Posted on 06/15/2018 4:49:50 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
When it was announced that changes would be coming to TRICARE for those joining the military after Jan 1, 2018 it was also communicated that those who joined prior to that date would be exempt from new additional costs like annual enrollment. That exemption may prove to be short lived.
There are significant additional changes proposed for the medical insurance program that will adversely effect military retirees under the age of 65. If an upcoming Senate vote approves the changes, those retirees would see the initiation of that annual enrollment fee ($450 for an individual, $900 for a family) and a significant increase in co-pays/deductibles.
According to AMVETS Executive Director Joe Chenelly this will lead to an increase of up to around $2,000 a year for retirees, who are often on a fixed income. With it looking more and more like the Senate will approve the changes, the VSO's are voicing their displeasure.
"They say that this creates a more level ground for the civilian side which we just think is ridiculous," Chenelly said during an appearance on the Morning Briefing radio show. "This is a benefit that we were promised... it's something that can't go forward, but right now is looking very much like it will. We'll be fighting it."
The VFW agrees, having released an action alert to their membership once they learned of the proposed hike in fees for retirees. According to VFW Legislative Director Carlos Fuentes, it's believed that around 12,000 VFW members have contacted their Senator so far to voice their displeasure with the bill. The organization itself is also very vocal about their stance.
"The VFW opposes this attempt to balance the budget on the backs of service members, veterans and their families," Fuentes said. "We opposed the TRICARE fee increases in last year’s NDAA and hope that the NDAA conference committee will once again defeat this proposal which would endanger the financial wellbeing of the brave men and women have worn our nation’s uniform."
Both organizations say the only way to stop these changes is a grass roots effort, which is why they say they will continue to implore their membership, and all veterans, to make their concerns known to their elected officials.
The Defense Authorization Act has passed and Trump signed it. It will mean higher co-pays for retirees ..even those formerly grandfathered in... https://www.military.com/daily-news/2017/12/12/trump-signs-defense-bill-heres-what-it-means-you.html
When did healthcare for life begin applying to every veteran who served? I am old enough to remember when it was just for fully retired (20+ years) or disabled vets. Back them, I don’t think that there were any co-pays, but it was for a vastly smaller population.
Call Tricare. They changed administration companies not that long ago and the data transfer was less then stellar.
They were denying our claims based on the fact we had BC/BS. We had not had that coverage for at least five years. When the data came over it had no end date.
So much FUN!
Thanks for the ping to #32. I come on active duty in 1955 and have Tricare for Life.
“When it was announced that changes would be coming to TRICARE for those joining the military after Jan 1, 2018 it was also communicated that those who joined prior to that date would be exempt from new additional costs like annual enrollment.”
Seems like a false statement to me. I’ve been paying annual enrollment fees since I retired. What bothers me more is a new referral system. I used to be able to get a referral for skin cancer, go to a dermatologist, and have suspicious growths removed on the spot. One visit, $12 copay. Now my referral allows me to see the dermatologist ($30 copay), who then creates a referral for treatment. When the treatment referral is approved, I can go back for a second visit (another $30 copay) and treatment. I live 30 miles away, so two 60 mile round trips a month apart and a $60 copay to do what used to take one visit ($12).
And I’ll need to do this for the rest of my life. I’ve had melanoma (the types that can kill quickly) removed. But my PCM cannot create a referral for 1, 2 or 3 years. I need to renew it every 6 months, then go to the dermatologist, then get another referral for treatment. 3 visits total to get one treatment for something I’ll need to do twice a year for life!
My co-pay already went up and now it is going up again. My husband served 3 tours in N. Korea and 2 in Viet Nam. Not good news but maybe with the job market being so good I can find work somewhere.
When retirees started having to pay for TriCare back in the '90s, TriCare for Life also kicked in as a 'supplement' to Medicare and picks up about everything Medicare doesn't pay.
Prior to that, military medical facilities and the VA were supposed to give all retired vets free healthcare but many were in geographic areas where it wasn't feasible.
Possibly medical issues related to their military service?
Sometimes the issues aren’t ‘discovered” until one has already enlisted and then they usually get covered even if they were “brought in”. Knew a person who was discharged from boot camp on a section 8 - got VA psychiatric coverage via the VA....no system is perfect but I like what Trump is doing to ensure those who really deserve the best medical care can get it.
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