[heartwood]

The average cost to Tricare for a year’s worth of a brand name medication at retail is $1156 versus $840 through mail order. If generic drugs are substituted, the average falls to $200 a year, whether the drug is dispensed at retail, through mail order or base pharmacies.

The government not raising prices - it is not the one producing the drugs - it is transferring some of the costs to the consumers, thereby saving money for the rest of the taxpayers. The real net savings to consumer and taxpayer will come when people decide they don't want to spend co-pays of $136 a year for a drug that costs the taxpayers another $700, and ask their doctors for a generic for which they'll pay $36 and the taxpayers another $164.

I wish I could get brand-name drugs for $136 a year - that's what I pay for one of my generics, and generics is all I can afford.

[wiley]

I will only posit for consideration that these benefits constitute part of the payment to those who volunteer to serve in uniform and who therefore risk their lives for those who don’t. It’s part of the price we pay not to have the draft.

[baileybat]

I wish the government would quit raising the cost of Medical benefits for Retirees.

I am sorry that your drugs are expensive, and you can only afford generics.

The government convinced men and women to go to war and put their lives in danger, to constantly move their families, etc, with the assurance of lifetime benefits after 20 years of Service.

Now they are changing the rules.

Servicemembers and Retirees are taxpayers, too. I laugh my butt off when I hear somebody say that as a “taxpayer” they think the Military should do this or that. Newsflash- we pay taxes too! Military pay is tax free for many Soldiers during deployment. But in real life, Servicemembers serve and pay taxes- and still get the shaft!