Obama plans to hit retired military with huge increase in annual healthcare premiums

CBO ^ | 3/2/09 | Vanity

[ArrogantBustard]

Totalitarian socialism, whether of the national or international variety, has always proven to be cannibalistic. Just ask Leon Trotsky. I would assume Zero is willing and able to throw anybody under the bus. If he has promised you the moon, make sure he also promises a space-suit and a return trip.

[DBCJR]

He got little more than the token applause of respectful military on most points, but rallied a response on that promise - and it turns out he lied.

[HiJinx]

Right now, they’re proposing $1,100 per year premium for a retiree and his/her family with a $28 copay for an office visit and a $50 copay for a trip to the ER.

That’s more than double the current rates, but nowhere near as steep as it would be if I were taking my company’s health insurance. And that, boys and girls, is where they’d really like us to go. Cuts down on DoD budget costs, don’tchya know!?

[HiJinx]

you new guys better get it in writing

After COL Day lost his lawsuit, I'd say nobody should be expecting free medical care for life at this point.

[Jet Jaguar]

Ping

[DBCJR]

It especially rankles me when a Commander in Chief lies to the troops, perhaps more than any other group of people.

[polymuser]

The Vets that voted O(D) primarily for their retirement, medical and Rx entitlements are gonna wake up real soon and real hard. Wait until the useless eater medical directives activate.

[SZonian]

The irony here is that I rec'd this in an email a week or so ago.

SZ

Tricare Correspondence From Senator Lieberman

I think this may clear things up on the TRICARE scare.

February 19, 2009

Mr. Mark Buxton

1250 Farmington Ave Apt C23

West Hartford, CT 06107

Dear Mr. Buxton:

Thank you for contacting me regarding rumored cuts in benefit programs for military retirees, including TRICARE for Life. Currently, a wealth of false and misleading information is being distributed on this matter; and I welcome the opportunity to explain the source of the confusion.

I am aware of several chain emails, online discussion boards, blogs, and even articles in well-intentioned veterans' publications that imply that President Obama and Congress plan on eliminating TRICARE for Life. The insinuations put forth by these sources are false.

The source of these stories is a report issued by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), entitled Budget Options Volume 1: Heath Care, released in December 2008. Before jumping to conclusions about the report itself, however, it is important to know exactly what the CBO is. CBO is a nonpartisan federal agency, tasked with providing Congress with cost estimates for the many legislative proposals considered each year. It also periodically offers Congress suggestions for adjusting federal spending. CBO is an information gathering body for Members of Congress. Its recommendations about the budget are completely non binding; and its officers do not draft actual policy, legislation, or law.

The Budget Options report in question offers a total of 115 options for reducing (or, in some cases, increasing) federal spending on health care, only three of which relate to TRICARE. These options are merely suggestions, not policy statements or actual legislation. Reports such as this one are routine, and very few options or recommendations made by CBO are typically acted upon. President Obama has not indicated support for the three recommendations in this report related to TRICARE, nor has any Member of Congress, to the best of my knowledge. Any suggestion that the Administration is affiliated with this report ignores the fact that it was drafted by the CBO - which, again, is an advisory body of the legislative branch, not the executive branch.

You may also be interested to know that both the Reserve Officers Association (ROA) and the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) have issued statements condemning the aforemention ed rumors that are being perpetuated through these chain emails.

I hope that you have found this letter informative, and I encourage you to share this information with members of your community who are concerned about issues relating to military retirees. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, please be assured of my continued commitment to protecting the various interests of all those who have fought tirelessly to protect our cherished freedoms.

Thank you again for sharing your views and concerns with me. I hope you will continue to visit my website at http://lieberman.senate.gov for updated news about my work on behalf of Connecticut and the nation. Please contact me if you have any additional questions or comments about our work in Congress.

Sincerely,

Joseph I. Lieberman

UNITED STATES SENATOR

[dblshot]

I don't mind paying to be in an HMO and the co-pays despite 24 years honorable service since it is relatively inexpensive and not bad coverage. But then I am healthy and have a good civilian job. But Obama and entourage have not not snapped to the fact that we served at low pay for many years to get the retirement and benefits promised if we could make it. A lot of people are going to be really PO’d if they find the cost of their health care about equals their retirement pay.

[Constitutions Grandchild]

He did and he absolutely looked straight into the crowd and camera and told a bold-faced unabashed lie. Yes, Sir. That's exactly what he did.

[Constitutions Grandchild]

Thanks for the update. I wondered what kind of response he received. I’m proud of the military for the respect they showed, but I wondered whether it was euphoric or tempered.

[NEMDF]

It was not HIS idea to have retired military people needing benefits. Geeeez /s

[Kackikat]

There is no reason to ever believe him or the dems again.

[Nachum]

The list ping:

Obama plans to hit retired military with huge increase in annual healthcare premiums
http://navlog.org/tfl_mar09.pdf

(full list at www.nachumlist.com)

[Marie]

We heard that it is not just the retired military, but the active, as well. They will be paying a 50% premium for their health insurance and kids will not be covered. The children will be covered under schips (or whatever that acronym is).

May I ask where you came across that?

[HiJinx]

It’s in the link to the CBO at the top of the article. Check out post #48, though. Looks like the CBO has been making this recommendation over and over again for quite some time.

[Marie]

Thanks!

[GOPJ]

ping

[SumProVita]

“Was I mistaken or did Hussein tell Marines in So Carolina the other day that he was going to do MORE for vets and their families?????????????????”

You are correct. I heard him say that as well. I also heard him say there would be NO earmarks in any legislation he signed. THEN, after signing bills LOADED with earmarks, he insisted that they had NO earmarks. He’s redefined *earmark* dontcha know...

He is a LIAR.

[DBCJR]

Obama-speak