No vet gets free health care for life just for serving 4 years. I served 6 and never had any benefits other than a VA loan which charged a VA funding fee of 3% of the loan. The only vets that get VA healthcare benefits are the ones with a service connected disability.
As far as the “free medical care for life”. Someone like my husband hasn’t been GIVEN anything. When he was finished with college and was already a pilot, he had a certain set of qualifications that he earned himself. When considering what job to take, there were some that paid much better than the AF without health-care benefits and others that paid less, with benefits. He chose the AF because he wanted to fly fighter jets and serve his country.
But lets get one thing straight, the benefits are something he EARNED. They weren’t “GIVEN” to him for free. The level of education and qualifications he attained on his own made him an asset that both civilian companies and the military were seeking and therefore offering pay and benefit packages that needed to be competitive.
The health care is also not for life unless he retires after 20 years and then the tricare plan changes. Very little is covered at many of the military hospitals now on bases and fewer and fewer good doctors are accepting tricare because it pays out so little. Also, once my husband turns 65, his tricare will convert to medicare. At-least that is what has been explained to me.
Are you even reading my posts? The other poster insists he was promised and is owed free medical care for life for his 2 years on active duty.
Medical benefits are part of the compensation plan given to people who perform and meet the requirements. Saying they were earned vs given implies some level of entitlement IMO and is splitting hairs. You work and you get paid.
Sounds like you are proud of your hubby, good for you. But get this straight. The military isn’t some grand welfare program that some people consider it. I served as well and have a service connected disabilty. I’ve met many who think the VA should meet all their medical needs for the rest of their lives. To me thats nothing more than a welfare program. Service connected issues are one thing, but otherwise they can pay for it themselves.