fought and died for.”
“America must remain vigilant in our efforts to provide the necessary support to our Veterans, military retirees, and current military personnel,” said Rep. McKeon. “The Democrat healthcare bill that will be voted on in the coming days creates unnecessary uncertainty for our Veterans and military families that their healthcare options will be unfairly limited. Our amendments make certain—in the strongest terms possible—that our nation’s heroes will continue to have options, while protecting their rights to maintain their current high-quality options if they so choose.”
Reps. Buyer and McKeon offered the following three amendments to ensure that our veterans, servicemembers, and their families are not hurt by the bill:
· Buyer/McKeon Amendment #001: Would add a new subsection to provide explicitly that veterans enrolled in the VA health care and TRICARE beneficiaries may choose additional health insurance through the “Health Insurance Exchange”, along with care provided by VA or DOD.
The bill reads: “(a) ACCESS TO COVERAGE. – In accordance with this section, all individuals are eligible to obtain coverage through enrollment in an Exchange-participating health benefits plan offered through the Health Insurance Exchange unless such individuals are enrolled in another qualified health benefits plan or certain other acceptable coverage.” [page 156, line 11-16].
Under H.R. 3962, VA health care and TRICARE would be deemed "qualified" coverage. The problem with the language is that it is ambiguous and can be interpreted to disqualify individuals enrolled in VA health care or TRICARE from participating in the exchange.
This amendment was accepted at the Energy and Commerce Committee markup, but the Democratic Leadership failed to include it in H.R. 3962.
· Buyer/McKeon Amendment #002: Would ensure that the authority of the Secretary of VA and Secretary of DOD could never be challenged or obstructed by any provision in the bill or by a secretary or commissioner from another part of government.
As currently written, H.R. 3962 would provide that the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of VA retain sole authority over their respective health care systems only with respect to Subtitle A, the Health Insurance Exchange. This was the original Buyer Amendment adopted in Energy and Commerce Committee. However, it was limited to “Subtitle A” because of germaneness requirements. The intent was that as the Committee bills were merged, the language would be revised to encompass the entire bill.
The section-by-section analysis on the Energy and Commerce Committee Website states that Section 311 “makes clear that nothing in this act interferes with the Department of Veterans Affairs or Department of Defense’s existing authorities.”
In fact, this description is incorrect and our amendment would provide that the bill conform to the website’s assertion.
· Buyer/McKeon Amendment #003: Would amend section 342 of the bill to allow individuals enrolled in VA health care and TRICARE to be eligible for affordable tax credits.
Currently, H.R. 3962 defines an “affordable credit eligible individual” as one who is not enrolled in acceptable coverage – which would exclude individuals enrolled in VA health care or TRICARE.
You are correct, I mistakenly included active-duty in my comments. I'm not sure the increase is that much across the board, though.
Time to remind them of it. Because it's not just us gray hairs that are going to be hit hard by obamacare, but our Military, especially our retired Military over 65 who rely on TRL for their secondary health insurance.
Hubby retired as a Senior Chief, worked for low pay for those 20 years, and promises, promises the government now doesn't want to keep.
Thank you to both you and your hubby. You made sacrifices as well, and I appreciate it.
Maybe it’s time for me to send a link to the big names...
Millington, TN is a Naval Base (BUPERS) town, it is in just a few miles outsise of Memphis.
Many of the doctors here will no longer take Medicare patients like the Mayo Clinic has decided to do, and if this crap goes through then those of us on TRL will be having the same problems.
Hubby will be 70 in July and we both have some health issues, nothing major...mainly arthritis and some BP issues for him, but we have to visit the doctor at least twice a year to get RX's renewed. He's on 6 meds and I'm on 3, I have to pay for my Syntrhoid as TRL won't pay for it, they will pay for the generics forms cause mouth ulcers and hair loss and are not constant in strength from batch to batch or available in as many strengths.
No COLA increases for SS and NO COLA increases for retired Military...yet the cost of living has gone up quite a bit. Commissary prices are rising almost daily here at the Millington, TN Naval Base. Gas prices are usually 3-4 cents HIGHER than off base...BTW our’s is still Citgo they just took down the signs but didn’t change the supplier. The Exchange is carrying a lot of costly high end items like Coach hand bags. You can shop Wal-Mart and pay Tennessee’s nearly 10% sales tax and come out cheaper.
I’ve sent a link to The Big Three and our local hosts here in Pittsburgh as they’re syndicated on XM Channel 158 (Quinn and Rose; www.warroom.com). Hopefully, this will get legs and the outrage by Americans can put an end to this. Vets and their families deserve so much more than what BHO and his ilk are doing.
I pray that things go well for you and your hubby. May God keep you both safe and healthy!
I see that you’ve remarried. I’m really happy for you. My husband died 2 years ago, and I’m just now getting a new life.
I gained 6 grand children and 1 great grand, she has us both wrapped around her little finger...she's 5.
Heads up.
Military or no, I’m supposed to be upset because their dental premiums went up a buck or two a month? You want to guess how much my dental insurance went up this year over last? It’s a whole lot more than that.
It will take getting the local talk guys to get it started and hopefully the national ones will.
Boartz, Beck, Rush, Hannity, Levin and Savage are the most listened to.
The list, ping
“You want to guess how much my dental insurance went up this year over last?”
No, we do not want to know, because we do not care. If you served in the military and are relying on the government to provide promised care, then we might listen to you.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2424058/posts Link to new FR article
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